Readers aware of the power of post headings are forewarned.  For the new initiate, I am going to write about politics and I have a point to press.

I am growing increasingly horrified by the conversation in the public square.  I am wearied by the search for intelligent political dialogue.  May polite discussion and disagreement anywhere be found?

To my eyes it appears that unless an individual is an ideologue (a blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology) wielding a sharpened rhetorical axe, there is nothing that person may speak worthy of being heard.  Imagine, if you would, the stupefaction of a man who endured the rise of the “political correctness” movement only to subsequently witness today’s wrangling between parties conferring not the exchange of viewpoints or ideas but attempting rather to ram prepackaged agendas down the throats of those they consider opponents.

For those already trying to apply a label to my still extending forehead, I am not a political “moderate.”  I am, however,  a child of God rescued and redeemed by the precious sacrifice of the cross of Jesus Christ.  I cherish the operation of the “little grey cells” the fictional detective Hercule Poirot credited for his grand feats of investigational deduction.  I understand the tension between disagreeing vehemently with someone and remembering that Jesus also loves them too.

I freely, ashamed, confess my personal history includes many of the same mistakes troubling me this day.  I have been quick to categorize and slow to contemplate.  I stooped to using degrading monikers rather than mulling the merits of an issue at hand.  I exchanged the response resulting from the hard work of research for the ready-for-the-microwave regurgitation of someone else’s under-baked position.

Although my confession is now a matter of record, may I assert the behavior beyond “under-baked” is adulthood or maturity?  Let us be honest, most of the contemporary discourse in the public square should be more at home in the square pants of SpongeBob.

For the Christian, maturity is essential.  When I claim Christ and parrot nonsense I heard from someone I may trust, the act eats away my credibility.  Those outside faith in Christ do not discriminate between my appeal to the authority of Jesus in my life and the appeal to the authority of some influential commentator, activist, or office holder.  It is crucial that the Christian remember that God claims sovereignty over every government and requires those belonging to Him to be activists in prayer.

Christians should not adopt as our own the panicked and breathless manipulations purveyed through varied media channels.  We must see and speak of things from a perspective beyond the moment and submitted to wisdom which comes from God alone.

So should the Christian remain silent?  Certainly not!  One of the many responsibilities of the follower of Jesus is to be the bearer of truth (see John 3.21, John 8.32) and an advocate for truth (see how Jesus handled the question of truth in John 18.37ff and Paul in Acts 26.25ff).  In instances where the absolute truth of a matter is difficult to ascertain or where opinions may reasonably differ, the Christian should speak opinions in a manner reflecting humility of heart.  The Scriptural instruction is to “be careful,” not “be muzzled.”

Peter’s charge to the Church is straightforward:

“You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:22–25, NLT)

Governments come and go and political movements follow in the same paths.  Those who claim eternity would do well to remember the fading grass and contend for the eternal even as we talk about the temporary.