Politics

Good Morning!

4. Hate is only validated when one responds in like spirit.

Are you about as sick of it as I am? Can you hardly wait until November 3rd when all the attack ads are put away for another two years? Can you stomach one more analysis program where one or more commentators is declaring their hatred of one of the candidates?

I don’t talk about politics often in these good mornings – but I am going to today. I don’t care if you are a conservative or a liberal or an in-between. Your party affiliation or lack thereof makes no difference to me. My concern is that Americans have begun to hate each other just because of politics – that includes Christians, and Jews and Muslims and others. Why? Because we demonize people who choose to believe differently politically than we do.

The bottom line is that we should evaluate our values and take a stance. And we should enter into amicable debate. But we should never allow our political convictions to overcome our love for God’s creation – mankind. At the end of the day, we are commanded to love one another. Here’s what Jesus said about hatred:

Matthew 5:43-48 (English Standard Version)
Love Your Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:47 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

Brother Shuler’s point is that if we return hatred for hatred, all we are doing is validating hatred as being reasonable. Well, it is not! Not for the Christian! We are commanded by Jesus to love one another – and I think He means everybody. We can hate the sin a person is engaged in … but we should never hate the sinner for he / she is the creation of God.

Let’s purpose to love the unlovely today – and give God the glory.

Agape’


Mr. Jim

New Prayer Need:

Cheri and Conner Kennerly need our prayers during this difficult time in their lives.

Shared Praises:

Mom called me last night with a report from the doctor. He examined her and says that he doesn’t find anything to worry about – fatty deposits occur as ladies age. They were not able to do the mammogram – it isn’t fully installed yet – but he told Mom not to worry. She is on the schedule for an exam but he doesn’t think it will reveal anything (just as the first one didn’t). She is very grateful for your prayers and your concern – and basically told me to let you know this. And I do what Momma says do.