I don’t care about politics that much.
I grew up conservative and Christian, but I'm only confident in one of those things now. I think it’s important for people to be heard, to protest things they don’t believe in, to have a voice when they feel powerless. But I also think that the issues we yell for warrant respect on both sides in order to be understood.
I’m concerned about equality. I’m concerned for the unborn children. I’m concerned that women are ripping babies from their wombs in other countries to prevent unwanted pregnancies they can’t afford. I’m concerned that the “tolerant left” has had enough. I’m worried that the media has become THE MEDIA and has left unbiased journalism behind. I’m concerned that Republicans are being referred as “Trump Supporters” with disdain. I’m concerned about refugees seeking shelter.
EQUALITY.
To those of us begging, protesting, and yelling for equality, consider: the people in your workplace might not agree with you, there may be students on your campus that feel attacked by the nature of your protest, the candidate you voted for might not be who your neighbor supports, the stance your company/church takes may make others feel alienated. If you want equality, you have to see the people who disagree with you as your equals too. It’s an issue that Republicans and Democrats alike are FAILING to do right now.
America is in uproar because its entire population is failing to fulfill the fundamental promise of “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
I’m not trying ineloquently to say you should sacrifice your beliefs for the nature of other people’s feelings. I’m saying that “the greatest of these is love,” and politics can’t compare.
I get that this temporary immigration ban is hard to support when we are called to love the nations. I understand that the current president of the United States should not be allowed to run his own Twitter. And I definitely agree that we should always take up our own crosses for the sake of the gospel. I get you – I see you. But blaming the man doesn’t help the mission.
The people inside our country’s borders are hurting too. I’m not claiming Americans are more important in this issue – I don’t think that’s for me to decide. But if anyone is to decide – I do think it should be the President, whoever is sitting in the Oval Office. President Obama made similar decisions for the sake of the American people, his number one priority. Trump (I know, I said his name) is your president too. But you won’t be accounting for his sins on Judgment Day, and he won’t be accounting for yours. Or mine.
Photo: Kevin Lee/ UnSplash
As a Christian, I believe that we are called to respect the authority placed in our lives unless it directly contradicts Scripture. Where does that place me? It places me living in a world that doesn’t look at all like heaven. I look around, virtually and literally, at a world tearing itself up, and tearing others down, because we have rights?
It's easy to forget how our governing system is set up when we are confused by passion and mixed up in hate. When a president takes office, he takes an oath to put his own country and its people first -- America -- to protect them at all costs. It's also easy to project the responsibility of protecting the entire world on the President.
A friend told me this week as long as you believe you have the moral high ground, you can’t be reasoned with. And he's right -- whoever you are, for whatever party you support.
America is not great right now – not because of the man in office, but because of the reaction of its people. Whoever is calling the shots in the national arena does not affect the way you treat people on a daily basis.
Your black friends, your white friends, your gay friends, your straight friends, your short friends, your tall friends, your Muslim friends, your Christian friends – love on them – all of them -- it’s the greatest form of protest there is, and it doesn’t need a political party to do so.
“Your promise still stands – great is your faithfulness.”