I thought, mistakenly so, that when the presidential campaign in the U.S. was in our rear-view mirror, the vitriol, the accusations, the fear and fearful predictions would rapidly abate.  Didn’t happen.  In fact, if anything, the anger, hatred, and fear have greatly escalated.  Decades of political process are being tried in the courts of opinion and for many, coming up as a broken system.

Can we ever be the “United States of America”?  It certainly doesn’t look or sound like it!  I couldn’t possibly take on the many issues dividing us; most people are impassioned about their opinions, making it virtually impossible to interject scriptural perspectives if one is not inclined to receive them.  The apostle Paul wrote this to the church at Corinth: “We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word…and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2-4).  Scripture also reminds us that, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

It is easy to proclaim that certain individuals are the source of our nation’s problems and possible (in some minds) demise.  However, without a common moral foundation supporting us, or unity of purpose and understanding of justice to serve as a compass to guide this country, there is little hope for America to be united. 

And it is so easy to forget the spiritual war raging around us in the unseen realm when we are inclined to engage in arguments to support our views as Christians.  Scripture counsels, “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:7-10).

When Eve stood gazing at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, an aspect of satan’s deception was the enticement to be like God—she looked at the tree and viewed its desirability to make her wise, and she longed for a wisdom equal to, but apart from, God.  The apostle John referred to the wisdom offered by demons and rampant in this world “the pride of life.”  “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).

If one is not serving the God of heaven, he or she is held captive by the devil and constrained to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26).  Pride is a huge prison for many people as it was also satan’s pride that cast him from the presence of God.  Interestingly, Ezekiel speaks this of satan: “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” (Ezekiel 28:17).  It is in pride that wisdomi becomes corrupt!  –The tricky thing about pride is that it is so much easier to see in others than it is to recognize it in ourselves!

God’s wisdom is much different from the wisdom of this world: “Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.  Therefore, let no one boast in men” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21).

Sometimes I feel baited into responding to “discussions” or the assumptions (and accusations) about choices Christians should or should not make in the political arena.  Sometimes I am frustrated by the prognostications of the fearful and the media manipulators.  Sometimes I am angry at the suppositions some make of my character and my faith in Jesus.  Always I am perplexed by those who use the name of Jesus, who profess to be Christians, but also think that it is morally acceptable to destroy the lives of unborn children.

It is inexplicable to me just how intensely I am drawn to the controversy raging in this country—and I think many people feel compelled to join in, which is a problem, I believe, for Christians.  The enemy and his agents come at us with anger, hatred, and intimidation, and exposing ourselves to his lies makes us vulnerable to them.  His strategies rarely change, though; he initially attacks the moral character of God (and His children), and he proffers worldly (which is demon-inspired) wisdom, and tempts us with a sense of entitlement.

Our best response is to “…lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2); and to pray that we, as God’s church, will “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that [we] may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

Winning arguments is not at all important in this world held captive by the forces of darkness; however, being like Jesus and extending His life, His compassion, and His ministry is essential.  “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him….this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:16-19, 23)