11-6-16
It’s been a tough fall.
No, it’s been a hard year. There has been so much division in our country. It has reached to families and churches. Politics has a way of causing people to get short tempers and tunnel vision. But two days from now, the election will be over, and maybe soon we’ll even know who the next President will be. (attempt at humor)
No matter who is our next leader, one thing I know for sure: we need to come back together.
I understand about getting a short fuse when discussing politics. I struggle with it myself. There has been so much controversy and polarization during this election cycle. People have spoken to each other in ways that have been shocking. Being on the wrong side of a debate feels a little like I imagine it might if you were suddenly in another country without a passport. These things do matter, I’d never suggest otherwise, and we must continue to speak out against any wrong any person does, whether our preferred candidate wins or not. Evil will never cease to be evil.
Yes, politics are important, and our views are one branch that comes from our Christian trunks. But that’s just it: at the core, what are we? We’re Christians. Any other label we willingly or otherwise attach to ourselves must be guided by that and should be secondary to it.
Friends, we can’t spend the next four years fighting about politics. We have a much bigger job ahead of us than saving this country; we’re here to save the world. Leaders and governments come and go, but God’s will and His plan for us will never change.
So what happens Wednesday, November 9, 2016? We need to be able to look around at our family, Church friends, and neighbors, and say I love you. To each and every one of them. I love you because God loves you just like He does me. I love you and I want to go to Heaven for eternity with you. I love you enough that I’ll talk to you and share God’s love with you, in word and in practice.
Let all that you do be done with love. – I Corinthians 16:14
We must be ready to put all this behind us. It may be difficult to swallow showing agape love to someone we disagree with on something as important as politics. And that doesn’t mean we should compromise our beliefs on the issues. But if we let temporary politics compromise our ability to fulfill our eternal destiny, we will let everyone down.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil… – I Corinthians 13:4-5
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” – I Peter 4:8
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. – Colossians 3:14-15
Let’s be praying extra hard for our country the next few days.
May the Lord bless and keep you,
Heather
Heather Tabata 