I hate Sarah Palin. Barack Obama is a terrorist. Conservatives are idiots. Liberals are out to destroy the moral fabric of our nation. If McCain wins, I’m moving to Canada. Kill [Barack]! Off with his head!
Those are just a few of the statements I’ve culled from the conversations I’ve had, the newspaper articles I’ve read, and the rally clips I've watched over the past few weeks. I’m ashamed to admit, one or two of those phrases have flashed in my brain—maybe even escaped my lips. I spent the last couple of days working on a blog about what being “pro-life” means to me, a democrat; but I’ve put that piece on the backburner because I have something much more important to say to my friends and family (on both sides of the fence) who identify as Christians and Americans.
Have we lost our heads, or perhaps worse, our hearts? Have we forgotten that 1 John 3:14-15 says, “Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers.”? What about Galatians 5:14, which tells us the entire law is summed up in this command: “Love your neighbor as yourself”? In Luke 6, Jesus says “Love your enemies,” and shortly thereafter, “Do not judge… do not condemn.” Aren’t people supposed to know we are Christians by our love?
By the manner in which Christians, including myself, have acted during this election season, you’d think we were living according to an all-together different gospel—one that promotes hatred, division, judgment, condemnation, bigotry, intolerance, and self-promotion. This election has brought out the worst in us.
I urge you, my brothers and sisters, to take a step back, to pray, and to seek a little bit of perspective. I’m not saying that this election isn’t one of the most important elections in our nation’s history. It is. I firmly believe that the man elected president will impact my personal finances, my ability to get health insurance as a self-employed writer, my country’s standing in the world, the education my little brother will receive, the government grants available to my PhD-seeking husband, the state of the environment with which my children and grandchildren will have to cope, and the lives of the homeless people, battered women, and illegal immigrants I’ve been blessed to know. While it may not feel this way three weeks before the election, there is more to life than politics—so we shouldn’t let it destroy our relationships, our witness, and our commitment to loving everyone we meet.
In three weeks, we’ll know who our next president will be. Whether it’s John McCain or Barack Obama, the sky isn’t going to fall. The hype, the mudslinging, the incessant news coverage will be over. Our country will proceed in one direction or another, and life will go on. The question is, how will you go on? Will you be left with a heart of bitterness and hatred if your candidate loses? Or a heart of haughtiness and pride if your candidate wins? Or, no matter what the results, will you be filled and overflowing with the abundant love of Jesus?
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3 comments:
Glad to see you are blogging. I'm going to add you to my google reader!
I completely agree with the post. It's ridiculous how immature and hateful everyone gets around elections. Part of the reason I dislike football too-- I know that sounds ridiculous, but there is just so much hate when competition emerges. The sky will not fall- and if whoever we elect does start bringing it in we can pick someone else in 4 years! Good post!
very well put, Lucy. I'll be glad when this whole thing is over with. God help whoever gets elected.
it was great seeing y'all the other weekend. hope all's well in PA!
Lucy, you are dead on. I'm "electioned out". I already know who I am voting for and wish it was all over with. Whomever wins I will stand behind, as we are all Americans. This party crap is over the top. Most of America is in the middle. But all you see, hear or read about are the extreme sides of either party and it gets distorted.
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