I feel a little bad, because it seems some of my Shower Talks are becoming political rantings. My Mother called me an activist so I guess it fits. Que viva la Revolución! Just kidding, kind of.
Anyway...every day I keep hearing "Democrats can't be Christians" or "You can't be a Republican and be a Christian!" Let me be the one to tell you: You are both ridiculous. And I'm pretty sure you don't have the authority to say who is and who is not a Christian even though you try. Shall we check our Christian attitude? Yes please? "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" -Matthew 7:3. What I'm trying to say by this is that I'm embarrassed by Republican Christians and Democratic Christians alike. Do you not know that it's not your arguments that turn people away from Christianity so much as by the way you approach them and by your actions?
Chew on this for a minute: I'm a Christian. I sometimes listen to *some* other Christians talk and I become disgusted with religion. I have to remind myself that, if they're acting in such a harsh way (Notice I said harsh and not radical? We are called to be radically different, yes), they are probably not fully in line with Jesus. Because I don't recall the Bible saying that Jesus went up to people yelling at them or getting in their face or being in any other way abrasive in order to convert them. Jesus taught. Jesus taught lovingly. My point? If I'm a Christian who can become disgusted with religion because of the way other Christians talk, just imagine the non-Christians. What in the world do you think you're doing to them?? Please don't undo my years of reconciling my friends' relationship with Christianity, because I've seen that happen in one fell swoop.
You can argue that you're right until you're blue in the face. I don't care if you're right. You can be right all day long but that doesn't mean you now have a free pass to be a jerk to someone else. We have to be respectful. I would rather listen to someone who is respectful any day, even if they're wrong about everything. If you're a jerk I'm going to write you off immediately and probably label you as ignorant, and I know that's what a lot of people do. It's good you think you're right though. I think I'm right...I think I have wonderful ideas. But no one is 100% right, that's just not how it is. That's why we have checks and balances - because no one is 100% right (or just). There has to be a way to make sure that all ideas are being heard and the best ones are being carried out that will do the most good for the most people. So when you say to me "I'm right and that's the end of it." you just sound 1) Pompous and 2) 100% wrong.
Now here's my thing with debating: If used properly it is wonderful. But you cannot be a good debater without also being a good listener. It just won't work. If you can't be quiet long enough to listen, you won't learn anything (again, ignorance)...and I thought the point of debating was expressing both sides? That's what people keep telling me, anyway. Use it effectively and, if you're going to debate, be willing to hear the other person. It's a waste of time otherwise.
What did I want this Shower Talk to say? Christians: I believe we have a place in the political system. I believe what we pull from the Bible is valid and makes a good argument. The Lord gives us strength to fight His battles. BUT we have no right to judge other people or determine who is or isn't Christian - that's God's job, not ours. If we're going to be the light of Christ, we have to be loving and respectful, not jerks. They will shut us out immediately and I've seen it happen. Please do not turn people off from being Christians because you cannot find it in yourself to be respectful, I beg of you. We have to take any and every opportunity to express Jesus' love and let His light shine through us, don't pass it up.
Biblical verses to express why I believe what I believe:
1. Comprehensive Immigration Reform: "'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'" - Leviticus 19:33-34 (And since I've already been yelled at for this I thought I would just clear it up for those who don't understand what Comprehensive Immigration Reform is: making the immigration process better and more effective).
2. Pro-life: "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE LIFE, so that you AND your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." - Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (emphasis added)
3. Supporting the weak (without sacrificing those who've already "done their part" although I don't think it'd kill those better off to help): "'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:35-40
4. Loving others (Republican/Democrat, Rich/Poor, Old/Young, Immigrant/Native-Born): "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
AND
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
God said it, I'm just passing it along.
God bless...make sure you don't forget the love.
