I’m concerned that American Christians seem to think that we are to fight to the bloody end to see that the ‘right‘ candidate wins in the end, that there are no boundaries to observe in our tactics. Call the opposing party jerks, creeps, or morons (or worse) – that’s what the world has taught us to do. We’ve got to win our country back – and to adopt the mean spirited vitriol of commentators, talk show hosts, and pseudo journalists is acceptable behavior.
Except it isn’t.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. … Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king…. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. From 1 Peter 2
I see nothing here that tells me not to express my opinions. I believe in voting. I believe in supporting your favorite candidate. I believe in supporting candidates that express your moral convictions.
Should I choose, however, to join in the malice and slander of a pagan world in which I live, I would be wrong. I am to honor the king. No matter what we may think of his policies, him as a person, or what we’ve been led to believe by pundits and the priests of the media… he is to be honored….by Christians.
Did we ever stop to think what a pagan world thinks when they see Christian people slicing up the President and speaking of him with such hatred? I can tell you what they are not thinking about. They are not thinking about Jesus Christ who was unwilling to return insult for insult when he suffered. He made no threats.
Whether online or verbally with friends (or anyone), we have a calling to live like Christ. That calling rises above our feelings about a President or the candidates who desire to be President. We are strangers and exiles in this world. We’ve simply got something more important to occupy our minds.
~John
Well said sir. As believers, one of our hallmarks should be our ability to “disagree without being disagreeable”. Outside of his policies, there’s plenty to like about President Barak Obama the man. It’s nice to have someone in the White House that they can’t find any real dirt on. I love seeing him with his kids. I’m proud that we have a president that isn’t lily white, regardless of his politics. It says something about our country, something good.
Thank you Brian. Amen.
I belive in voting too.
but don’t like election year :(
and we wonder why kids, act the way they do!
So True Janice! Good point.
Some of the NASTIEST comments I have read about the President have come from Christians. Some of the people who have passed on rumors and half-truths about the President claim to be Christians, and they don’t seem to be interested in figuring out whether what is being said is true or not. I am not a fan of our current President’s policies. I voted against him in 2008 and plan to vote against him in 2012. However, I want him out in a fair, free, and open election–NOT on some spurious “natural born citizen” charge.
Some Christians ought to be ashamed of themselves, the way they have behaved concering our current President.
Amazing how nasty us sanctified and redeemed people can get! Well said Tina.
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I see/hear this repeatedly and I agree with your comments. We reflect Christ at all times. It doesn’t mean that we do not have political opinions that differ with candidates or leaders. However, we are to practice restraint from bickering and name-calling that prevails in today’s political culture. Currently, we have a local political scandal involving a nearby mayor and it saddens me to see people from my own congregation post hateful and mean-spirited comments on facebook & twitter. Their words could be better put to use to pray for the man and a city that is now in turmoil.
Yes, Michele, you have spoken well. When do we pray for those we curse? Seldom.
Isn’t it odd, maybe not, that all who disagree with disagreeable people had to have something “NEGATIVE” to say about the disagreeable. I guess it is more pervasive than we think :).
LOL Don… it’s hard to point out a negative without becoming a negative!
THANK YOU for this. I’m just so tired of it. As much as I believe that we, as Christians, should know what is going on in our country and be informed about policy and decision making (especially when people are freely making decisions about OUR money! :-) ). However, I wish that the most fervent (and, honestly, venomous) of the mud-slingers were just half as passionate about a)living daily for Christ, seeing His will done in their own homes and communities b)FINDING and feeding the hungry in their community, c)loving those that are on government assistance, and finding out WHY they feel helpless. I just want to run away from all things political, and I know that isn’t the answer, either. In short, I think you said a very wise thing here.
Amen. Thanks. Yes, unfortunately I think we have to hear it for the next several months. ugh.