If you live in Iowa, you probably noticed a significant change in the atmosphere from this time a week ago. Phone calls and political ads have decreased from the flurry of what they were. Whether you caucused for your favorite candidate or not on Monday, you may be breathing a small sigh of relief for the break in all the activity. Are you still for the original candidate you supported initially? Are you going to be fore them till the end?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
As humans, it is natural for us to like people who are like us, and to be more suspect of those who are different from us. Whether these similarities or differences are based on your faith, sex, skin color, background, political party, or any number of things, the more like you the better, right? At least that is how most of us tend to behave. As a Christian, are we looking for the sinner who is most like Christ, and do we want the most ‘christian’ candidate to be president, or are there more important criteria? In fact, we had the option of choosing between several candidates who claimed to be Christian, with varying evidence to support their claims. What criteria are most important to you in choosing a President, a city official, an employee, or a spouse? Does it vary? Why?
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44-45
From the time we are in preschool, we like to categorize people. We can say they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on what they do and how they treat us. This can change, after what people do or say toward us or our family offends us or we are unwilling to forgive, they may change from good to bad in our eyes. This may also apply to our view of God. When things go well for us, we can say He is good, and when we encounter struggles and trials, or when things don’t go our way, we may question how much he cares. How committed are you to caucusing for God when things don’t always seem to be going your way? Do you say ‘I didn’t vote for him’ when this happens, or are you still with him when He is criticized?
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:10-11
Are you for God if the economy is good or bad? Are you for him even if you don’t agree with him 100% of the time? If the candidate you think is best for president doesn’t make it in, does that mean God doesn’t care? I venture that He does care, but may not be working in ways that we would not, or do not like. Are you an advocate for Jesus in the good times and bad? When the tide does not seem to be trending for him, are you still for him? Continue to back the best candidate whether you are the only one speaking for him, or not. Instead of condemning everyone who disagrees with your views, show them kindness and respect, even if they do nothing to deserve it. Just as Christ died for us in our sins, we also ought to love and forgive others, as he would. His platform has not changed with the winds of public opinion, but is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Win others to be for Jesus by treating all of the voters as he treats them.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:16-18
For Christ,
Clark
