Their Views

But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

It is rare that I allow something political into my devotion writing, but because it brings home a point that God has deeply impressed upon me, I pray this strikes the right chord with those of you reading this.

The other day, a famous basketball player’s son had a cardiac arrest.  For me, it did not matter if the person was famous or not, my initial thought was to pray for the health of the child and comfort for his (or her) parents.  No one should have to endure the tragic loss of a child, and I equally mourn those parents who have had to do so.  Most people would react as I would.  While my closest inner circle had a similar response as I did, someone close to me had an entirely different thought.  They chose to use it as a political point noting that this was due to the individual being vaccinated for COVID-19.  Now I am not going to dive into whether someone should or should not be vaccinated because that is an individual choice, and if you ask me, I will gladly state my stance.  However, that is not the point.  My point is whether the person is vaccinated or not is irrelevant.  When someone is suffering, our thoughts should never focus on whether they received the appropriate shot or what isle on the political side they stand on.  It should simply be this.  How can I pray for you?  What can I do to support you?  Where can I be of encouragement to you?  While it might be awkward, even a talk about who Jesus is would have far greater impact than trying to prove a political point.

Somewhere along the way, we have lost the basic dignity to show our support for each other.  Is that how God sees us?  Does God see someone who has a political stance that goes against His teaching, or we do question our trust in Him simply because we did or did not get a shot?  On His Sermon on The Mount, Jesus Christ said, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”  My focus is not about judging here, but I certainly would not want someone to decide whether to pray for me because I voted one way or another.  I want to be remembered for how I encouraged others.  Not worried about how their views should determine my prayer’s directions.

We are to be encouragers as Christ followers.  While this is not a commandment, it is a direct byproduct of one that is.  The Greatest Commandment states that we are to love God and our neighbor as we love ourselves.  If we are to genuinely love others, there really is not room for either petty or other differences.  There will be some who will say an individual is not one of God’s children.  Would we want to be in front of God wondering how we treated someone who we thought was not one of His children only to find out they were?  If we are all God’s creation, how is one to disseminate which ones have fallen from grace?  Yes, there will be some whose evil deeds both are brought into the light and deserve judgment.  However, to say that one is to be judge unworthy of God’s grace or love because of someone’s own health choice is simply the wrong approach.  In a world we say is devoid of God, I have a tough pill for swallow.  Is it possible that the reason that I do not see God in the world is I do not represent His love, His joy, His grace, or His wisdom enough?  If we are to talk about a fallen world, I must take up Jesus’ cross and represent Him.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”  There is no better example of being Christ than saying to another, “You are a child of God.  I am with you.  I will pray for you.  You can do this.”

To represent God is to go beyond what we want and to embody what He wants.  Marianne Williamson, a poet, captures best in what it means to be not only be a child of God but also be courageous in letting others that they are as well:

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking, so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”

Let us encourage others to become the liberators of God’s power beyond what any other personal belief we may have.  Who have we hurt with our politics that we need to mend with God’s love?  How can we be more encouraging and less discouraging?  My prayer is that we focus more on what Jesus would do and less on what are their views.  Amen.