Sometimes I don’t know how to start living brave. I sit in silence pondering how to take the first step, the small act that says I disagree and my voice matters.
I guess I just say what I believe to be true.
I don’t think Jesus cares about our political parties or our nation’s government or whether you are a diehard red or blue.
I think Jesus cares about how we love God and how we love others.
And I haven’t been seeing or hearing a lot of love in our country from people who claim the name of Christ.
It hasn’t mattered what side of politics one stands; there have been a myriad of hateful voices yelling toward the others. I imagine the crowd in 1st century Jerusalem sounded a lot like crowds at any given rally, stirred up against an ideology, or a person or political position, or (fill in the blank)
I’m not saying we all need to believe the same thing. I am saying that if you claim the name of Jesus then your standard of living is higher.
Love is your standard.
Not a warm fuzzy puppy or a cute cooing baby or a bouquet of flowers kind of love.
This kind of love
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut.
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first”,
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. (The Message)
This kind of love is God’s love that flourishes in our lives when we surrender our “I’m right and you’re wrong” attitudes. This love flourishes in our lives when we look at those who are different than our outer selves and realize Christ died for them, too. Especially if they don’t know Him yet.
It takes a lot of courage to say this. Why? Because speaking up is a brave act.
Here’s the thing: the next time you hear someone saying something that is hateful about another person what will it take for you to say ‘that’s not okay?’ Click To Tweet
I’m clear I’m not to be another’s judge; that is to be left to God alone; yet there are those who say they love God, love Jesus and are downright hateful to anyone who doesn’t agree with their political point of view.
When we stop seeing the humanity in each person, and see others who are different from us as an object of wrath, then we can easily go along with heinous acts that are perpetrated against people. And we’re also going along with the enemy of our souls who doesn’t want the love of God to take hold in this world.
There are countless examples of people going along without considering the consequences. Roman citizens who supported Emperor Nero. German citizens who supported Adolf Hitler. Cambodians who supported the Khmer Rouge. Chinese citizens who supported Mao Tse Tung. It’s a short step to saying American citizens who support and/or hate Donald Trump.
Instead of being against opinions, what if we chose to be for Love?
Corrie ten Boom chose love. Gladys Aylward chose love. Elisabeth Eliot chose love.
Why can’t you and I choose love?
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash
As Christ-followers we are called to a different Way. The mystery is how do we live this out, moment by moment. Maybe if we asked the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, guard our lips and love through us, and we considered others as more important than ourselves, we might look different to those who don’t yet know Him and need to know there is a better, different Way.