Election Season

Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity.  Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.  Justice Antonin Scalia 

Ugh…it’s election season and it’s getting so close it’s hard to stay out of the way of the slinging mud!  I think this season bothers me so much because the majority of the conversation is about the mistakes, shortfalls and perceived weaknesses of another person.  I get it, I really do…it’s about convincing and quite honestly, the bad stuff gets peoples attention.  For as much as I hate all the negative, the arguing and the difficulty actually sifting out the truth, there is one good thing about this season;  it forces me to ponder and pray about what I really believe.  

Our morals and our beliefs absolutely come into play during an election season and it’s often something people  twist and attack.  Christianity just isn’t “cool” according to some and it is brushed away and trivialized like the stuff fairy tales are made of.  I can get a little huffy when faith is dismissed as a part of the leadership equation because it’s hinged to everything.  When I read these words from Justice Scalia I realized it was ok to be offended and suffer as so many dismiss Jesus and his teaching.  It made me realize I put too much stock in what the world thinks and it’s ok if the world thinks I’m foolish for believing the way I do. I guess being a fool for Christ is the best kind of foolish their is.

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with that “hell in a hand basket” feeling as the election draws closer and recently I had a some conversations with some folks who were definitely overwhelmed.  In his great timing, someone shared this quote and as I passed it along; we all felt some peace and balance. Trump and/or Biden isn’t going to fix or keep America great.  People are.  Read to your kids.  Show them how to find joy in work.  Teach them what respect and kindness is.  No politician will ever do that.  It’s not the government’s job to teach people how to be happy.  I wish I could re-write it and add Pray with your kids. Believe in and trust the one who is the author of happiness and the one who is greatness Himself.  America will be great when we remember to live the Gospel.

I suppose the other thing that really bugs me about this season is my intense dislike for conflict!  Christians are often under attack during this season and accused of being old-fashioned, narrow minded and judgmental.  Those words are hard to hear but maybe they’re true.  If keeping up with the times means ditching the Gospel than I think I’ll be old-fashioned.  I can’t count the times in the last couple of weeks I’ve heard someone say, “You need to be more open-minded.”  It was usually in the context of accepting something contrary to Christian beliefs and again, just because God communicates in crazy ways, I saw a quote from G.K. Chesterton that said “Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out.”  It made me laugh because it just put things in perspective.  

As God’s children we can use this season for good.  We can use it as a chance to ponder what we believe and how our actions back those beliefs.  We can use this time to pray for those who are running for office and those who are doing the voting.  We can also use this time to realize that God is the winner…the power…the authority…the everything, and make sure we’re hitched to his wagon!

A Seed To Plant:  Just for one day, every time your see a campaign sign or hear a political ad, say a prayer for God’s blessing on our country.  For extra credit, do it for a week!

Blessings on your day.