Embracing The Presidential Election With “Sober Minds”

I admit that I inwardly cringe when politics is mentioned or brought up in social circles. I also admit that I have never watched an entire debate (Presidential or otherwise) because I cannot stand the vitriol, the barbs and the untruths being shared. I find most political campaigns distasteful and many times it turns into an outright smear campaign hell-bent on casting each other in the poor light of public opinion. Most campaigns raise millions of dollars and then spend those funds on nasty political commercials that push the boundaries of defamation of character and blurs the lines of reality as the political spin-doctors create a plethora of false narratives for the public to digest like a fast food meal eaten in haste and without much thought given to the consequences of long-term exposure. (phew, that was a run-on sentence)

Another reason that I cannot stand an election year boils down to how it effects the Body of Christ. I have witnessed numerous political posts on social media that devolved into name calling and petty childish behavior perpetrated by both individuals (sometimes more than two parties participated) who professed to be followers of Christ. To say that it was ugly is an understatement.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t have my own opinions on political matters, but I tend to keep my opinions private. Most of the time I do this because, as already mentioned, even Christ-followers get sucked into divisive political debates that serve no purpose other than to start arguments and dissent among Christians and non-Christians alike. Others start these toxic conversations just to sound superior, or because they like the sound of their own voice in the need to win the argument for the sake of pride and being right. I find such behavior distasteful and, at times, sense that it is doing more harm to the Kingdom and in our ability to share the Good News of Jesus Christ than good.

Living Above Reproach

1 Timothy 3:2-5 New International Version (NIV)

“Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)“

This passage in 1 Timothy speaks primarily to those wanting to be in church leadership, but it’s not too much of a stretch to expect Christ-followers to also possess “self-control, respectability…” In the ASV version they use the term ‘of Sober-mind’ and I think that fitting when applying wisdom of thought and one who possess emotional intelligence enough to avoid the trappings of social arguments.

When we get drawn into such frivolous and pointless arguments, our emotional intelligence and our Christian integrity diminishes. Thus, there is the need for all of us, who profess to be a Christ-follower, to become masters of our own emotions and possess a wisdom far beyond the wisdom offered in our society today. That is why it is so important for Christians to maintain and expand our walk with the Lord on a daily basis. If we profess Christ with our lips but our actions in public (or on a social media platform) declares the opposite, we will have become useless to the Kingdom. As a matter of fact, we will have become worse than useless – we will have unwittingly become ambassadors of Satan and will help to usher people to hell through our divisive talk and hateful attitudes.

Does that sound too harsh? Good. It should be sobering to all of us.

Kingdom Living = Kingdom Perspectives

Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)

“Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.“

Romans 12:16-21

“¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.“

Hebrews 13:14 –

“For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.“

I firmly believe that if we claim to be Kingdom people who have been gloriously saved, then we need to starting living that proclamation while refraining from dipping our toes into the waters dissention and brokenness. Kingdom living ought to bring consistency of Christian living, character, hope, love and redemption into a world so devoid of these things. Kingdom wisdom elevates our emotional intelligence to refrain from devolving into pettiness and choices of words that divide and cause pain instead of healing.

I don’t write these words to sound superior or to judge others. I write these words first and foremost for me. It is as a reminder of the calling that I have claimed in my life. If, by chance you feel some kind of conviction or that these words resonate with you, then Praise the Lord! I also acknowledge that these words will fall on deaf ears. And dare I say, there are some who claim Jesus with their lips, but denounce Him in their living. Be aware of the pitfalls, dear friends. Often times, we may think that this could never happen to us, and then we discover such pitfalls are much closer than we originally realized.

So, dear Christ-followers, be of sober mind this Presidential election. Remember first and foremost God’s Kingdom supersedes any human establishments of authority and He will provide, He will tear down, and He alone will be our source of truth and redemption.

-Something more to ponder today.