For over two hundred years, every four years, it usually starts in the early summer, there is a lot of noise in the air and I am not referring to the cicadas. What I am referring to is the discussions, debates and even heated disagreements concerning the U.S. presidential candidates that goes on through the summer and into the fall up to the elections.
We have all seen the television commercials and or possibly heard the commentaries for and or against a candidate. On social media we have probably seen on the many different websites the posts of those giving their opinions or arguments why one candidate would be a better President than the other.
But the sad fact is that some Christians who verbally state in a discussion or post on the internet their opinions in favor or against a presidential candidate and or their party sometimes have done so in a way that does not honor God.
I am not saying that we should not express our opinions either for and or against a presidential candidate or a political party. But whatever we say, how does it display who Christ is in our lives, especially when you disagree with the other person? Even though our views and comments are of a political context. Do our attitudes and words we choose to express our views display to others that Christ is in control of our emotions and tongues? We all should be knowledgeable about both the candidates and their party’s policies and in a discussion thoroughly and confidently express our opinions, but is what we say expressed with temperance, self-control and wisdom of the Holy Spirit who is in us?
Romans 8:9-10
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Colossians 4:5-6
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
In the context of Colossians 4:5-6 we can clearly see that it is concerning how we act or our actions to unbelievers and also what we say which can be spoken or written. But there is an important spiritual principle that applies to every one of us as followers of Christ. Let us assume you are in a discussion with someone concerning the upcoming election. Just focusing on verse six, it is important to understand verse six is not only suggesting that we have the right answer, but it also suggests in the way or “how” we answer. Whatever topic it may be, “…you may know how to answer everyone…”. In other words, how to answer is just as important as our answer. We might be correct in our answer but wrong in the way we give our answer.
In Romans 12:9-21 the apostle Paul lists twenty-five points concerning the display of a Christian’s character and our conduct towards others. Concerning this list, if we ignore the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us of how the points of the list should be expressed in us and how this is experienced by others; then this list is no different than a grocery list. As the Holy Spirit works removing those things in our life that would hinder Christ’s presence in our character and conduct, each of the twenty-five points will gradually be a natural expression of who Christ is in our lives in every situation.
Out of the twenty-five points in Romans 12:9-21, prayerfully ask the Lord to show you how many can you apply when you are discussing with someone about the presidential candidates and or their parties especially, when you both have opposing opinions? Please note not all twenty-five points will apply to the answer of our question, for example in verse nine it says, “Hate what is evil”. Please does not say, “hate WHO is evil”, which is how some might think of the candidate they oppose. Some points only apply to Christians and their treatment to other Christians.
Twenty-five points concerning the character and conduct of a Christian towards others.
Romans 12:9-21
- 9 Love must be sincere.
- Hate what is evil;
- cling to what is good.
- 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
- Honor one another above yourselves.
- 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- 12 Be joyful in hope,
- be patient in affliction,
- be faithful in prayer.
- 13 Share with God’s people who are in need.
- Practice hospitality.
- 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
- 16 Live in harmony with one another.
- Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
- Do not be conceited.
- 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
- Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
- 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
- “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
- if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
In another portion of scripture, Romans chapter 14, we clearly see it is about what Christians and others eat. It is set in the context of the Christian living in the city of Rome in the first century. But as was previously stated, there are important spiritual principles that apply to every Christian today especially when we are in a discussion with someone with an opposing opinion about a presidential candidate and their party’s policies. The following is just a few points we can glean for this chapter in Romans.
Romans 14
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification
22b Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
James in his epistle tells us the following which is very important to apply to our conversations or discussions with others concerning the presidential candidates and their party’s policies.
James 3:13, 17-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
The short list that James gives in verse 17-18 are the things expressed by our “deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom”, verse 13. However, being “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers…” should also be expressed by our attitudes and words with humility that comes from wisdom, especially in our discussions concerning the presidential candidates and their party’s policies.
As we draw closer to Tuesday November 3rd, the noise in the air will be heard more frequently, it will become louder and more intense, but there also will be many more opportunities to express our opinions concerning the presidential candidates and their party’s policies. As believers in Christ, let us always be the examples of who Christ is in us by our attitudes and the words we choose. And that we always strive for the temperance, self-control and wisdom of the Holy Spirit either when speaking or when writing on any social media website.
Pastor John
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9 NLT
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
2 Timothy 2:23-26
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, what others are saying as in questions, opinions, topics concerning what others say or do because you know they produce quarrels two differing points of view which involves you. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Contentious
