My politics for 2016

I am watching racism, bigotry, sexism, bitterness, fighting, greed, deception, vile discussion, character assassination and more… I’m not talking about the presidential election. I am speaking about what I see in people’s discussions over the election and it’s candidates.

Person after person on social media ranting and raving about how evil hillary is and how disgusting trump is and in the next breath act exactly the same way with those they are talking with.

I’m coming at this from purely a flawed christian point of view. I believe in a God that not only loves but IS LOVE. It is the church’s responsibility to express this reckless love that has no strings attached, that doesn’t enable evil but also knows how to give out the grace that we have been given. Yet as much as that is true, it is literally the opposite of what I am seeing.

We have two people to vote for. Neither are great on policy. Neither are great morally. Neither measure up and we are stuck with an interesting dilemma on who to vote for. With that said regardless of who they are and what they have done it should not in any way define how you choose to speak to those around you or what garbage you sling on Facebook. You can’t blame the political situation for your complete disregard of your call to breathe life into this world.

Those of us who know God are literally called to bring heaven to earth by our words, by our actions and by how much we love. For those who don’t know God or don’t want to pick up a bible, WE are the only bible they will read. Instead of a verbal diarrhea of doom and trash talk which results in increasing our label as hypocrites and convincing people God is a jerk, we should be taking this opportunity to show people how Good, how gracious, how forgiving, and how loving God is.

We should not spend the next two weeks mudslinging and then after election in quiet prayer for the president. We should be singing praise to our God now for his peace in situations that make no sense.

Both candidates have slogans but the only one we should be preaching is that our hope is built on Jesus and regardless of what happens HE/WE WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.

And then for those of you who just can’t stop filling the internet with garbage that points to UNTRUE characteristics of a good God… STOP.

Pastors and leaders be careful what you type because people might not remember your sermons every week but the internet remembers what you type.

We have the opportunity to recover the things that have been stolen from our lives. The peace, the joy, the hope etc… It starts with our faith in a God who is unchanging and our choice to daily work on being more like Him.

We should ALL take a close look at what is coming out of our mouths because if it is not true, noble, kind, good, lovely, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, the beautiful, praise, peace, love… If it isn’t pointing to a Good Good father then you need to work on what is on YOUR inside instead of going after others… SO THAT GOD MIGHT BE GLORIFIED and you can make the invisible God visible to those around you.

This song below from Tim Hughes inspired from the psalms is my prayer for myself right now. Im responsible for ME… Those who read this might want to use this as their prayer too:

“May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart
Bless Your name, bless Your name, Jesus
And the deeds of the day and the truth in my ways
Speak of You, speak of You, Jesus

For this is what I’m glad to do
It’s time to live a life of love that pleases You
And I will give my all to You
Surrender everything I have and follow You
I’ll follow You

Lord, will You be my vision, Lord, will You be my guide
Be my hope, be my light and the way
And I’ll look not for riches, nor praises on earth
Only You’ll be the first of my heart”