I’m making a Captain Obvious statement here: in the United States, we are in another election year with the presidential race heating up to include various conventions, media coverage, speculations, shockers, angst, etc. I find that the election season is unsettling not only because of the various candidates, but more so for how polarized and hostile and opinionated we become. Furthermore, when you throw in the Bible and / or religious convictions, it can get even more ugly, since people will sometimes vilify those who don’t share similar convictions. I’ve even heard statements like, “How can a Bible believing, Jesus loving Christian vote for _____________?1!?!?”
As it pertains to our modern experiences with politics in America, I find the level of shame, accusation and hostile engagement to be inconsistent with Jesus’ teachings. Of course, we can have strong opinions and I fully support voting that’s aligned with our convictions. However, when we belittle and attack people who don’t agree with us (calling them names, questioning their character, being downright ugly on social media and even breaking relationships) I don’t see how those actions and words reflect Jesus’ teachings and values.
Furthermore, if we aren’t willing to wholly align with Jesus’ teaching and lifestyle, then it’s possible that we’ve dug in our heels and might be ignoring the Holy Spirit talking within us. I say this because part of the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives is to bring conviction such that we reflect Him well. This can be really disturbing because it reminds me of a verse in Acts 7:51, just before the Jewish leaders stoned Stephen for promoting Jesus. In this verse Stephen says to these leaders, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.”
If you take a few minutes to read Acts 6-7, you’ll see that Stephen was promoting Jesus and doing great signs and wonders among the people (Acts 6:8). There was a group of Jewish leaders who politicized their religion and hauled Stephen before the Jewish Council, which was also a highly political group. Long story short, upon hearing Stephen’s defense including his assertion that they always resisted the Holy Spirit, they rushed on Stephen and impulsively stoned him – killed him for his convictions and for challenging their authority.
When I read all of this story, I’m challenged to prioritize the Holy Spirit talking with and convicting me, so that I’m not resisting divine inputs and interventions. If I’m more stirred up about a presidential election rather than Holy Spirit’s conviction and input, then I should pause and do some recalculating and course corrections.
Let’s not allow politics to overwhelm nor eclipse our love for Jesus and our love for each other. Indeed, let’s keep this verse from John’s epistle in the forefront of our values:
1 John 4:20, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Maybe the election season is when we need to be most attentive to keeping our love most sincere!
