In a discussion thread on Facebook the other day (or month), I expressed my view of the Restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf during the Coronavirus “Lockdown” as not being in the best OVERALL well-being of the commonwealth…. if you’re from PA, you understand the yo-yo restrictions that apply to certain businesses but not others… (even if you’re not from PA, you may be aware as I understand he has made national news with his dictatorial edicts) and I commented that, even to the most casual observer, one could not help it feel he really seems more about destroying the economy, largely made up of small businesses than he does about protecting the overall well-being of the state. As you might imagine, this was a hornets nest of political ranting on both sides of that mask argument, which, oddly enough, wasn’t even mentioned in my post. The most vocal of empaths retorted that she could not understand why he would want to hurt small businesses in his state.
Here’s a thought. Small businesses are less likely to contribute millions and multimillions to campaign funds….. but the big corporations, who seem to have very few restrictions, are contributing heavily to campaign funds.
Does it seem crazy to you… inconceivable that a person could become so corrupt as to be “bought” by the political game or financial status? Could politics have so corrupted a persons values that they would stoop so low as to deliberately sabotage those in their charge?
The devil is divisive… seeks to divide. Seeks to destroy. Is it not conceivable that he would use power and love of money to divide? To cause enmity and strife among leaders? citizens?
I have my political views, and honestly try to keep them to myself, especially on social media. This was one of few posts I made wondering outloud whether the cabinet company he formerly owned might still be profitable while other Pennsylvania small businesses suffer. That post, and the argument that ensued, led to being defreiended by a very liberal acquaintance who vehemently disagreed with comments others made on my post. Because she knows I’m a Christian, she took the opportunity to broadbrush comments made by my people on my post as “all you Christians”…. bad name, etc…
On the surface, I could care less that she defriended me. In fact, others who witnessed the social media storm that day have said “good ridence”. However, the one soft spot I have is that I know from her posts that she has been burned by the church and has resentment toward God and his people. I had always hoped to be a conduit to His grace and forgivenesses for her…
I find myself among Christians who are fired up about the political arguments and rightly believe that Christians can it simply stand idol and allow our freedoms (including our religious freedoms) simpler be taken away. I am grateful for their zeal and applaud their efforts.
For me, the hill to die on is that of continuing to bring the name of Jesus to a dark world. I completely understand the argument that if we don’t stand up and fight these issues, our very Greeks that allow us to talk about Jesus might disappear. I also see a church thriving in places like China and the Middle East where people have no religious freedoms.
I’ve thought long and hard about this… I have friends on both sides of the political fence, and I don’t want to alienate any of them. For me, it is far more important that they see Jesus in me than they share my political views. I would much rather try to show the love of Jesus than to argue my point just to try to sway them to my way of thinking. I pray that God would guide my words to bring healing and not division.
I certainly don’t have all the answers… in fact very few… but I know this. I know that I am called to love Gods people, no matter their political affiliation or tendencies, and continue to shine my light into a dark world.
My heart truly breaks for the divisions that I see in people I love all around me. My prayer today is that our blurred vision is cleared by the One who can overcome the divide.
It is in His Holy Name I pray,
Be blessed today, my friends
SB
Journey-For-Life 