Tossing Tables...

Normally I hold myself to a strict no politics policy in Calvary South Sound, neither endorsing or condemning either party or candidate.  I watched the debate last night, saw some more debate on facebook this morning, and watched the twitter shouting match pop up on the bottom of my screen.  Let me first say that I live and minister in one of the most liberal places in the country, the northwest.  I see many, many political signs that I would never have dreamed of seeing in New Mexico.  It has led me to one conclusion, this is not a spiritual debate, but it has been made into one.  Confused?  Let me explain.  The presidential debate has polarized our country.  Both sides calling the other names, and thinking evil thoughts.  I have heard things like,"I don't believe that you can be a follower of Jesus and a democrat!"  I have heard that Christians/Conservatives have no compassion on the lower class in our country.  I have heard one angry outburst, and ridiculous accusation after another.  So here is what I believe the Word is telling us.

In Ephesians chapter two Paul addresses two groups in the city that are at each others throats.  The Jews and Gentiles of Ephesus had been arguing and arguing about one issue after another and causing such unrest that the Gentiles had been kicked out of the synagogue.  Now on the streets they are calling each other names like little children on the playground.  Ephesians 2:11 says, "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-"  Literally meaning foreskin and cut-around.  What they were doing was deliberately dehumanizing the others.  Sound familiar to anyone?

Back to today.  As we lob verbal grenades to the other side, both are throwing them, we are thickening the veil over our eyes to what is truly important.  It was said that the greatest trick the Devil ever did was convincing the world that he does not exist.  I believe he us up to a new trick.  One that is just as dangerous.  By convincing us that evil is the form of a Donkey or Elephant, we are blinded to true evil.  We are missing the fact that we are sons and daughters of Christ, and the ones that we make inhuman, are also loved by Christ.  He gave His blood for them.

We know that Jesus got angry on earth when He came into the Temple and saw that the Pharisees had turned it into their own personal extortion ring.  But, at the heart of the account of Jesus' anger, is that the Pharisees were keeping people from God.  By extorting the poor, and the widows out of what little they had, they misrepresented the love of God.  So, Jesus went tossing tables.

Today, by dehumanizing the other side we are misrepresenting the love of Christ, and dividing people instead of uniting those who look and think economically different that you.  Paul concludes this matter in Ephesians 2:13-18; " But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [that is], the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man [from] the two, [thus] making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."  Do we not see?  That we are made one, by the blood.

Just some things to ponder as you go out into the world this week.

In Him,

Cam