Friday, September 5, 2008

Osama McCain and our itching ears

I see a fair amount of TV from the US, not as much as possible, nor do I seek out election coverage that much, but I am continually amazed at how much we tend to see the other party as more than just the opposition, but the enemy...or even the enemy himself. People shout boos at the mere mention of the name of the other guy (or gal) at best...at worst we say they are the anti-christ or make threats to leave the country (and what is wrong with that?) if so-and-so gets elected, as if it would be the worst thing in the world.

And I can more than assume that there are people at both those conventions and spousing such opinions that say they are Christians.

#1...if we are Christians, why are we worried about who gets elected in the first place? Sure, we can vote and work for one candidate over another...but to the point of worrying, calling names, dislike for the sake of dislike, hate, or worse?

#2...if we are Christians where is our love for everyone, for our enemies especially...(that is if you can even call either the enemy)? (Matthew 5:43-48)

Instead we condemn and at the same time fail to listen. We do not seek a common ground from whence to education or evangelize...instead we negate the very idea of a changed mind...on both sides ("that is why I believe, and I will not change and neither will you, so let us just leave it at that.") promoting that condemnation, or to the other extreme almost as if we do not really care, or are more worried about the mere possibility of offending someone despite the possibility of a changed heart (on both sides in some cases.)

I am not suggesting we compromise the essentials of being a Christ follower. But how about a little compassion? How about trying to think from the other side of the argument? How about thinking about what Paul did when he was in Athens (Acts 17.) He saw the idols people were following...and instead of booing, writing them off, or just screaming condemnation...the Bible says he was "greatly distressed"! He searched for a starting point and went from there. Some sneered, some wanted to hear more. (sound familiar?)

Bottom line? I am greatly distressed....are we living out our faith, or is it just button we wear on our lapel? Are we preaching in and through our life, or just sitting on our duffs in complacancy? Let us read, remember, and put into practice 2 Timothy 4:1-5

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

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