I mean, really.
There I was, minding somebody else's business, when all of the sudden, wham. Right out of left field, there is a mind numbing rebuke.
He's a politician for crying out loud, he's practically begging for me to point out his failings to the world.
But noooooo, some one has to actually like the guy. A Christian brother, no less.
This is quite a dilemma for me.
The politician in question has been systematically destroying what remains of the free world, and looking rather foolish while doing it. He is about as liberal as one can be without morphing into a demon on the spot! He is actively promoting every sin known to man as "progressiveness". And he has big ears!
Ok ok, I know all about the love your enemies stuff, believe me, been there doing that. But where do we draw the line?
I have read many testimonies of the saints who have gone to their martyred deaths while they were praying for there captors. Very noble stuff. I pray that I can do the same.
But politicians? You have got to be kidding. They're the ones who take our money and pay the captors who do the torturing!
And then there's this little gem,
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." ( 1st Timothy 2, 1-4 )
See, in my little world there's the good guys and the bad guys. It's been that way for years. But in Yahwey's world, well, he's just a big love bug. He can love anyone. And He does! This does not come naturally to me.
When I lived in the city, I was an active participant in a prayer ministry where we specifically prayed for "those in authority". From the Prime Minister to the head of the local Parks Board, every Tuesday we lifted these folks up to God and asked Him to bless them, protect them, give them wisdom, to "show them the way".
I remember praying specifically for the RCMP Commissioner one day. Then 10 minutes after the meeting I was being given a ticket for not stopping completely at a stop sign. I thought of the utter irony of the situation. How do I explain to this member with an attitude that I had just been lifting up his bosses bosses boss to the Creator and sustainer of the universe. I didn't. I'm sure the devil was chuckling as I squirmed and fretted.
So back to my current problem.
I love this brother in the Lord who was instrumental in my salvation.
I pray for the politician in question, even though the things I see him doing are far from what I think he should be doing.
Where is this going? To be honest, I don't really know.
I'm sharing my thoughts as I type.
Should we overlook our fellow Christians political leanings? Who would Jesus vote for?
How do we deal with this, where our friends views are different than our own yet we want to maintain transparency of what we really think? Is it better to be tolerant and silent or transparent and offend your friend?
"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come ; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" ( Mathew 18: 7 )
So what was Jesus saying there? Was He saying to be polite and keep religion and politics out of the conversation?
Here's another gem from the Word,
"The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, speak to your people, and say to them, ‘Suppose I bring a sword against the land, and the people of the land take one man from their borders and make him their watchman. He sees the sword coming against the land, blows the trumpet, and warns the people, but there is one who hears the sound of the trumpet yet does not heed the warning. Then the sword comes and sweeps him away. He will be responsible for his own death. He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, so he is responsible for himself. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life. But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death.’
“As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them on my behalf. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you must certainly die,’ and you do not warn the wicked about his behavior, the wicked man will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. But if you warn the wicked man to change his behavior, and he refuses to change, he will die for his iniquity, but you have saved your own life. " (Ezekiel 33: 3-14 )
By the way, the name of the politician of whom this is about means "Sword" in Hebrew.
Go figure eh?
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