Hilary would be the worst! Trump is a hater! She did this, He did that! They are destroying our Country, No, they are destroying our country! I wish they would just die!
I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!
Any of this sound familiar? It does to me as there is part of me that would like nothing more than to dive headlong into the culture and political wars that are going on and start unleashing haymakers of judgment on those I find to be the problem. I watched the recent political debate for about 2 minutes and I wanted to do some good old-fashioned Old Testament smiting….where is my donkey jawbone kids Daddy has some house to clean. With all of the craziness going on in the world today, it is easy to spend each day in a froth of righteous indignation certain that if you just had the chance, you would put them all in their place and set things right. The allure of telling people what for is just intoxicating.
There are problems with this posture as a follower of Jesus though. Jesus had a chance to do this in His incarnation and He chose not to. He could have told off Pilate for his poor leadership and demanded to the Emperor or to His Father that Pilate be replaced so Judea could be made great again. He could have called down a legion of angels and cleaned house and set Himself up on His rightful throne as King of Kings. He chose instead to give Himself as a ransom for many. He came to serve the rebellious and love the wicked not to set up an earthly kingdom. He will return as Conquering King and make all things right, all things everywhere, but until then what are we expecting? When Jesus washes the disciples feet, including Judas’, at the last supper He tells the disciples what He just did was an example for them and that they should do the same: John 13
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus also set out the expectation for us in this dark, lost world. Pick a Bible verse that deals with His people and read it. Do you see anywhere where we are to be fist shaking political activists? Telling our neighbors off because the won’t vote for Proposition 543? Angry in any way? Unless you are reading a different Bible than I do, the opposite is true. We are called to be humble, patient, kind, to not behave rudely and slow to anger. Paul tells us to live a quiet life and work hard. Jesus Himself says that the distinguishing characteristic of His followers should be our love. It is how the world will know us. Not by how angry we get a press conferences or talking heads on TV.
So Christian, are you angry? If so, you may want to check in with the King on that and see if He agrees with you.
1 Corinthians 13:
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Yup, the Apostles lived under the harsh rule of the Roman emperors. Yet, Paul encouraged Timothy, in 1 Tim 2:1-8, to, first of all, pray “for kings and all who are in authority.” We are to pray for all “to come to knowledge of truth in Jesus Christ,” trust God for the results, and vote as our civic duty. Paul instructs us to pray for them “without wrath and dissension.” Thanks for your post!
Amen Rob!