May 15, 2016

Love As God Loves

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

God is love. That’s what the Bible tells us. It’s not so much about how much He loves us, though He loves us more than we could ever imagine. It’s about how we are to love others as He has loved us.

There’s a huge debate -- I am being gracious here -- about which school restroom transgender students should use. Amid the appalled cries of woe, I wonder has anyone stopped to consider the feelings of the transgender students? Has anyone consider that they are already ostracized and bullied?

I don’t begin to understand what being a transgender person is all about. I don’t understand. And, yes, I’ve read the Bible -- several times. And that’s where I get that part about love and compassion and kindness.

When did we decide that it was okay to forgo those key elements of our faith when someone steps on our political toes? That’s what it is: politics. It’s not about the Bible, no matter how loudly we proclaim that it is.

We are told to pray for our nation. We are told to pray for those who disagree with us. I have to wonder how many of us really do that. Do you pray about these political issues or do you just loudly proclaim your hatred and disgust and tell yourself you’re protecting your faith?

It really is possible to disagree with someone’s lifestyle and still love the person. Let me give you an example: Your daughter and her boyfriend live together. You believe in purity until marriage. You disagree with her choice. Do you condemn her and refuse to associate with her? Or do you voice your displeasure but continue to love her just as much as before she made that choice?

If you’re unhappy with this issue, pray about it. Join others in prayer. God listens. Trust Him to handle it. God really doesn’t need us to defend Him or His Word. Really. He doesn’t. He’s quite capable of doing it Himself.

What God does want and expect is for us to pray for His Presence to heal our land. He expects us to love all sinners, regardless of their sin. God demands that we not judge lest we be judged by our own impossible standards.

I know this is all frightening. It’s just so more easier to surround ourselves with people we understand and people who believe as we do. But that’s not the reality of our world. It is possible to stand true to our faith, to love God with all our hearts, and to love ALL His children regardless of who or what they do. It isn’t always easy but it is possible.

So the next time you decide to get on your political high horse, take a few minutes and take it to God. Tell Him all about it, then listen to what He has to say. Love one another. Be kind. Show this fallen world who God really is.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Political Rhetoric Misses The Point

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave --just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” -- Matthew 20:25-28

Okay. It’s official. I am beyond tired of the political rhetoric and I want us to all vote and go home. Oh, and shut up. I really want us to all go to our rooms and have a time out. Seriously.

This political debate raging in our country -- and I’m not talking about the debate Wednesday night between the two candidates -- has really gotten out of hand. Choosing one or the other candidate doesn’t mean either is endorsed by God.

We forget sometimes that Jesus is neither a Democrat or Republican. He’s not a member of the Tea Party either. The Son of Man came to serve. He represents God. So should any political leader we consider.

We get so caught up in the rhetoric and the sound bites that we forget what’s really important. We’re so determined to make a difference in our own pocketbooks that we can’t see beyond them. That’s true of both sides, by the way.

Certainly we should pray for our leaders. And we should ask God to choose the right candidate based on His standards and not our own. Because God looks at the things of the heart, not the outward appearance or the latest poll numbers.

But we also shouldn’t expect one man -- one very human man -- to fix everything all by himself. No matter who is elected, he must work with Congress, with other world leaders, with the public, to create the kind of country we all want to live in.

That means that everyone has to do his or her part. We keep looking to government to put God back in our lives when we really should be doing it for ourselves. Are your children learning about Jesus in your home? Are they learning to follow the Ten Commandments by observing you? What are you showing your neighbors and co-workers about Jesus?

It’s just so easy to fight it out with empty political promises from people we’ve never met. It’s not so easy to look in the mirror and admit that we aren’t doing our part to make things right.

I’ll be glad when the election is over and we can get back to normal, whatever that is. We’ll still be fussing and pointing fingers but at least maybe it won’t be so nasty. Our country doesn’t hinge on the back of one individual. We’ll get back to where we need to be when our citizens start focusing their individual lives back on God, the way our Founding Fathers always intended.