Can we just
stop? Seriously. You know what I’m talking about. You do, let’s be honest. Half-thought-out
Facebook posts and one sentence tweets do not change people’s minds. At least
not in the sense that you are hoping. Or maybe you’re not hoping to change
someone’s mind, maybe you’re just trying to get a rise out of the other side or
have those who are agreeable pat you on the back. Whatever your reasons, do you
really think you are going to change someone’s deeply held beliefs by a few
words on Facebook or Twitter? We can’t think that because it’s not possible.
But we just keep at it, sharing our opinions over and over, secretly hoping to
incite an argument or looking for validation and ‘likes’ from others. Who doesn’t enjoy having an argument with
someone you probably don’t even know on social media? You can say whatever you want and get away with it. It’s easy, and
there are no consequences because there is no relationship. However, if you really care about people and genuinely
want to help them understand what you believe to be the truth, then get out
from behind your phone or computer and have an actual conversation. People’s
opinions and political persuasions come from deep within; from our foundational
beliefs and worldview. There are reasons people believe what they believe. If
you want to help someone see the light, then stop just talking about politics
(and the normal day to day stuff) and start talking about his worldview, which
is the very thing that informs his [political] opinions.
For
me personally, I only post something after I’ve thought long and hard about it,
even if it’s something trivial or noncontroversial. Why? Because everything
shared on the Internet can be taken the wrong way by someone, somewhere and I
am called to do what the Bible says, “If it is
possible, as far as it depends on you, live
at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) On the flip side of that I am
also called to share the truth…in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25). Sometimes this can
lead to the strain of a relationship or being at odds with a culturally
acceptable viewpoint. That is okay because it is more important for someone to
hear the truth than for him or her to like you. So, I should be seeking to share the truth as I seek (if possible) to
live at peace with others. What I really struggle with, however, is when
Christians seek to do neither. It seems many today are actually trying to make
enemies like it is our Christian duty or something. Or perhaps we are just
arguing from an ‘American First’ perspective. And when it comes to truth,
Christians can be the biggest offenders in sharing things that are not true.
From fake news stories to bogus websites to anything that sounds like we might
agree with it, without even checking its sources. I am blown away by the amount of people who share articles that haven’t
actually read them. This is truly mind-boggling to me, especially as a
Christian who is seeking out truth and looking to share it. What a devastating
way to turn off an unbeliever to Christ because we are careless in sharing the
truth and only want to win an argument.
So
this I have to say something about. I named this blog post what it is because I
must continually remind myself of who I am at the core of my being. I have had
this title in my head for some time now but have seen similar titles pop up on
the Internet in recent days. As John Piper recently said in one of his
articles: “Followers of Christ are not Americans
first. Our first allegiance is to Jesus, and then to the God-inspired word of
Scripture, the Bible. This is our charter, not the U.S. Constitution.” (http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-live-under-an-unqualified-president) Yes, we are called to be good citizens, be involved in the
political process, to submit ourselves to the governing authorities, and pay
taxes (Romans 13:1-7). Yes, let’s even be patriots but ultimately our
citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). The Word of God must inform our
beliefs, not the popular opinion of our desired political party. As you read the Bible, have you sought to understand its true meaning? Do you know what it says about when life begins, gender and
gender equality, human rights, immigrants and refugees and every other
controversial issue today? There are by no means easy answers for any of these
but it seems a lack of compassion on all sides has only made the divide even
wider. Of all the differing opinions out there of Jesus, I would say no one
believes that He lacked compassion. We are called to be like Jesus and seek to
do what He did (see Matthew 9:36). However, today we have allowed worry and fear
and a sense of nationalism to be the driving forces behind our beliefs and have
all but let compassion go out the window. Compassion
is a word that we have left to the spiritually elite, when in fact it is a word
that should merely define the normal Christian life. So, if compassion is a word
that defines the everyday Christian, how should we then live? I will explore
this in part 2 of this post.
For
further reading, please check out these well thought out and balanced
approaches to living the Christian life in the midst of a divided America
(although I do not agree with everything said here, I think this is a good
place to start):
