If you are conservative, you are a racist and a terrorist. If you are liberal, you are a baby killer and support any means necessary as long as your side “wins”. If you are libertarian, you won’t pick a side and therefore are a problem.
It’s amazing looking at the events in America for the past twelve months.
If you voted democrat, you likely view the riots, property damage, fires, casualties and deaths that happened over the summer as “necessary” for “unheard people to have their voices heard” and that police are indescriminitely executing innocent black men in the streets. You also likely believe that Trump supporters raided the capitol on January 6 with the intent to perform a “weaponless coup”, “kidnap and execute leaders” and that the use of tactics that you supported for the past 9 months are no longer warranted because those that feel “unheard” voted for a man that you hate with the fierceness of 1000 lightning bolts.
If you voted republican, you likely think that liberals are wacko environmentalists that care about the earth more than they care about their neighbor, that they all support abortion and view an *unwanted* unborn baby as worthless while calling the killing of any other type of animal in the womb “cruelty”. You also likely believe that the raid on the capitol on January 6 was orchestrated by ANTIFA or BLM instigators dressed as Trump supporters who planned the raid in advance and used the unwitting crowd to their advantage, but you condemn anyone that violated any laws on that day. You likely believe that the election was in no way legitimate because of questions that have been raised that have not been adequately answered.
If you are an independent, you likely share views from both sides above and fall into an individualistic, “leave me be” mindset.
I definitely fall into the “voted republican” camp above, although I don’t align with all the extreme thoughts that were laid out. Many who voted republican absolutely agree with all of the thoughts listed above and have a long list of disagreements with the people who voted democrat.
I have family members that voted democrat, and if you are on either side and have friends/family that voted republican or vice versa, you know that it has been a horrible year for those relationships. You likely have been through your social media contacts and have had at least one round of purging this past year.
This is tough inside the church, too. Many pastors make political stands from the pulpit, which isn’t in itself a bad thing, but it is almost always from within a singlular worldview.
What’s the problem you ask? Well, all of these worldviews have the same fundamental problem – they are all worldviews created by man. There is another worldview that you rarely, if ever hear about, even from within the church.
God’s Kingdom worldview.
What is that? 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB95)
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God doesn't want anyone to perish (be condemned to eternal death), but to come to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Man’s worldview is currently experiencing the only outcome it can ever achieve – hatred and division. God’s Kingdom worldview is empathetic, loving and broods connection to others.
In my discussions both in real life and on social media, I am routinely chastised for not being a real Christian when I don’t exude love to those that are spewing hatred towards me. I submit that I want to follow in Jesus’ example of how to handle these situations. For example:
Matthew 12:33-37
33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
36But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
This was a straight rebuke of the pharisees. Jesus had no problem calling people out for being wrong, but not for having wrong “man” worldviews, but for having wrong understanding of God’s Kingdom worldview. I am not good at handling these types of situations in the most Christ-like manner. I pray that for the people I have handled a discussion poorly with, that God sends someone after me to clean up my mess.
I have seen and heard people state, and I am guilty of this myself: “I don’t understand how you can be <insert worlview here> and be a Christian. I hope I have shown you why you should never ask this question again, and instead ask yourself “how do I convert someone to God’s Kingdom worldview. It is not an unforgivable sin to adhere to any of these worldviews, but as Christians, we should be promoting God’s Kingdom worldview, and not man’s worldview.
God’s Kingdom worldview doesn’t promise here on earth a “living wage”, “healthcare for everyone”, “guns for everyone”, “freedom for everyone”, or that your preferred worldview will always be the prominent one on the stage.
For anyone that wants to know, yes, Donald Trump was appointed by God to be the President of the United States. Fighting Donald Trump was fighting God. Also, Joe Biden is appointed by God to be the President of the United States. Fighting Joe Biden will be fighting God. The Bible is clear on this:
Romans 13:1–4 (NASB95)
1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
God has a purpose for every leader. If you pay attention, you can follow along with the script and see how the play will reach the foretold conclusion.
Ours is not to argue for the systems of wicked men, but to argue for the system of the Living God. Man’s systems only lead to division, fear and despair. God’s Kingdom system leads to hope and everlasting life. Choose God’s Kingdom system.
Spread the Gospel, Lives depend on it!!!
In Christ,
Duane
