The World is Watching
Ryan O’Neill
Elections are over. There’s new power in office.
I don’t know how you feel about the outcome of the elections, and my point here in this blog isn’t to try and comment either way on what’s done. My goal is to convey to you what I had to remind myself weeks ago leading into this, when stress is high, the country seems divided, and commercials are solely focused on some candidate telling you how another candidate is the worse choice.
When I was young, I didn’t pay much attention to politics. To be honest, I still don’t as much as I probably need to. But what I do remember is after every election, my parents went back to their jobs, living their lives, doing the best they could to provide for our family. They did this because they understood a simple concept: no matter how they reacted, that didn’t change the outcome. With the advancement of social media, blogs, and the availability of a platform that anyone can utilize, I tend to see quite a lot of people react in ways that aren’t great examples of the characteristics of the God that they serve.
How we react as Christians matters. Actually, it speaks volumes. Prideful or angry, you’re communicating something. Now, I understand. There’s a lot at stake for elections. We get invested, we want and vote for what we think is best, and when that does or doesn’t go how we would like it to, we tend to express that. We aren’t called to be emotionless, but we are called to be an example. We are called to take our thoughts captive and present them to Christ before we show those around us a misrepresentation of the love the Lord has shown us. Jesus talks about this in John 13:
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’”
It’s a sobering gut check (conviction) for me and maybe a few of you as I read this passage.
Would you be willing to wash the feet of someone that voted opposite how you did? Modern day example: would you do them a favor? Would you bring them food? Would you pray for them and their families? If not, you may want to reevaluate the relationship you have with the Jesus you follow.
Our goal as Christians is to introduce people to a relationship with Christ, and support them in that with the love that Christ has shown us. I hope you can be a reason someone is hopeful about a relationship with the Lord based on your reaction, not the opposite.