It has been extremely disheartening to witness, dare I say, the grade school “you can’t sit with us” mentality on all sides of the political spectrum as a resolution for disagreement.
The most disturbing aspect, however, is it has become a posture adopted even among us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Could it be possible the current political storm is a watershed moment, divinely designed to show our true foundation and focus?
This alludes to a most unusual scenario in biblical history. Orchestrated by God Himself, He appears to His disciples one dark, rainy evening, literally, walking on water. They were so frightened they thought He was a ghost. While Jesus assured them He was real, one of His disciples, Peter, dared the Lord to allow him to venture out as well. Jesus beckoned Peter to come to Him.
Miraculously, as long as Peter looked at Christ, he also walked on water! “But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was afraid and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt Me?'”
This is sobering to contemplate. Have we become so fixed upon the political climate we, too, are beginning to sink under its pressure. Are we taking our eyes off the Lord and isolating ourselves?
More than ever, we need Him and one another. Although a controversial figure, Thomas Jefferson once said, “I have never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.”
In this vein, my continual prayer is to love as siblings in Christ. Let’s encourage each other to have personal political perspective and be involved in the issues of the day. May concentrate on the Lord and “sit” together in all weather.
(Matthew 14:22-33, Ephesians 2:6-7)
