This issue is much bigger than mere politics, Republican vs. Democrat, or the Congress vs. the President.
As I sit hours after this historic impeachment vote against the President of the United States by the US House of Representatives, I am saddened. In fact, my disappointment level cannot be any higher with the level of overall discourse on multiple levels.
Why? Because of what I see on TV, what I read in newspapers, and what I read on social media.
I will not embarrass any friends or acquaintances by calling them out; however, what I have read on social media defies Christian worldview reason. In fact, God cannot be honored.
If you are a Christian, your response to this impeachment should reflect your love of Christ, love of people, respect for government, and appreciation of our country.
Let me be very clear…if you hate Mr. Trump – and you are a Christian – then shame on you!
If you worship Mr. Trump – and you are a Christian – then shame on you too!
Your view of Mr. Trump as a Christian should first be as a person who has an eternal soul. The same for Mrs. Pelosi. Then you can name the rest. Shame on us if we hate or worship any of them. They are more than mere politicians.
When you apply a Christian worldview to your view of politics and politicians, then it must impact the way you see and interact with each other – maybe more so the ones with whom you disagree.
The Speaker of the House recently complained that someone asked her is she hates President Trump. She said it made her angry because she is a Catholic. Again, let’s be very honest. Not picking on her more than others, but to watch what is happening in Washington D.C. suggests that most of them hate each other.
Although, even if it is just a game to each of them and off camera they are all chummy with each other, the downstream result is hate. People watch what takes place in D.C. and on cable network news of all sorts, and as they do, they take it and make it very personal. As it gets personal, it usually downgrades that downstream person’s attitude and conversations too.
In just one post I see words like liar, socialists, tyranny, deception, jail, power hungry, clear and present danger, scandal, all kinds of name calling, Stalin, dishonesty, and on and on (many words I would never say). And for what purpose? Not one that honors the Lord – that’s without question.
What Should You Do?
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your social media should make that evident. People should not know you as a Republican or a Democrat.
People should know you for what you love – that should be first and foremost Jesus Christ and then people.
People should know you for what you hate – that should be unrighteousness and ungodliness most of all. Whatever God hates should be what we hate. This should not be about a party, affiliation, political process, or political opinion.
Your social media platform should reflect both of these things – not the opposite.
Can and should you have an opinion on politics? Sure you can and should. But how you communicate that opinion matters! What you say, the manner in which you say it, what you think, what you believe, and what you assume should all reflect Christlikeness not merely an opinion on public discourse.
Just yesterday I saw a social media friend (p1) post an article on the impeachment that seemed negative toward the President. Another friend (p2) said it saddened her. Then p1 and several of p1’s friends basically said p2 was wrong for being sad. In fact, one or two even used profanity toward p2 because they disagreed with p2.
How did we get here? What in heaven’s name makes it OKAY to curse at each other, assume motives, and want to get your own personal hit piece out there as a Christian? I do not have an answer for this other than a major disconnect between real life and life in Christ. If you say that you love Jesus then you should be motivated by the love of Jesus to love people. When you love people, you do not act the way many are acting toward each other on social media. You just don’t.
Many Need to Repent and Change
I would encourage you to go back over your social media and ask some hard, self-assessment questions. Let me work through just a few:
- Do my posts focus on a problem or focus on a person? We should be problem-focused not personality and person-focused.
- When you consider another person, do you assume the best or assume the worst about that person? Do you believe that you know his or her motive? Or, do you assign them motive? (i.e., could p2 above not simply be saddened as an American? Does sadness simply mean that p2 is a mindless fool following a President and party? Can someone be sad without it being a political statement?)
- What would someone who reads and considers my posts say that I love? Would it be politics? Would it be an agenda? Where does Christ fit in my post history?
- Do you use profanity? Are you vulgar? Do you call people names? Are you kind even to those with whom you disagree?
- What about your positions? Is the President right simply because he is Republican and generally agrees with you? On the contrary, is the President wrong simply because he is a Republican and generally disagrees with you? What about Congress?
- Would someone say you are balanced, loving, kind, honest, patient, and wise?
These are just a few of the questions you can begin to ask yourself.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t have an opinion or that you shouldn’t share an article. What I am saying is that we do those things as Christians – not liberals or conservatives, Democrats or Republicans, pro-Trumpers or never-Trumpers.
If we are followers of Christ, that must include our voice in the public arena.
Friend, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, let’s be committed to doing our part to keep this conversation and discourse reflective of Whose we are and what is most important to Him. The Word of God must be reflected in the Child of God’s attitude, thoughts, and words. May that be true of all of us.
Editor’s Note: I will leave out any of my commentary and opinion about the merits of this impeachment. You can read other people for a wiser, constitutional analysis. :)
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together