LOVE TRUMPS ALL – Pt.1: Mutual Respect
The election looms over us now, forshadowing ill will like a menacing black crow in a Frank Capra movie. Before you flee this page in fear of politicking, please know that this blog is not written to influence your vote in any way. God laid it on my heart earlier this summer to raise a white flag in the matter. He impressed on me to remind those of us who consider ourselves difference makers in our spheres of influence to behave as He has called us to do. In Romans 12:18, we are told to “live peaceably with all, if possible, as far as it depends on you.” We are indeed tapped to be peacemakers, even in a sea of anarchy. Although you may feel free to pass out the life preservers.
Soon, a nation already greatly divided will stand as individuals to vote in booths across America if they didn’t mail their ballots in absentia. We will either vote for a 45th president or sit this one out. No matter who each of us chooses – or even if we choose to abstain from voting– one thing is 100 percent guaranteed: someone we know and love will be in stark disagreement with us. NYT reporter Maureen Dowd dubbed this election cycle as “the most bizarre, disruptive and divisive presidential race in modern history,” and you no doubt already know that as you move in your own social circles, possibly straddling the tightrope of expressing an opinion.
In fact, attempting to state one’s own political view, whether in conversation or via social media, is not only becoming harder to do, it appears to be almost impossible. Opinions are destined to incur a new kind of social criminalization that actually runs contrary to the principle of free speech once highly revered in America. Even the outspoken Whoopi Goldberg recently commented on her fear of this stark change, stating that “people are at a disadvantage in a way that they weren’t before. You don’t really seem to be able to have your own opinion about something. I’ve been guilty of trying to sway another’s opinion in part to feel the smug satisfaction of knowing that I was able to influence someone. I’m not proud of that motive, I’m just being honest about it. This kind of arrogance can lead to further dissension and even rage in some instances when it comes to disagreement. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:3 that we are to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Much has been written about the “religious right” voting along the standard party lines in the media. Even in Christian communities, there are groups of people who might assume that one party is THE clear-cut choice, and that any Christian who supports the opposite candidate is surely going to be singed by the flames of hell. Is this really proper behavior? In 1 Peter 2:17 we are told to “”show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God and honor the “emperor,” or in this case the commander-in-chief of the USA. Whoever he or she may be.
Stay with me here, don’t jump ship. It might appear to be a rough sea but we are obligated to follow God our captain as well as America’s future skipper. And if God calls us to a walk on water trust after the election, so be it. After all, it’s God who “sets up kings and deposes them.” (Daniel 2:21) Romans also lays out our obligation to our leaders in chapter 13: 1-7: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. Give to everyone what you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay taxes, if revenue, then revenue, if respect, then respect, if honor, then honor.”
The authorities that exist and are to come have indeed been established by God, even if they don’t remotely reflect His character. In light of that, submitting to authorities who don’t embody our beliefs might sound like a bitter pill to swallow. Such deference and sacrifice are reminiscent of Jesus’ command of turning the other cheek or giving the litigious brother or sister your coat if they are seeking the shirt off your back. Must we really respect Colin Kaepernick as he refuses to stand for the national anthem when goes against our beliefs to the depths of our bone marrow? And how can we respect individuals who stand accused of compromising national secrets, or who belittle immigrants, equate the politically oppressed to bite size candies, engage in crude and possibly even criminal behavior or those who are shamefully uninformed about the acute suffering endured daily in Aleppo? You might be swallowing hard right now at that challenge, but let’s sideline the idea of candidates for now and focus for a moment on one another.
As is the case with loving the sinner and hating the sin, we must respect our brothers and sisters even if we do not agree with their actions or opinions. If we deeply examine ourselves, we might find that at best we tolerate those who see things differently from us. Yet in the dictionary, the word respect as a verb is synonymous with “honor, esteem, regard, deference.”
This calling is undeniably an action we might only be able to truly accomplish with God’s help. In fact, God respected Adam and Eve’s right to eat the forbidden fruit even though He spelled out the consequences along with His command for them to avoid it. God doesn’t want to force people to come under his divine authority – He gives us the freedom to choose. Under our nation’s democracy, we aren’t subject to totalitarianism either.
Our nation’s people remain free to choose. Freedom comes at a variety of costs, however. We currently experience a degree of dissension with regard to candidates and opinions, and the freedom to peacefully protest when we don’t stand in agreement with the laws and statutes of our government. And as for whoever is elected, we really can rest in the fact that God is in control. He is the Alpha and the Omega and the future winner will be no surprise to Him.
If you are like me, you may have had some panicky moments following the conventions and the days that followed leading up to the election. But God wants us to trust Him with our future. If we panic about the presidency, we are behaving in a way that doesn’t shine a positive light on ourselves as Christ followers. In the book “Electing Not to Vote: Christian Reflections on Reasons for Not Voting,” essayist John D. Roth explains of the paramount purpose of Christians in our broken world. I quote: “Christians, – and especially Christians in the believers church tradition should devote their lives to the healing work of reconciliation in their families and congregations, in their communities and countries and in the world.”
As Christians we are called to an even higher level of respect and acceptance: that of agape love. In John 13:34, Jesus instituted the 11th and greatest commandment: “ Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” If love remains our highest calling, those in our sphere of influence will know us by our good fruit. When we disagree with one another, we can do so knowing such matters fall short of “salvation issues” and agree to disagree. It’s all part of treating each other with “gentleness and respect,” as we are reminded in 1 Peter 3:15. After a particularly heated discussion the other day on social media, a friend with whom I don’t see eye to eye regarding this nasty election sent me a puppy photo with surrounding hearts as a diffuser, something I loved and deeply appreciated. Relationship preserved!
The urgency for Christ followers to practice respect is tantamount as we strive to take the high road. More than the election is at stake. Roth writes that Christians must “enter cautiously into the arena of national politics, to withhold absolute judgment about God’s will in regard to any particular candidate.” And if the candidate who wins feels like your enemy, simply follow Matt 5:43 and pray for them accordingly, along with your other adversaries as you cultivate a heart of respect for the authorities God has put into place.
Thankfully, no matter the outcome, we can rest in God’s ultimate prophecy fulfillment: the only One worthy to open the scrolls will assume the throne one day. He will prompt every knee to bow and every tongue to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6: 15-16, of how “He will display at the proper time He who is blessed and only Sovereign, the king of kings and the Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion.” When that joyous day comes, Every living creature will stand in agreement. Our Lord, the “Lion and the Lamb” will at last level donkeys and elephants alike. Debating will be obsolete and all who remain in communion with each other and God will be on the same page forevermore.
