It’s been an interesting few months hasn’t it?
I have tried my best to avoid the mindless political speak that I am constantly
bombarded with these days. I have friends who span the political spectrum from
the pretty far right all the way to the pretty far left. I like it that way. It
does get crazy sometimes though.
I remain clear, to all my “righties” and “lefties”
what I believe and I try to leave it at that. Since my core belief is that hope
for our country and world is in Christ and not in politics, I try to steer
clear of political arguments. However,
there is just this teeny-weeny little thing I want to point out to all of my
Christian brothers and sisters and also my very non-Christian friends as well.
But first, some background.
On
Election Day all of my friends on the left of the spectrum were simply glowing
with over confidence. The election was over before the voting even started. When
the results started to pour in they became apoplectic. The election was stolen,
there was fraud, the Russians did it, and on and on. That has continued to be
the posture of most. The protests of inauguration day and the woman’s march
only succeeded in stoking the rage and further proving to most of America that
those who so adamantly profess tolerance and love can also be some of the most
intolerant and hateful people around. (I’m really sorry, but it’s true)
These
days my twitter, facebook, etc. timelines, as well as multiple personal
interactions are a constant barrage of hatred toward Trump, the republicans,
the stupid American idiots….. You get the point. I don’t say this to stoke
further division, I simply want to say that if you are on that side of the political
aisle, it may be helpful to look at yourselves and find out why you lost. Not
only have you lost the presidency, but you have lost 100’s of federal and state
legislature positions, governorships and so on. It has been going on for years.
The more you push, hate and divide the more you lose. I’m just sayin’….. Let’s
move on shall we?
In
the last few days though, I have noticed a shift in the anger. Oh don’t get me
wrong, they still hate Trump and every other person who chooses not to bow down
to their intimidation, but now I notice all the hate being thrown at the
Christians. My question is why? Rhetorical, I already know the answer.
Just
today, I have seen cartoons of overweight, hateful Christian women beating Syrian
children with Bibles, I have seen posts mocking Christians as the stupid white
guys who have all the privilege in the world and want nothing more than to take
everyone else’s rights away. (Who knew that every Christian is a white guy?
That will come as a surprise to a lot of my friends and… Hey wait a minute; I
thought it was angry women beating children with Bibles. I’m confused) I have
seen posts mocking the pro-life community for having the unmitigated gall to
say that murdering children in the womb is a bad thing. My favorite post today
at least, is the “America has become a theocracy” angle. Donald Trump??? A Theocracy???
(Pardon me while I clean up the orange juice I just spit out laughing) I pray
for President Trump but I think we’re a couple minutes out from a theocracy. In
the end, as I have come to understand, the Christians are the single biggest
problem in the world. If they could get rid of us I’m sure everything would be
perfect.
At
times I begin to get discouraged. I think to myself, “Man I must be surrounded
by a bunch of hateful, hayseed idiots. Maybe I should turn my back on
Christianity.” But then!!! I get punched in the face by reality!
You
see, I am surrounded by Christians on a daily basis. REAL CHRISTIANS! Not the buffoonish
caricatures that are being pushed by those who don’t like us. You know what I
see? I see folks who have little to no money sacrificing what they do have so
they can buy food to help feed a homeless person. I see people working their
tails off to create a place where food and clothes can be stored in order to
feed and clothe those who need it. (Excuse me a moment… Just got a text…..Ahh
yes it is from a lady in my church who, on her day off, is trying to organize
the food recently donated to give away in the “food room” that some other
church members have been trying to finish for two weeks….such deplorables)
Anyway,
I see people who work 40 hour a week jobs and then in their “off” time, they
minister in prisons and work to help people get out of abusive, negative
life-killing situations. I see people who sacrifice tirelessly to help people
find freedom from alcohol, drugs and whatever other addiction they may be
caught up in. I see people every day who take seriously the admonition of Jesus
that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind
and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Do you know their names? No
you don’t! Why? Because they do not care if you know their names, they only
care that you find help and the love of God. And guess what? Keep hating them
and they will still try to help you when you need it. Weird huh?
Here’s some real truth. Love is not shown by
sitting in front of a computer all day long mindlessly retweeting everyone else’s
thoughts. Love is not in the #resistance or the #revolution or whatever the
meaningfully meaningless hashtag is today. Love is shown when you get out from
behind your computer screen and actually help someone. I understand it though. It
is much simpler and conscience easing to sit behind a monitor and take shots at
people in the name of love and tolerance than it is to actually get out and love
people where they are. You can agree or disagree with building a wall on the
border, but hundreds of thousands have already built a wall between themselves
and the real needs in our country. That wall is their computer screen. Keep on
posting and you won’t have to see the real needs. It may make you feel better
but, in the end, 1000 tweets do not feed, clothe or help ANYONE!
I’m not actually moved by any of this though,
because I have known since I was young that the world would hate those who
follow Christ. It may actually be beneficial. As long as folks are hidden
behind their hashtags, they won’t be in our way as we try our best to help
others and proclaim the love of God. My thanks for helping us win the culture
war.
No
it doesn’t bother me that people who don’t know any better dislike me or my
Christian family. What bothers me most is when my Christian family gets wrapped
up in the back and forth. When Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem, his enemies
mocked him and did their best to intimidate him. They sent a message and told
him to stop doing what he was doing and to come talk to them. Paraphrasing his
words, the response was “I’m doing a great work for God; I don’t have time to
come and talk to you.” We must realize that our job is to share love and truth.
If that is rejected, so be it. However, don’t stop doing the “great work” God
has called you to. Share the gospel, Love the unlovable, free the captives, and
be like Jesus! In Acts 10:38 it says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Church family, this is what we
need to do. Just keep “doing good,” speaking healing, and proclaiming the love of God. Don’t get caught up in
foolish arguments. It’s a waste of precious time.
In
the end, I see that much of the anger is coming because our enemy, our real
enemy, (Not people) knows that his facade of fake love and fake tolerance is
crumbling in the face of the real love that is being shown by the real church.
There are crazies, fakes and frauds who hate and shame the name of Christ, but
they are not us. We are those who are willing to lay it all down to love God
and love others and we are succeeding. In the end those who love in
the name of Christ will be shown to have had the truth all along. Just love. You
will most likely continue to be hated. Jesus told us what to do with that. Love
those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you. Show them all what
love really looks like. In the end Love really will win!
Lastly,
it’s time to start bridging some of the gaps. What I know is that the
perception many have of Christianity is not the reality. I also know that every
ugly thing said about the non-Christian community is not true either. If there
is anyone who wants to do something to actually try and help people let me
know. We, as well as many churches and groups in the area could use the help.
Christian or not, turn your computer off and open your eyes. The opportunities
are all around you.
With
nothing but love to you all
Tom
