Can you believe how close we are to the next presidential election? With less then two weeks to go, both sides are actively trying their best to earn our vote. We are in the midst of a war with words. The amount of information and propaganda we are about to receive might baffle our minds as each platform drops larger bombs in the headlines to persuade voters to save America from the other side.
There is always a fork in the road in an election year as so many issues and concerns hang in the balance of which side will be taking them on. And that is why as that day approaches, it can almost feel like we are at war with each other as family turns against each other and our neighbors “unfriend” us on social media. With a few weeks left, it truly feels like we are forced to choose one side or the other. And in a very short time, half of us will be rejoicing while the other half begins to mourn.
One thing that is important to remember is that as Christians, we are not called to be republicans or democrats, we are called to be holy. And even though many of us have chosen a side for the battle that will take place in the next few weeks, we have to recognize that when the dust settles, we are still brothers and sisters in Christ. And even though we may vastly disagree on some major issues, we are called to love our neighbor and pray for our enemies. We are still called to submit to our leaders and to try our hardest to do our part in making our country reflect God’s holiness no matter what party is leading us.
After watching the debate tonight, I really wanted to make some statements on what I thought about the candidates, but I found myself instead being prompted by the Spirit to a scripture I read when Joshua was preparing to overtake Jericho. Like our political climate today, Joshua was on one side and the enemy was on the other. And wouldn’t you know, an angel appeared as a mighty warrior in front of Joshua with his sword drawn.
Like most of us, Joshua decided to inquire about the loyalties of this great and powerful man. Was he for or against Joshua and his army? I think this scripture is important for us today, because we always feel that God is on our side. Therefore, here is the Word for today.
13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15
As we enter what for some is the most divide time in America that we have seen in our lifetimes, we need to remember as Christians that no matter what side we find ourselves on, it is not God’s job to be on our side.
Therefore, let us love one another and humbly submit to one another in a way that we can stand as the States United once again. Let us both as democrats and republicans remember that we need to be able to remove our sandals and be able to stand on holy ground together. For in God’s holiness, there is no room for division, malice, bitterness, slander, and unforgiveness. Therefore, let us honor God by loving one another and respecting the good that can be found on both sides of the isle.