THE GAMBLE OF LOVE IN POLITICS
“Political
discourse is the Las Vegas of Christianity—the environment in which our sin is
excused. Hate is winked at, fear is perpetuated and strife is applauded. Go
wild, Christ-follower. Your words have no consequences here. Jesus doesn’t live
in Vegas.”
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Before the Las
Vegas mass murder, it was advertised, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” If only it was true. Tragically,
like mass shootings, rancorous political discourse has spread nationwide.
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The opening paragraph,
quoted from a 2016 article by Bryan Roberts’ 7 “Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics,” post on “Relevent,”
was published before the massacre. The excerpts that follow, though modified, echo
my heart felt sentiments.
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Bryan reminds us to spend more time
honoring and praying for our leaders and less time vilifying them. Paraphrasing him, I agree this doesn’t mean
praying the President will be impeached; it doesn’t mean praying some political
hero will have his way. God commands us
to pray for our leaders—for their wisdom, for their hearts and for them to be
led by Him.
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The Church must be engaged in politics, but it must avoid
being defined by the divisiveness of politics.
Those who argue over politics
don’t love their country more than others. They just love to argue more
than others. Strife and quarreling are symptoms of weak faith (Proverbs 10:12;
2 Timothy 2:23-25; James 4:1) and are among the things the Lord “detests.”
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We need to rise above the vitriol
and learn to love our neighbors the way God commanded us. We need to love our
atheist neighbor who wants to keep creationism out of schools; our Democrat
neighbor who wants to keep gay marriage and abortion legal; our Republican
neighbor who celebrates death penalty statistics and gun ownership; and yes,
even the former and the present president.
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I
must also add to Bryan’s reminder that opposition is not hatred. It is a mistake
to accuse the challenger of malice toward you or your political idol. If opposition is Christian, it is offered as
an act of love, rather than an attempt to spray death from an upper window or a
post on social media.
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Expressions
of loving-disagreement don’t need the discretionary boundaries of Vegas. After all, there is no shame in exposing one’s
Christian love, ether inside or outside a vail of sin, hatred, fear, or strife.
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But many
ask, “How does a Christian escape the political environment where sin is
excused, hate is winked at, fear is perpetuated, and strife is applauded?” The Christian must turn to God, where He
lives, and ask Him for a reminder of His presence. Now listen carefully, the fact that you want
to turn to Him in prayer is not merely you expressing your own desire, but you are
experienced the will of God. It is His
will emanating from within you. Acknowledging
the desire to know He is present within is an expression of God’s Will. In that moment, you have found the connection
of God’s Spirit linked to your spirit.
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Having recognized God’s will, alive in your
heart, you are presented with a choice…do His will or your own.
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This is the simplest part of the process. So, let
me remind you, you turned to Him because you could not do something…in this
case, love your political opponent. That is something you didn’t really want to do,
but rather it is something He wants done. That choice is all the work you are called on
to do, ether comply with His will, or resist and do your own will. If you yield, He then does the work of loving
your opponent through you. It is not you
doing your work, but Him (GOD) doing His work in and through you. You simply let Him do what He wants to do with
you.
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When God exhibit
Christ’s love through you, He deposits love into the political discourse, usually
without saying a word about His Son. He loves
your enemy while you discuss politics with your opponent. There has been a supernatural transformation,
because in the words of Bryan Roberts, “Jesus doesn’t live in Vegas.”