Is there an equivalent to “biting your tongue”in web jargon?  I believe the closest to it is “don’t press send.”  That’s my husband’s favorite saying in this new era of sharing our thoughts via our social media accounts.  You don’t even have to say a word, just share biased or non-factual articles about whatever you believe is true and we all know “which side you are on.”  We now live in a time when we’ve done away with staying objective and have completely aligned ourselves to the political party of our choice instead of devoting ourselves to our Savior Himself and how He hopes for us to treat others.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, are the new platforms to share and express our lifestyles and our views about issues we hold dear to us, but it’s never been as congested and antagonistic as in the past few election cycles… or has it?

I started voting when I turned 18 in the 2004 election year and I remember the strong opinions and the heavy disagreements, which existed then because of the results of the previous elections and the Iraq War.  I also remember thinking how personal people get when it comes to politics.  When 2008 and 2012 rolled around, we always thought it was worse than the previous general elections.  Now in 2016, I am truly appalled by the political temperature in this country and I often think of how it will be like 12 years from now.  Because of the downgrade of our behavior and rhetoric, I felt the need to break my vow and write about it… and press send!

Let me reassure you of this, I will not be saying who to vote for and how to vote (as I’m still trying to weigh the options myself– there ARE also other alternatives, such as Evan McMullin), but I believe it is my duty as a Christian to remind you to treat each other with loving kindness despite our disagreements in our political preferences.  Christians, our testimony is far more valuable than Donald Trump’s conservative platform and believing Hillary should be spending the rest of her life in prison or standing with Hillary because of Trump’s history with women.  Calling each other names and accusing one another of being judgmental because we don’t like one candidate over the other isn’t going to change anyone’s minds at this point.  Although, I would hope we are using our discernment with these presidential candidates as one of them will become the leader of the free world, but I also hope that we are not being uncivil with how we express our opinion and how we choose to talk to those who oppose our views.

Perhaps some people are voting strictly for the issues, but it seems like most are basing their decision on who they don’t like as a person and choose to support the opponent; we are no longer voting FOR but AGAINST.  Call me ignorant, but I really hope this isn’t how it was meant to be.  The problem isn’t Trump or Clinton as they were elected by the people, the problem is that they are a reflection of US because we’ve elected them.  And when I say “us,” I’m not merely talking about Americans, but us Christians too.  We can be so obsessed and entitled with our religious rights which have led us to dismiss sharing our testimonies in exchange to our desire to be RIGHT. 

I completely understand standing by our values and voting accordingly, but to belittle someone else because they don’t believe as we do is not Christ-like, but a worldly behavior.  This is how enemies are expected to treat one another, but we’ve forsaken listening to each other’s concerns because we are more preoccupied with the end result.

This election will come and go as others have, but our relationships, I hope, will remain because of authentic and fervent love for one another.  The most important thing to remember is that our love and our relationships with people should trump our political views.  Our faith calls us to devote ourselves to people over politics.  The following three points are purely based on how the Bible tells us to treat one another in such divisive times.

Give to Caesar…

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)

Remember when the Pharisees plotted against Jesus by asking His opinion on paying taxes to Caesar?  Jesus immediately knew the purpose of this question, and called them out, “Hypocrites!”, but then replied to them, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (Read Matthew 22:15-22)

Whoever wins, whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump or third-party, will be our “Caesar.”  We are first and foremost citizens of a world we have yet to see, but in the meantime, we are citizens of this nation and our Presidents should be given the utmost respect, even when we strongly disagree with their political agendas.  Although I wasn’t on board with some of our current and previous presidents’ schemes, I’ve learned to look at them as Jesus, our Savior, would.  Jesus came to this world to save them all and He died because He loved every single one of them, including Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

This letter went viral the same week as the last Presidential Debate took place and it really gave me hope that someday we can all be united despite our differences

Dear Bill,

When I walked into this office just now, I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt ten years ago.  I know you will feel that too.

I wish you great happiness here.  I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described.

There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair.

I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course.

You will be our President when you read this note.  I wish you well.  I wish your family well. 

Your success now is our country’s success.  I am rooting hard for you.

Good Luck,

George (H.W Bush)

Whenever you are disappointed in the political system, pray.

Whenever you think of a politician as pure evil, pray.

Whenever you are disgusted with a politician’s action, pray.

Whenever you become angry with the results of the upcoming elections, PRAY!

And most importantly, pray for their well-being as they are also a beloved family member to someone else: a mother or a father, sister or a brother, grandma or pops, auntie or uncle, wife or husband, a best friend or mentor.  When we feel like ranting about their illogical plans and unethical methods, pray fervently for the Lord to make His heart known to them in “a road to Damascus way”… trust me, it wouldn’t be the first time!

They will know us by our works…

Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him…

Mark 6:14 (NLT)

Let’s revisit Mark 6:14, how did Herod hear of Jesus?  Mark doesn’t tell us a lot of information except that the masses were talking about Jesus.  From verses 7 to 13, Jesus sends out the disciples to minister and “cast out evil” in His name.  It is highly believed among theologians that Herod heard of Jesus through the disciples’ work.  If we place this in today’s perspective and you call yourself a Christian, then you are His disciple!

Are we intentional with our good works and letting people who don’t know Him learn the true reason of our deeds?  Are we representing the Lord with the words He would want us to communicate when we speak about Him or any of His children and creatures?  Is our testimony or our political affiliation what draws people to know more about God?  Are we more involved in telling people why they should vote a certain way and by doing so demonstrating our reverence solely to Trump or Clinton?

Every negative word we choose to say or type has power to rupture relationships and cause hurt to anyone who receives it.  I recorded all the debates because I wasn’t able to watch them live, but I made the mistake to read commentaries on social media before making my own assessment.  To be honest, the way people talk to each other, especially strangers, saddens me because we only know what we see in their profiles.  However, we’ve forgotten our humanity and we are quicker to make unwarranted statements with the sole purpose to insult someone we might not even know.

Even when we want to show someone how wrong they are, let us consider kindness in our words and deeds.  Perhaps, the way we do so is by not pressing send…

They will know us by our LOVE…

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:35 (NIV)

Jesus said this to His disciples before predicting Peter’s betrayal.  I find this placement of words deliberate because love is most required when we’ve been wronged.  Loving our family members and friends should flow out of us with little to no effort, but when we are commanded to love in midst of betrayal and trial?  Forget it!  But instead, you will say, “don’t you know they are evil? they’ve betrayed my trust! do you know what they stand for?”

Someone who knew how much humility it takes aside from Jesus himself is Paul.  Paul, as you know, was the chief of all sinners and he was also a murderer of Christians, but his heart was unequivocally transformed by Jesus and for the Gospel.  As a Roman citizen, Paul had rights which he chose to give up for the sake of his mission to spread the Gospel amongst everyone, including the jailers.  When he was incarcerated with Silas (Acts 16), they took a public beating and suffered in hopes that their torturers would see Christ in them.  Not only that, but Paul knew that if word had come out about the jailers beating two Roman citizens, the law demanded for the jailers to be beaten up the same way.  Paul’s sacrifice exemplified what the love and grace of Christ is truly like.  It wasn’t his deeds, but his fervent love to those who were after him.

The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.

Acts 16:38 (NIV)

He sacrificed because he loved.

Because he was once in their shoes and he was given the same grace.

How does this apply?

We weren’t born Christian and even if we gave our lives to Christ at an early age, we still struggled because we live in a sinful world.

Empathy goes a longer way than judgment.

No matter what happens in November 8th, remember who is the One we truly serve.  We served Him then, we serve Him now, and we will serve Him beyond November 9th.  Perhaps, we will lose some rights or gain others, but let us be aware of the greater picture and the impact we could have if we choose to love despite our losses.

It isn’t about convincing them how to vote, but how to demonstrate fervent love for one another as we’ve been commanded.  We will never be able to explain why we believe what we believe unless they experience the genuine and saving love of Christ first.

Division is no longer between liberals and conservatives, but within the church as well.  There’s nothing more heartbreaking than having to witness brothers and sisters in Christ fighting about political gibberish. If I were to tell you that I know good Christians who are voting for Trump, I’d hope you don’t think to immediately label them as misogynist and racist, because they are not.  With that said, I also know Christians and really upstanding non-Christians who are supporting Hillary Clinton’s campaign but that doesn’t make these people “baby killers” and socialists.

When there are quarrels amongst us, that’s all they get to witness. 

Our Heavenly Father,

It’s been such a heavy political season, but we pray we find unity in You.  We lift up to You the presidential candidates because You know each of them intimately and better than we do.  Thank You that we live in this country and we are able to worship You freely.  Let us not take it for granted.  Remind us to live Your love and be authentic about it, even when we disagree with the talking points.  Forgive us for not trusting You all the time and help us be more in tune with Your Spirit.  Give us wisdom when it’s time to vote.

In Your Name we pray,

Amen!