People have asked me how I'm doing after the election. I frankly couldn't even begin to process things for a good three days. Thanks to things others have shared, and my handy-dandy little brainstorming/mind mapping tool, I'm starting to.
Honestly, I was pretty gutted. I felt like this election showed me that over half this "great" nation is at best dumb and at worst racist, misogynistic, greedy, selfish, and dangerous. And for the ones who call themselves Christians, add to that hypocritical.
I don't know this gentleman, but he pretty much covers what I was feeling (language warning).
As did my cousin:
I don't like thinking and feeling this way, but I also hate having to face the reality that over half the people in this country would apparently rather see me, my son, and my daughter lose our rights or even lives than have to pay a little more for eggs. I have been on "red alert" since 2020 and I am runnin'-on-empty exhausted, especially in the Redneckville area of San Diego where we currently live!
BUT! I am a Christian. I should absolutely not be surprised by the lost-ness all around me. I should have expected it. And by God, I will strive to remain apolitical, love my enemies, and pray for those who persecute me the best I can.
No, sadly, my real problem has been the church. More specifically, my real problem is how many thousands of church-goers call themselves Christians, are supposed to represent Christ to the world, and yet embody so much of what is opposite of God's heart and will!
To be blunt, we should not claim to be Christian if:
- We focus on a small fraction of God's word and will to the neglect of all the rest of it.
- We honestly couldn't care less about widows, orphans, and all the other oppressed and marginalized people in the world (i.e., do absolutely nothing about it, other than maybe write a check periodically).
- Nationalism is part of our identity.
- Politics and politicians are primary driving factors in our decisions and life.
- Being right is more important to us than being humble or loving.
The Bible is actually ridiculously clear about these things.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
- Matthew 7:21-23
For modern day readers, this passage is literally Jesus warning us that we can check all of our particular church's little boxes and still go to Hell! How does this happen?
The word translated as "knew" in this passage comes from the Hebrew word,
yada. It basically means to know at a deep level, primarily with regard to relationships. Jesus is saying here that we can do all the things but if we don't truly
know Him and His true heart -- evidenced by how we live! -- we are lost. There is no "agreeing to disagree" about these things!
And what does it mean to truly know Jesus?
Love.
L.O.V.E.
LUUUUUVAH!
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- Matthew 22:34-40
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
- 1 John 4:20, emphasis added
We cannot claim to love our neighbors if we choose what Trump blatantly and proudly represents. Period. We cannot claim to love our brothers and sisters if we stubbornly continue to refuse to listen to them.
[Side note: I am not saying that the "other side" is any holier. I've been avoiding details the best I can, but it seems like a whole lot of the folks involved in Diddy's downright evil nightmares are from the "Left," some very famously so.]
So what's the bottom line?
I think for me it boils down to two questions.
Q1: Can you love Jesus and love Trump?
A1: No. You cannot be a "fan" of someone who blatantly represents what he represents
and love Jesus.
- Personally, I don't believe you can be devoted to anything earthly and be a follower of Jesus, but that's
a different topic.
Q2: Can you love Jesus and have voted for him in 2024?
A2: This one's hard for me, but I honestly think the answer is, Yes.
- I need to spend some time with this one. So, as usual, if you need me, I'll be