Election season again. Is it just me or did the past four years seem to fly by? I have mixed feelings about election season. It’s an exciting time in our country and I am so thankful for the freedom we have to choose our leader. I am also thankful for the peaceful transition of power that takes place in this country. In so many places there is no right to vote and there is no peaceful transition.
What I don’t love is all the negativity surrounding the process. It doesn’t matter what side of the political fence you’re on. It comes from every side, every candidate, every media outlet and every campaigner. It seems like politics (and here in the South, college football) brings out the worst in people. We are so very passionate about our own political “agenda.”
It’s great to be passionate and it’s great to fully support whatever it is you support. However, it seems we’ve taken our passion to a dangerous level. It saddens me to see that even those that profess to be Christians spar with one another over politics. So much so at times, that it brings shame and reproach on the name of Jesus.
My point here is not to say that we should all agree on every issue. We certainly won’t and shouldn’t compromise what we believe to be true and right, politically speaking. (If you compromise what you believe then did you really believe it to begin with??)
My point is actually not about politics at all. It’s about being passionate.
Passionate about Jesus.
I am amazed that we’ve become more passionate about our candidate that we have about our Savior.
The past couple of Presidential elections have been quite intense. It seems that there is constant e-mail being circulated about the current president as well as the current presidential candidates. The majority of these e-mails are in some way negative. They are either criticizing the current administration or the candidates. There is very rarely a positive message.
What if, instead of “mud-slinging,” these emails circulated the Gospel? What if we were so passionate about Jesus that we would forward everyone in our address book e-mails which share the Good News?
Would that change our community, our culture, our country and maybe eventually, our world? What if those of us that claim to know Christ were proclaiming Christ to those that don’t know Him?
It is certainly OK to have and express your political views and opinions. Praise God that we live in a country where we can openly do just that. However, let’s be Christians first. Let’s talk about Jesus first. When we talk about politics let’s remember to do so in a loving, peaceful way. Not compromising what we believe, but remembering that we are not only representing a political candidate or message but as Christians we are representing Jesus and His message.
Very good thoughts Jennifer. The list could go on and on about things we seem to be more passionate about that Jesus. Sports for one example. When at a sporting event or concert I wonder if there would be so much excitement if Jesus was on stage or there. I wonder....and sure hope that I would be as excited about my Saviour and more so as I would be about anything happening here on earth. Great article.
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