Post-Election Fracture in the United States

I write this to my fellow believers in Christ.  We have been born into this time for a purpose, and if ever there was an urgency to believe that it is now.  We, believers on both sides of the political aisle need to first and foremost remember our core HOPE.

We are called Christians because we believe in a crucified and risen Christ, son of God, savior of the world.  As such we have a hope that cannot be taken from us, not under divisive elections or by arguments over issues, not by word-slinging by those who ought to know better or by persecution by radicals.  We have HOPE.  It is eternal; it is a gift that cannot be taken from us.  Our HOPE is not a fingers-crossed hope.  Not at all, our HOPE is an assurance of our eternal life with God where all fighting ceases and tears are erased.

Are we living in that HOPE?  If we are doing anything other than loving each other, even those we strongly disagree with and even feel a dislike to the point of hate, then we are not living that HOPE.  We are not following the teachings of Jesus either.  We need to stop long enough to evaluate ourselves, consider the words of our Lord, confess our fallen selves, and seek God.

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and most important command.  The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself”.  (Matthew 22:37-39)

“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  (Luke 6:27-28)

Dear friends in Christ how can we continue to insult and berate those who disagree with us.  How can we claim Christ’s Name and act and speak the way we are?  We must work to encourage and console.  We must work to tear down walls and rebuild them together.  We must set aside what we think is best and open our minds to the possibility that what God has in mind might look different.

We have all been praying, I know we have.  We all need to keep praying.  We need to pray for our leaders, that God will protect and guide them.  We need to pray for our fellow United State citizens, that we agree, where we can, and disagree with kindness and humility.

I ask you, how else can we call ourselves Christians?  If we do not walk as Jesus taught what right do we have to His Name?  His name, Jesus, holds power.  If we live under His Name, then we have the power of His Name.  That power is to be used in love to raise up our sisters and brothers, to lift them in their time of need, and be with them in their time of joy or sorrow.  It is NOT to be used to tear them down.

Think, my fellow Christians.  Think.  It is JESUS that sets us apart from the world.  But if we live like the world, we have defamed His Name.

Be the light of God.  You were called for such a time as this.