We celebrate Thanksgiving in just a few weeks. Thanksgiving, ahh,-a time where families gather to remember the first Thanksgiving dinner celebrating the successful first harvest by those early settlers and the native American friends who shared their farming practices. Thanksgiving–a time for turkey, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving-a time when we are NOT supposed to discuss religion and politics with those with whom we are celebrating Thanksgiving
What?
All the knowledgeable counselors tell us that discussing religion and politics will destroy Thanksgiving, and all family gatherings. To discuss these taboo subjects will create anger and hatred towards each other. So what are we to do, (in the words of Bill and Gloria Gaither) “talk about weather and things that aren’t really important at all?” If you `an’t talk about religion and politics with your family and closest friends there is something wrong, drastically wrong! Hatred has been allowed to divide not only families and friends, but our entire nation!
To say that we are a divided people is an understatement
Jesus has something to say about that! Matthew 5: “(43) You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor ‘and hate your enemy. (44) But I say to you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (45) In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust alike. (46) If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? (47) Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Every pagans do that. (48) But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” -Matthew 5:43-48
Christians are to love family members as much as they love their neighbor, and their enemies.” In fact, if we truly fulfill Jesus’ command, we will let God’s love be channeled through our own self to embrace all the above. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for ove comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” -1 John 4:7
That brings us to focus on discussing those taboo subjects–religion and politics. And that brings us to focus on our political leaders and the elections to take place on November 3.
The Bible is clear on this issue.”(1) I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (2) Pray this way fo <ings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (3) This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone
to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-3
First, we are instructed to pray for our current leaders
There are people calling themselves “Christian” who openly state their hatred for our current president, or anyone who has served in that office. It is also true of anyone who has served in any elected or appointed position. Hate is wrong, disobedient, and sinful Christians can disagree about a president or any other politician, but to hate Christians are to hate sin, but not the sinner. All people are created in the image of God. To hate what God has created is to hate the Creator because God loves what God has created.
-late comes from Satan! Hate destroys. Hate brings chaos. Hate is totally corrosive to ove. If a person has accepted God’s offer to forgive their sin through the loving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, then all hatred is replaced with God’s perfect, agape love, or at east that is what the Bible teaches. There is no way that love and hate can exist in a person.
And so, we are instructed to pray for all persons, and Paul includes “pray that way fo <ings and who are in authority.” We are to intercede for all persons. We are to give thanks for all persons. Why? Because God said so
Second, it is important to learn as much as possible about persons seeking to be elected to political office
Cach of us are limited as to how much we know about everyone seeking office. Nationa and local news outlets are not always accurate in their reporting of news concerning political candidates. And, there are enormous amounts of money, sometimes “dark money,” being donated to produce negative ads about candidates. Thus, we must prayerfully depend on each other to share their insights. One church in southerr California, after a period of prayer, used to devote Sunday evening before an election to discussing candidates and issues. Everyone knew what would be happening in that meeting and were encouraged to do their research. There were two law enforcement officers in the congregation whose knowledge of judicial issues and potential judges was very helpful. Never were participants told for whom to vote, but everyone was encouraged to express their insights and concerns, and everyone was encouraged to vote,
Third, it is sometimes the case that our ways are not God’s ways.
We believe that God gave us a free will, that is, God gave us the ability and the freedom to think for ourselves, to make our own decisions and choices. More than we like to admit, we oftentimes think our personal choices really are God’s choices. The truth is what we want may, in reality, benefit us but stand in opposition to God’s real desires Jeremiah recognized this problem and dealt with it in chapter 17: (9) “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? (10) But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people
their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” -Jeremiah 17-9-10
There are times when God uses people who we would judge as not good, or even evil to accomplish his perfect will
The fact is, only God, the perfect judge, has the right to judge people. Paul instructs tha God does not always choose perfect” people to carry out his perfect will. Romans 9:10-18 “(10) When Jacob married Rebecca she gave birth to twins (11) But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; (12) he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was old, “Your oldest son will serve your younger son.” (13) In the words of the Scriptures, ” loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.” (14) Are we saying, then, that God is unfair? O course, not! (15) For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and will show compassion to anyone I choose.” (16) So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. (17) For the scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and has spread my fame throughout the Earth.” (18) So you see, God chooses to show mercy on some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others, so they will refuse to listen.”
Who are humans that they can judge God for the choices that God makes More than a few Christians have verbally expressed their hatred for the current president, Donald Trump. Donald Trump is not a perfect person. He has been accused of many wrong doings, some true, but many are malicious and just plain lies. Though it s sometimes difficult, we are forced to admit that sometimes what he has done is good for the nation, for the world, and, maybe, for our personal self
Rather than taking on the dangerous task of judging anyone, Paul instructs: “Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” -Colossians 3:13.
There will always be differences of opinion when a group of people, be it family or friends, get together. Every person sees things from a different perspective. And, every person is entitled to his or her own opinion. However, as followers of Jesus, we should listen to each other, discuss with each other, and learn from each other. Whether this is done at a Thanksgiving gathering or in any other setting, it must be done in the context of the Bible’s instruction. There can be no room for letting Satan build walls that separate us from each other.
Paul recognized that there was a problem between two people in the church at Philippi He writes: “(2) Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. (4) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice (5) Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. (6) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.(7) Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (8) And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (9) Keep putting into practice all you have received from me- everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” -Philippians 4:2,4-9
Whether there are differences of opinion concerning politics, political leaders, or any other subject, including whose favorite football team is better. Christians must let love- God’s love–be their guiding principle. We can disagree and still love each other. After all, we were loved while we were still enemies of God. Isn’t that why Jesus died that horrible death on the cross?
