As I began my week, I took a moment to pause before entering my workday. I made the mistake of looking through some social media which only led me to a lot of frustration when I found myself subjected to the same rhetoric and animosity as the day and weeks before. God surely wouldn’t want me to have that frustration and carry it with me into my day. I began to ask myself why I I’m taking such issue with people who are misbehaving but yet call themselves believers in Christ. If I’m being 100 percent honest, I guess I would have to say I expect better behavior.
I try so hard not to judge or become upset, but it seems to be the same people demonstrating the same hostility and animosity pretty consistently. As a Christian of course I feel it is imperative that we encourage others to vote in alignment to our biblical principles. However, I feel there is a way to share the message without tearing down our witness for Christ.
While I do understand that it’s natural in the way that not everyone will agree on everything, I feel as followers of Christ we have a responsibility to represent his character by our words and our actions. When we engage negatively it not only undermines our witness, but it also contradicts the very essence of the love and grace that Jesus demonstrated.
When I think about trying to reflect the character of Christ threw the way that I behave look at Jesus’s model of love that was rooted in, kindness, and mercy, even towards the people who opposed him. When we sink into it and allow ourselves to engage in hurtful humor and awful criticism, we are only taking the risk to distort that image. Is that really what we are looking to do if we want to embody his love and offer grace instead of judgment?
We are living in times when our witness to the world is more vital than ever before. This means we should be demonstrating love to others, including those with whom we disagree, even toward political candidates we oppose, as their views may not reflect the teachings of Christ.
I believe there is a way to be respectful instead of resorting to hatred, derision, and division. Jesus set the best example in how He interacted with individuals from various backgrounds and beliefs. If we follow His example, we can demonstrate that our faith is inclusive and transformative rather than judgmental.
Although we are in the midst of dealing with two political parties that are very opposing in their views, we can still seek to way to find common values that would allow us to have more unity. Is it possible to bridge gaps between political perspectives? I think if we demonstrate integrity and approach political discussions with more kindness, we can set a standard that might only inspire others to do likewise. This not only reflects the faith we have in Jesus, but it might also attract them to understanding what he is all about.
It is clear that some political figures are in need of guidance and grace on all realms of the political spectrum. Instead of showing our criticism, why not show a new commitment to pray for them instead? We need to show a faith that believes Jesus can do anything, even with impossible politicians.
Another area that could use some tweaking is instead of sharing despair and frustration, perhaps we could focus more on the hope that Jesus brings. With him we have the possibility of positive changes and show that we are unwavering in our faith instead of being relatable to the rest of the world in the chaos. A more constructive attitude from us Christians could really resonate deeply for those who feel lost or disillusioned.
Why wouldn’t we want to show a better reflection of our Christian values and potentially reach so many who feel alienated or marginalized, which ultimately fosters a more loving and inclusive community? Have our hearts become so focused on temporary presidential candidates that we’ve ‘lost’ our passion for the lost and where they spend eternity?
The Lord would never desire of us that our faith would be determined by the results of an election, but more fueled by the truth of his word. This is what we are called to share when he says go ye into all the world. They need to know there is a better way, not seeing us expressing our anguish with the state of the world. They need to know that God is still good despite our circumstances.
You’ve heard the old saying of agreeing to disagree. What that means is respectfully disagreeing with someone, rather than disrespectfully disagreeing with someone. When we share the animosity, mean bullish memes, et cetera what do you think we are demonstrating for Christ? Is it something he would be proud of?
So, what does this look like? We all have our viewpoints. Acknowledging that someone else has a different perspective doesn’t mean you agree with them or that you’re going to change your own. In fact, it shows that you value their thoughts and opinions. We must remember that we don’t all come from the same place, especially when we are believers and others may know little about our Bible other than how they see us living in or out of accordance with it.
Sometimes, listening in a calm and composed manner while keeping emotions in check feels much less attacking for both sides; otherwise, people shut down and turn away from us. There are cases where some individuals simply cannot handle these types of conversations without being combative, and that may call us to step away. Let’s make sure we are not the combative ones turning people away. We can have a strong political stance on something and still respect others.
If we take the time to think about it, we often find that we agree on more things than we realize when it comes to our country. While there will always be issues, we won’t always see eye to eye on everything, but we can still engage respectfully. Many people share common concerns, such as community well-being, safety, and opportunities for growth, which can help build connections despite our differences. Embracing diverse perspectives enriches our understanding and can lead to more comprehensive solutions. If we prioritize being respectful, it not only sets a good example but may also encourage others to be more mindful of their behavior. I know I have personally changed my perspective on some issues, and we must remember that we are not all in the same place; we don’t all have the same past or life experiences, and those factors can shape our beliefs in significant ways.
Remember we are not going to change the world by being like the world. We can show them more of Jesus beginning with praying about what we are posting, and what conversations we are engaging in beforehand. Allow him to show his approval or convict us in our hearts that we would not want to damage our witness for him.