It isn’t news to say it is depressing.

At my age, it is easy to say things are getting bad—really bad. Last week I even found myself praying about how corrupt and depraved we have made the world.

Then I was reminded of the fact that my grandparents, and later parents, basically saw their worlds in pretty much the same way. As I look back, I remember my youth and early adulthood. As I was getting married, going to college, and learning the beginnings of how to serve the Lord, the world was a mess.

–The world was going to end any moment when one of the countries with THE BOMB finally pushed the wrong button.

–The Vietnam war was dragging on, and America was deeply divided over it.

–The economy was failing with inflation so high mortgages reached 17%.

–We had to line up for gas on the day that fit our license plate, hoping the tip we got was right and the gas station had enough to fill our tank.

–Race relations were strained, black people feared white people and white people feared black people. White people ran the country, and all others struggled to get a piece of the pie—or to take the pie away.

–Women had just won the right to consider their babies as non-people and (from the perspective of many of us) kill them.

–Domestic terrorism was gaining publicity and everyone looked for Patty Hearst when they visited a bank (if you don’t understand that reference, Google it:-)).

–Cancer was largely uncurable, and on the horizon, AIDS was waiting to terrorize the world.

–Women had it made—as long as they didn’t mind not having the same rights as men.

–Morality was being redefined in almost every way, and “Question Authority” was one of the most common bumper stickers.

I suspect if I had the opportunity to interview someone from each century—or half-century—they would have their own version of this list. I am sure whoever you are, and whatever your age, you could make a similar list.  So, we need to remember:

1) We live in a fallen and cursed world. That isn’t superstition, it is fact. The world was made by God and is good. But we have bent it, poisoned it, and made it toxic to everyone and everything that lives in it.

2) This should not surprise us—we were told it would be like this (without the details) back in Genesis.

3) This is why Jesus came. He has not only redeemed us but the world we live in. It hasn’t been realized yet, so we look around and feel it is all headed for a metaphoric cliff. And it is. The end, however, isn’t being engineered by us, but by the King.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4, NIV)

Know Jesus and Be Faithful!

This morning we worshiped together, then treated ourselves to take out. We brought it home, ate it making sounds that would have turned either of us off on a first date. We got very messy, then had to clean up and do the dishes. This full morning took its toll on her and she is laying down for a nap.

During all this, I found myself looking at her. Sometimes I can see right through the 65 year old looking back at me, and there is the 17 year old who (though she was so insecure she didn’t know it) had an indescribable power over me. She is still there. She has been there all these years. And I am confident she will be there until one of us goes home to the King. I want to be with Him, but I find myself asking if I can have a few more years with her first. A few years ago my daughter described my relationship with her as “loving her fiercely”. I like that. It has an intensity and a consistency that matches my love for this woman I have been watching today.

I hear a lot of people talk about how they are in love, and unfortunately many describe falling out of love. If you stop to listen, they describe love as a pit—something you fall into, as though they have nothing to do with it—and then, defying the laws of nature, fall out of again, also as though they have nothing to do with it. I want to laugh (and sometimes I do) because I have watched some of these people work their tails off (figuratively, of course) to be in love. Then they stop working, and oddly enough, they fall out of love.

Donna and I aren’t always in love. I don’t always have the feelings I have today. No one can keep up that kind of emotionally intensity—especially those of you with children at home. But I believe after almost 47 years of marriage I have earned the right to speak to two points:

1. The love that makes a marriage isn’t “in love”. It is the Biblical “agape”, doing what is best for the other.
2. That said, “in love” feels good, and like most people, I really like it. So I figured out about 30 years ago that when I realize I am not feeling “in love” anymore, I can rekindle those feelings for her by simply doing the same things I did when I first fell in love with her almost 50 years ago. I think of her. I look at her and see how blessed I am. I decide I want to be part of her life, so I listen to all those things I don’t really care about because SHE does care about them. I ask myself what would make her feel good, and I move heaven and earth to do that. Most importantly, I love her—the agape love. I pray for her constantly and ask the Lord to show me how I can be there for her.

I am writing this blog because as a minister, a counselor, and a person who isn’t blind looking at marriages today, I know many people need to hear this—people who still feel in love, and especially people who don’t. I am writing this because I know many who have not experienced this, and I want them to know that they can. I am writing this to honor our King who created us for marriage and gave me Donna to spend my life with. And I am writing this because I tend to write these things on anniversaries (yes, I celebrate more than one), birthdays, etc. Today I want to write this for no other reason than I am blown away that God has given me a life with this person.

Thank you, my King. Your gifts are truly beyond our understanding!

Know Jesus, and Be Faithful!

So here goes. Like many in this country, I have watched with interest and anticipation as the Derek Chauvin trial unfolds. I have watched the coverage and read articles about the other major events around the country during the trial which affect how we feel about what is happening in the trial.

Then I read the article.  I don’t even remember who wrote it, and I don’t care. The article said many things that many others were saying that they went in one ear and out the other.

Except the one line. I can’t quote it, but the author said something like this: Headlines are saying that the country is on trial. That is exactly wrong. Derek Chauvin is on trial, and no one else.

I could not believe the ignorance and/or naivete.

Of course, no one else is legally on trial. Duh. (Yes, he did make that point and seemed to be proud of himself for this unique insight). But everyone who has anything to do with how this country is right now is also on trial.

Conservatives and Whites are on trial. Are we part of a system that “protects” itself by not only hiring people who allow themselves to lose control as I believe Chauvin did? Are we willing to see racism where it is embedded and call it out so it can be changed? Do we care that our black and brown (and increasingly Asian) friends feel very different when they are approached by an armed police officer than we do? Do we get that “Black Lives Matter” is a slogan because for years the fact is that black lives haven’t mattered—at least not as much as white lives have?

A lot of people are saying these things and they need to be heard. But they also need to look in the mirror.

Those on the left and those who are people of color responding in anger and in many cases, hate (let’s be real—I have experienced this and seen it often!) are also on trial. Are they willing to make changes that will help us move away from racism? Or are they simply trying to flip the coin so that they are in the same place of preference and power that others have been in. Do they want equality and justice, or are they trying to simply be the ones on top?

Those who just labeled me as a racist for asking that question are as ignorant, naive and racist as the conservatives who don’t understand the racism issue to begin with. And they need to understand that one of the reasons the reforms they are pushing for—the reforms they can’t understand why everyone aren’t accepting—are being held up by many who see this and are fearful of the country simply turning to an “It’s our turn” approach to justice.

If you laugh at this or brush it off, you are part of the problem. People in America are so divided that they fear each other—and fear leads to dislike and even hate. Each “side” has reason for concern. The only way the culture will change for the good is if they start listening and caring about what concerns each other.

From what I see in the Derek Chauvin coverage, I fear that won’t happen. This doesn’t surprise me because this trial has also shined a light on those who claim to follow the King but are actually rooted in this world. We aren’t listening. We aren’t serving. We aren’t loving (determining what is needed by the other and doing it). We are commanded to listen, serve and love by the one who is King of Kings, but we aren’t obeying those commands.

Until that changes, the only verdict from the trial will be guilty.

Yes, I know. That’s a movie.

It’s also a day when traditionally a small rodent sticks its head up after hunkering down for the winter. When it looks around, what it sees determines how it behaves.

Christians across the US are beginning to “poke our heads out”. As we do, some things are beginning to dawn on us—leaders and average Christian alike.

First, life out there is real. Many of us have been living in isolation—even worshiping that way. We no longer even speak of “going to church” (a terrible phrase no one should ever use—we go to worship, we ARE the Church), we now “watch church”. We communicate through the internet, and we all know that many of us fail to observe basic rules of respect when we do that.

Now we poke our heads out and find out we have hurt each other, and other people.

Second, in our isolation, we have begun to identify with the world. For over a year our attention has been focused on major world issues: the pandemic, political polarization, racial injustice…all issues which affect our lives dramatically. But all issues that are explicitly of this world and which are NOT our priority!

Third, people in the world often have more commitment to their mission than we do.  Movements such as BLM, GBLQT, et al, Republicans, Democrats, right-wing, progressives, maskers, anti-maskers, white supremacists have all gained momentum during our isolation. It’s as though isolation has caused people to gel into purpose groups, and many who called themselves Christian have chosen the mission of one of these groups over the gospel.

We can’t serve two masters. We have one King—Jesus. We have one country—His Kingdom. We have one purpose—to fulfill the mission He gave us to make disciples by showing the world how to be reconciled to Him and teaching them all He commanded.

In the last few weeks, I have heard many question what life will be like as we “return to normal”. I submit that no none knows, except that the “normal” that existed over a year ago is gone forever. Government officials have no idea what the new “normal” will look like. Neither do educators, healthcare professionals or business leaders.

And neither do Church leaders.

So when we read all the books and articles and blog posts coming out purporting to give us the key to ministry and Christian living in the new normal, we find most of them have no idea what they are talking about.

So it seems a bit reckless of me to try to suggest how we should live and conduct ministry in this new normal. Except that what I am suggesting is that we stop trying to be specialists and start simply obeying our King. His normal hasn’t changed. He still knows exactly what is happening and what life will be like in a year. And He has already told us how to live and how to do ministry.

Our faith and allegiance are to the King. Nothing has happened to Him, and the mission He gave us hasn’t changed (though many who claim to serve Him haven’t been carrying out that mission). Several key behaviors (and attitudes) are necessary for all of us.

First, we need to be ready to accept anyone He accepts, regardless of the amazingly stupid and even hurtful things they have said under the illusion of freedom brought about by online communication.

Second, we need to practice Jesus’ priorities: love, forgiveness, service. We have to ask ourselves very concretely what the people we rejoin need and then do our best to provide it. We need to be honest with ourselves about what has hurt us and forgive it. We need to be willing to serve anyone.

With all that said, we also need to remember that we can’t be responsible for the actions, words or thoughts of others. (Paul said we are to live in peace with others as much as it depends on us.) I believe the Church will emerge from the isolation and polarization the country has experienced at a fork in the road. Will we focus on all the problems of this world and be distracted from who we are and the mission that hasn’t changed, or will we throw off those things that are all tied to this world and be the Church? If we are faithful to that mission, the American Church will soon be seen negatively by both the right and the left. I believe we will even see legal challenges to us practicing our faith (which will make us choose between Jesus and America).

Here’s the simple truth. Following Jesus is about becoming more like Him—opening ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit as He grows the fruit of the Spirit in us. Loving Jesus is about obeying Him (that’s what HE said). We will stumble as we try to understand what that looks like. But that’s why the Lord gave us His Word. He even told us through Paul that scripture is useful to us for teaching (sharing truth that people need to know), correcting (challenging falsehood and bringing us back to truth), rebuking (challenging misbehavior) and training in righteousness (mentoring and bringing new Christians to maturity), all for the purpose of making us equipped for the good things God has in store for us to do for others.

Life in whatever new “normal” we find need not be complicated. But it will certainly be difficult, because we are called to be different, and we don’t like being different. It is time for those who say they follow Jesus to decide whether He is truly master or is just a good teacher we can obey when we feel like it.

Know Jesus and Be Faithful!

I’ve written these things so many times I am going to try to make this one short.

• The world isn’t coming to an end because Trump lost the election (yes he did).
• The world isn’t entering Utopia because Biden won the election (yes he did).
• Right wing and Left wing people in the US are the problem. Everyone needs to quit villainizing, shut up, and listen. When you have a conflict with someone, seek an answer to their concern before telling them your opinion. It doesn’t matter whether you feel like doing that or not. If you DON’T do it, the pendulum swing from crazy right to crazy left will continue.
• Regardless of what happens in the US, the US will be done away with. So, while doing what we can for people today, we need to keep our eye on what is important–eternity.
• Those of us who claim Jesus as our King need to start acting–and talking–like it.
  • If people know us more for our politics than our King, we have seriously blown it.
  • If people have heard us speak about America (or Trump or Biden) but not about the gospel, we have seriously blown it.
  • If people have to be told we are “people of faith”, we have seriously blown it.
  • If we ask about someone’s politics before we ask about their eternity, we have seriously blown it.
  • If we mock, put down, villainize or otherwise look down on people for whom Jesus died, we have seriously blown it.

Let’s stop seriously blowing it.

Know Jesus, Be Faithful.

The writers seemed convinced of this, though they offered a little hope at the end as one of their characters decided to try to be different.

As I watched with Donna, I felt three emotions: gratitude, anger, and disappointment/depression.

Anger at the message this popular show is spreading to a population that has proven itself ready to accept the “wisdom” of TV shows because they are TV shows.

Disappointment and depression that people accept this lie, and often cheat themselves out of the life the creator intended for us.

Gratitude that God gave me a woman who didn’t believe that lie.

This show—and I believe the popular view of marriage in this culture—presents marriage as a temporary union between two people—a union that is dependent on the impact of outside influences and which is intended to make the two parties happy. When this doesn’t happen—which seems inevitable—the marriage has run its course and should be ended as painlessly and amicably as possible.

Is this really what marriage is about?

After 46 ½ years with Donna, I believe I am beginning to understand the nature of marriage. Mind you, I’m not cocky. But I think our marriage might last. And there are three very simple reasons for my optimism—three keys to successful marriage.

First, the quality of marriage is not dependent on forces outside of the marriage. We are constantly told that “things happen” to us, explaining our successes or failures. But this isn’t true. Marriage isn’t about things happening to us. It is about the decisions we make in response to whatever happens.  Temptation, crisis, conflict, sickness, financial stress, grief—or for that matter financial health, physical strength and health, relational harmony, and lack of outside attacks on the marital union—are only circumstances to which we respond. We decide how to respond.

Key #1: Successful marriage doesn’t happen to you. You make it happen.

Second, our responses to all these things are not designed to be for the purpose of making us happy. They aren’t designed to make me fulfilled, strong, healthy, etc. In fact, they aren’t about me at all.

Of course, we all know that a good marriage is where I strive to meet my wife’s needs, and she strives to meet mine. In this way, we are each taken care of, and our marriage is symbiotic.

The problem is, this doesn’t work. It sounds good. I like it. I even try to live that way.

But I fail. And so does Donna.

I have seen thousands of marriages where one or the other simply isn’t committed to living this way—and symbiosis takes two.

In the first year of our marriage, Donna and I both realized we not only were no longer “in love”, we didn’t even like each other. Our families and many friends were telling us we had made a horrible mistake and we were young enough to start over. We were advised to go our separate ways and pretend it had never happened.

One night we talked about this. I said, “I don’t believe in divorce—Jesus said don’t do it!” Instead of arguing, she just looked at me resignedly and said, “I know. I don’t believe in divorce either.”

When our devotion to one another failed us (not just one of us—both at the same time!), our marriage continued based on our devotion to the King. It wasn’t just about loving each other. It was about loving Him.

Key #2: Successful marriage is about our devotion to the King.

Finally, successful marriage (define that as a husband and wife growing in loving commitment to one another and their ability to meet one another’s needs) doesn’t happen quickly.

For 40 years I have told couples in pre-marital counseling to be ready for a shock sometime in the first year of their marriage. One day, they would wake in the morning, look across their pillow, and say “Lord, what have I done?!”.

That’s when we begin to learn how to be married. It takes years. Not just to learn about our spouse and what their needs are. But to grow up enough to meet those needs regardless of what is happening around us or how we feel.

I once ran a 24-hour race. The idea was to run as far as we could in 24 hours. We ran around a quarter-mile track-around and around and around and around! I was pretty new to ultra marathon running (anything longer than a marathon) and I met another guy who was also a novice. We both got very sick in the first half of the race. Around 50 miles, he pulled out. His race was over. I wanted to as well, but a friend who was much more experienced told me, this will change—if you don’t quit!  Because of her encouragement, I didn’t. The next day, I spoke with my new friend. He asked how I did, and I told him I was able to run 91 1/3 miles (a “mid-pack” finish). Remembering how wick I was when he left, he asked, “How did you do that?”

My only answer was “I didn’t quit.”

Marriage is not always easy or fun. It isn’t all romance. In fact, it is often ugly, dirty, in-your-face nitty-gritty pounding through life—together. But when the first two keys are in place, the longer you practice marriage with one another, the better you get at it. Problems still exist and situations attack, but you are better able to deal with them—together. But this can’t happen when one or both spouses gives up.

Key #3: Successful marriage requires that we simply don’t quit.

Obviously, I believe in marriage. Fewer young adults believe in it today. Yet survey after survey shows that they want it to work. They just aren’t optimistic, and in many cases they have given up on the possibility, committing to a life in and out of relationships that can never give them what marriage can, because the commitment is not there.

Marriage works because God makes it work. But it only works on His terms, not ours.

Know Jesus and Be Faithful!

Anyone who reads my blogs knows I didn’t vote for either. So, I am not depressed, nor am I exultant. I am however intrigued and I am becoming more than a little disappointed. Here are some reasons.

1. There is a tone-deafness in this country that I find astounding. Those who supported Trump can’t believe he was voted out—especially with the help of Christians—so the obvious answer must be that there was illegal activity. Those who supported Biden crow about the “mandate” from the people because of the highest popular vote in American history—ignoring the fact that the second highest total—over 70 million people—was just won by Donald Trump. There is no mandate. There is division.
2. Many on the left are wondering aloud how anyone could have voted for Trump given his racism, obvious immoral character and conservative policies. But they forget an important point: Biden won because so many people who AGREE with many conservative policies voted AGAINST Trump because of his racism and immorality. It is important to note that a large number voted against Trump, not for Biden.
3. The celebrations which I see even Christian friends participating in have already turned ugly. I just saw a FB post (yes, I know, I am still on it) proclaiming we are UNITED at last, followed by a 2 ½ minute video mocking those with whom they disagree.
4. In the midst of this division, the dominant themes are “How could they…” (about both “sides”) and “I don’t care anymore, I just wish it was over.” While I can understand these sentiments—especially the second—I find myself astounded at one basic fact. No one is listening—still! If anything, both sides are hunkering down for an extended fight. Those on the far left are actually threatening the presumptive President-Elect—he had better do what they want or else. Those on the far right are demonizing everyone else and predicting doom and gloom—a prediction that has a way of being self-fulfilling when it is made by enough people.

You who think “we did it—fought racism, bigotry, disunity,…and won!” are the same as those on the right whom you demonize. In fact, from my perspective, you are the reason Donald Trump ever got elected in the first place. So, forgive my bluntness, but this is what I see happening:

When you say “I can’t understand (complete the sentence with anything you like)”, perhaps it is because you haven’t tried.

–You don’t listen, you accuse.

–You don’t search for middle ground, you myopically focus on your differences.

–You don’t listen to legitimate concerns of others, you proclaim you don’t have to because you won.

–You don’t see others as human beings, but as enemies (Yes, I’m quoting from leaders on both sides).

–In short, you don’t understand—and will never understand—until you SHUT UP AND LISTEN.

I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, and I see America as a worldly state destined to be destroyed. That said, true Christians represent Jesus to the world—we don’t try to turn those in the world against one another. (Here is where someone always tells me about the “Christians” who do behave that way. All I can say is, being imperfect, we all falter. BUT, if someone habitually behaves sinfully, the Bible says plainly that they do not belong to Jesus—they are NOT Christian, regardless of what they call themselves.) So, I offer these observations as someone who would love to see real change in America. Here are some ideas I offer in the spirit of Peacemaking.

1. 1. Realize that all humans are flawed (sin) and until that is addressed, nothing else will change. I recommend Jesus—the one through whom all things was created, and from whom sin has divided us—as the solution to that problem.
2. Proverbs says: “He who speaks before he hears is a fool” (Proverbs 18:13). If you truly don’t understand someone else (or a group of someone elses), ask one of them to talk to you. Tell them you don’t understand… and ask them to help you understand. Then listen—without interrupting—with your only goal to understand the other.
3. Focus on what you agree on. Despite the rhetoric, virtually no one really thinks racism is good. However, evil cannot be overcome by evil (Romans 12:17). The sinful domination of one race or group by another cannot be “fixed” by simply changing who dominates whom. Instead of decrying white privilege, we should be decrying the LACK of black (brown, Asian…) privilege. So, how do we change things so that everyone has these advantages?
4. Guard your mouth. The scripture says the tongue is like the source of a wildfire—once a blaze is started, it cannot be undone (James 3:5). Now more than ever, we need to be quick to listen and slow to speak (that passage, James 1:19, adds “and slow to anger” showing that they are connected!). Before you speak and before you write, ask what your words really mean. Are they helpful? If not, stop them before they escape from you!
5. Treat others—especially those with whom you disagree—with love (again, this won’t happen without the spiritual strength that comes from Jesus). In the middle of a major disagreement with a number of people, the Apostle Paul—who knew he was right because the Holy Spirit was guiding him—said he would forego his own rights to avoid hurting “those for whom Christ died”. (1 Corinthians 8:11)

We need to learn that love and civility does not require agreement. I disagree vehemently with many policies and beliefs of both the right and the left. However, I am instructed by my King to love them—that is, do whatever is best for them (the word translated “love” in this command has nothing to do with how we feel).

Today can be the start of something great. But, unless there is widespread repentance and change, it will simply be an acceleration of division and even hatred that will tear its victims apart.

Know Jesus and be Faithful!

Justice Ginsburg’s life story is compelling. I remember watching the feature film of her development and rise to the Supreme Court last year. I remember talking to Donna as we drove away from the theater, both of us thinking and feeling something powerful.

And both of us troubled.

You see, however great her story is and however inspiring to see how she tirelessly fought for women’s rights, changing the way many in the US see women (and I am referring to both males and females), there is, for many of us, a giant elephant in the room when talking about RBG.

In the course of her work for women’s rights, she—intentionally, based on her own writings—became the most powerful tool in the hands of the enemy for the killing of children.

Right about now, many of my left-leaning friends—many who consider themselves Christian—are reaching for their keyboards. They may seek to chasten me and point out that I can’t judge a person by one stance or opinion she holds with which I disagree. And they would be right.

That said, I am writing to clarify a debate that has been simmering under the surface of American politics, and which I believe should be front and center of those debates. No, let me correct that. Can we try NOT to debate, and instead have a meaningful discussion?

Debating is about winning, regardless of the truth. We need less debate, and more honest communication—more listening, more honest disclosure, more clarity.

So, let’s clarify this horrendously polarizing discussion. I am pro-life. Without qualification or apology. I am also pro women’s rights—also without qualification or apology. I believe that many—hopefully, most—pro-life people are.

How can this be? It is simple. The real discussion should not be about women’s rights to their own bodies. It should be about when a baby is not part of that body.

Those who accept a more secular approach believe that until the baby is born it isn’t human, but part of the woman’s body (though recent discussion by some pro-choice advocates has extended “pro-choice”  to include a woman’s right not to raise a child who has already been born, bringing about the killing of babies outside of the womb).

I believe life begins at conception. That means that, while the baby is still connected to her mother—and dependent on her mother—it is nevertheless a baby. A different person. A person in need of protection. This is the belief that moves this discussion from a mere worldly political position to a spiritual mandate—to protect the innocent and helpless.

I know this short blog will not change anyone’s mind on this question. That isn’t its purpose. My hope is that it will change the discussion itself—bringing it back to what really matters. If this entity inside the womb is truly human (as I believe), no one—not even the mother carrying her—has a right to harm her, much less kill her. On the other hand, if this entity is not human, then what the mother does with it is not my concern—or any of my business.

So, let’s stop arguing about what we (hopefully) agree on. Most liberals do not agree with killing babies—we agree on this! Most conservatives do not agree with men telling women what they can do with their own bodies—we agree on this! If we want to stop dividing this country, starting with this discussion of what we agree on is a good first step. (Side note: right now, both “sides” will be thinking of illustrations—including candidates—of those who apparently do not agree with these fundamental truths. This is why I cannot support either of the major parties right now. They do not reflect the values of my King!).

Where do we go from here? We listen. We work together on those issues  on which we can agree. We discuss those things we do not. And we treat each other with love.

Some of you will scoff at what I just said. But if you wear the name of Jesus you do not do that, because this is His command to us—to love, not mock, disparage, demonize, hate.

It is becoming more difficult, but for those of us who follow the King, the priority path is clear: Know Jesus and Be Faithful!

Fear has infected the US, and fear has infected the Church. It shouldn’t surprise us that the Church is dealing with the same thing as the culture since Jesus told us that the Church as we experience it is made up of both Christians and nonChristians (sheep and goats, wheat and weeds…), and that even those who do belong to Christ continue to sin and give way to fear (hence so many admonitions in scripture for Christians to repent and seek forgiveness, as well as not to live by fear). Perhaps the biggest responsibility for each of us who follows Jesus is to ensure that we do not become part of the problem.

For example, those of us who believe life begins at conception are justly concerned about abortion. Obviously, many don’t believe the baby in the womb is human, and are not at all concerned about the killing of millions of babies each year. It is rarely even mentioned. At the same time, I see many Christians being far more concerned about other issues (oddly, we don’t seem to be able to give concern to more than one issue at a time) and I hear little about abortion from the Church today. It has become the rallying cry of the far-right, not because they are so just minded, but because the rest of the Church is silent. And those on the right are correct: a vote for Biden is, in essence, a vote for continued abortions. That said, I see many concerned Christians posting about the evils of Donald Trump (accurately in most cases), who never address abortion or calling out the left (or right) for their acceptance of the slaughter of babies. I find this to be true of other Christians who find Trump to be an abomination (as I do). It’s as though these people believe calling out the left on an issue such as this (and there are many others: homosexual marriage, “transgenderism”, valid concern over racism that borders on racism itself, acceptance of violence from one “side” of an issue, etc.) would help Trump, so they don’t speak out.

On the other hand, I see the same myopic focus on the part of those who are more right-wing and support Trump. Where is the outrage over his obvious misogyny? His dishonesty? His apparent racism.  His pandering to Christians, while at the same time mocking them? It is as though they believe calling him and his supporters out for these things would help Biden, so they remain silent about them.

Fear.

Both “sides” are choosing to only emphasize one set of issues because of fear. I believe this is the clearest evidence that Christians are actually “choosing sides” in a worldly conflict rather than being peacemakers.

I have stated many times over the last two decades that I believe the only legitimate Christian response must be to speak for truth–all of it, not just the part we choose to emphasize to support one candidate or party of a worldly political system. We need to encourage the right to hear the legitimate concerns of the left, and vice versa. We need to speak to the issues that Jesus Himself spoke to. We need to encourage people to actively talk about the need for reconciliation with God before thinking we can make a difference politically. Our posts and comments should be balanced between critiques of the right and the left–both overshadowed by our proclamation that there is a better way and an invitation to be reconciled to God!

And then, yes, we need to vote if we are citizens. But if we belong to Jesus, then our vote must also belong to Him!

As I have made clear, I do not understand any Christian who pretends that either the right or the left is anything but worldly, corrupt, and evil.

I do understand those Christians who claim to be choosing the least of two evils, though I do not agree that we only have two choices. My problem with many of these is they tend to forget that their choice is indeed evil. Instead, in an apparent attempt to get others to vote with them, they leave their integrity and become cheerleaders for the “evil” they have chosen.

Above all, we have to remember who we are and why, according to scripture, we are here. I follow many Christians–right and left–who consistently post about the “other side”. I rarely, if ever, see those people posting about Jesus, about the gospel, and about the fact that the real answer to today’s issues is submission to Christ.  In none of these cases have I seen such posts approach, much less exceed, the volume of posts attacking Trump or Biden (depending on which “side” that Christian has joined). We cannot allow such opinions to cause us to respond to one another in Christ with disrespect or a lack of love. We do not have the freedom in Christ to sin–which includes arrogance, putting each other down, or even airing disagreements in front of the world. All such behavior betrays a perspective that we are more part of the world than the body of Christ.

Fear has blinded many of us to the reality that a choice for the lesser of two evils is still a choice for evil. We do not have to make that choice!

Know Jesus and Be Faithful!

I’m not referring to people who simply don’t have a lot of native intelligence. I’m not talking about people who are ignorant (meaning they don’t know certain things). I’m talking about people who have intelligence but will not listen to the truth–people who apparently don’t want to hear it. People who are so taken with whatever their own opinions and biases are that they simply won’t acknowledge anything that might not support their positions.

These are the people who are responsible for the division in this country. From the top democrat and republican officials to the people who live down the street, these are the problem. They are so caught up with this world—whether they claim to be Christian or not—that they can no longer see the truth.

The latest example:  A doctor makes a video praising hydroxychloroquine. The video goes viral but is taken down as fake news by Facebook. The right cries censorship, the left ignores these cries and attacks the doctor’s credibility.

The problem? They’re both right.

This is a doctor who is so outrageous in her “medical” expertise that she credits sex with demons as the source of endometriosis, alleges alien DNA is being used in medical treatments, and preaches that the government is producing a vaccine to keep people from being religious.

She has no credibility.

That said, anyone who has watched the news the last few years and seen the reaction of national leaders and education officials to conservative speakers has to admit that there is a concerted effort on the part of those with “liberal” views to crush those who dare to disagree.

Anyone who is honest will admit these people are simply against freedom of speech.

With such obvious problems on both sides of this argument, no one seems willing to say, “Wait, they have a point.”

No wonder people are divided.

For years people in the US have become increasingly less willing to listen to anyone who disagrees with them. It is getting worse, and it is seducing many who claim to belong to the King—He who is The Truth.

We cannot allow such bias and dishonesty to win. Our King never feared truth, regardless of who it came from or how it made things look. We should not fear it either. We need to listen to one another—especially those who disagree with us.

We need to hear each other—not to know how to respond, but to truly understand the other.

If we don’t, we are the problem.