“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2
Obviously there is a lot wrong with our world morally and politically, but what are Christians supposed to think or do about it? Too often we don’t do anything and some times when we do act we end up giving off a harsh overtone (and often a completely distorted picture of Christianity). The one of the most difficult challenges is attempting to find a balance in how to respond to the world as a Christian. There are three things we absolutely cannot be: lazy, slanderous, or tolerant. Each of these ideals have major pitfalls and are too often the paths chosen of those who are confused about what God wants them to show the world.
Laziness is something that I know I personally suffer a lot from. Honestly, I think most teenagers do. But as some of the most influential people in so many areas of life we have to consider how terrible of a consequence being lazy is. And in this case, this is not only for about teenagers. We must fight off the temptation to ignore the problems of the world and declare that they are not our own and then, that because they have nothing to do with us directly, there is nothing we can do. There are people we come in contact with everyday that if we just showed compassion could begin to change a lot of the moral to that in itself would not be an act of laziness. Proverbs 10:4 says “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” This isn’t to say that if we stay active politically that we are going to gain anything monetarily (because the truth is, we probably won’t), but as a child of God we will further the kingdom of Heaven, and what better reward is there but that?
We don’t think a lot of political jokes. Most of them are pretty funny, I will admit, but there is a point where such jokes become clearly slanderous. If anyone, whether we agree with them or not, is put into a position of authority over us, we must submit to them. We may not agree with them, but I am sure that there are some points in which individuals would agree (no matter the lust for a difference there may be).
When the letter to Titus speaks that we are to be gentle toward everyone, an interpretation can be drawn that in that sense we are to be gentle when confronting others in our differences. This is often where the harsh overtones come in. So often I see people attempting to bring out truth, but in a way in which turns unbelievers completely away from God. With the knowledge of serving a sovereign God you have to realize that your words are not your own when speaking to others that may not believe the same as you do (not only religiously but also politically). Therefore, we cannot allow ourselves to take over and diminish those who we do not see eye to eye with. We must allow the Lord’s gentle spirit to control our tongues in such situations.
All this is said to make the point that I am no more perfect than anyone reading this. Most often when I post anything that is supposed to point out any flaw, I am most often speaking to myself. I cannot be lazy, slanderous or tolerant in my actions in any way. Too often these are sins I fall into in every aspect of my life. So despite the interest to write about the way we should view things politically I have written about sin in itself. This reminds of how real and living the Word of God is. He stays so alive through his word, and I don’t use this to my advantage often enough.
