Guided by love
Guided by Love :: Some thoughts on the election
CCC Family,
I’m not a politician. I am a pastor and a follower of Jesus. Like many across America I am shocked and perplexed by this years election. For many this election has been nothing short of traumatic. For many other’s, the outcome is greatly celebrated. For others, they are just relieved it’s all over. In such a divided country it is extremely difficult not to get swept onto one side or the other, and let’s be honest, either side will hand you a pitchfork as soon as you are ready. On the one hand, this shouldn’t come as a total surprise since we live in a country where we are free to choose our public officials. This freedom comes with a price: disagreement. Extreme disagreement at times! On the other hand, what I find somewhat surprising and disheartening is how this disagreement has turned into demonizing, and this demonizing has found a place even among followers of Christ. With all this division and contention, it begs the question, “how now shall we live?”
Unfortunately, Jesus did not leave us with a voting guide. Jesus didn’t leave us with a political party, though some of his initial followers tried to make it into one. Jesus ultimately left his followers with a way of life that was marked by radical love for God and for others. He demonstrated this love both in word and deed, the ultimate deed being his own death on a cross, for you, and for me. Then he commanded his disciples to go and do likewise, to live in this way of love. He even said that the way the world is going to know that we follow him is how we love one another. We will stand out in the world because of this love! And there is perhaps no better time than now for this love to be expressed.
Christ’s love can uniquely handle trying times like these. It’s not a soft or passive love. Actually it can increase in the face of hostility, hatred, and misunderstanding. It does the surprising thing, catching people off guard. It stands out. It’s unexpected. It forgives. It prays. It fights for justice and mercy without hatred. Easier said than done to be sure. Christ’s love even compels Christians to go so far as to love their enemy, regardless of who the enemy is.
There’s a very well known passage of scripture on what this love looks like. It’s often read at weddings, but I have found it particularly helpful in light of this election season. Perhaps it may be a guide to you as you continue to sort out what this election means in the days ahead. Whether you find yourself mourning or rejoicing:
1 Corinthians 13:4-6,13 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Anyone devastated by last night’s outcome? How about if we give ourselves and each other the freedom and the time to grieve, to mourn, and even to be angry? At the same time, let’s try to be careful not to become resentful, only to find ourselves judging and hating and doing the very things that deep in our hearts we are against. Anyone rejoicing with last night’s outcome? Lets ask God to protect us from being arrogant or rude or boastful. Oh to be loving. Regardless of where we stand, or stumble. It is not the time to prove that we are, or were, or still think we are ‘right’. Perhaps what’s needed most is for us to prove to friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members, those who are different from us, that we love them with the love of Christ, and we refuse to let anything get between us and them. If we Christian’s can’t lead the way in this, then who will?
Like I said in the beginning, I am not a politician, I am a pastor. I think politics are very important, but they are not everything. Many people are struggling right now. What if the church set down politics for a minute and started walking across aisles of hatred with a sincere embrace? What if instead of pointing the finger at the other side we looked within ourselves? Instead of downplaying people’s emotions and feelings, and responses, we listened to one another, gave each other the benefit of the doubt, and exercised patience. What if going forward we cut through all the noise with a surprising love that points to the King and a Kingdom much greater and more powerful than all the kingdoms on this earth combined?
There are no quick fixes or simple answers, but as we walk through this season my hope and prayer is that we walk in the way of Christ’s love. This is how Christ healed us, and how through Him we can offer healing to a broken and divided world. May we pray and work to that end.
-Pastor Jeff