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1 Samuel 8:6-7: "But the thing displeased Samuel when they [The Elders of Israel] said, "Give us a king to govern us." Samuel prayed to the LORD, and the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them."
Dear HUMC Family,
It seems "that" time that we all say that we dread is almost upon us...Election Season. And yet, we know that elections are important as we choose our political leaders for at least the duration of their terms.
Maybe it isn't the fact that we choose that is so disconcerting to us, but we get disheartened, stressed, and even feel defeated by all of the fighting, ill-will, backbiting, and slandering that takes place during election seasons. We know there should be a better way! And yet, the negativity seems to rule this season.
Media of all kinds will soon be full of people on one side attacking those on the other...and vice versa. We will see an ad with which we agree and it will make us feel like a victor, and then we will see an ad with which we disagree and we will feel anger in the pits of our stomachs.
Many will try to convince us that the candidates they vote for are "pure good," while the candidates they oppose are "pure evil." I pray we do not fall into this trap!
In the scripture above, the Elders of Israel wanted a king. They felt an earthly king could govern them better than being governed by God. Samuel was disheartened...Wasn't God more than enough? Why did Israel want to be like the other nations?
Elections in themselves are not a rejection of God. In fact, God has always raised up human leaders. Elections become a rejection of God when we turn others into our enemies. How many times have you seen families and friendships divided and even destroyed over a political election? I know I've seen this far too many times.
"But they started it..." That's often a statement made when someone is offended by a political comment and decides to in turn attack his or her friend or family member. Has Jesus ever told us to retaliate because "they started it?" What did your parents say when you were wrestling a brother or sister as a child because he or she "started it?" Did you tolerate your own children arguing as one retaliated because the other "started it?"
So what do we as Christians do during divisive times? The answer sounds simple, but it takes committed discipleship. The answer is that we love. Pure and simple...we love. We love those who agree with us, and we love those who disagree with us.
John Wesley penned the following:
"I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them, 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy. 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against. 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side." (Wesley’s Journal, October 6, 1774)
There is no doubt that elections are important. There is less doubt that loving others because God first loved us is more important. I pray that we serve as examples to the community and nation of how Christians should act during contentious times.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
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