Making America Great Again Begins With Basic Civility

I’ve had a hard time being on social media over the past week. You know what I’m talking about. If I thought folks were rabidly partisan before the election, it’s proven to be nothing compared to the disgusting level of immaturity on display since Election Day.

Members of both parties have just lost their minds and reverted to middle school social graces. Sore losers and boorish winners. And some of the most hateful and venomous words are coming from people claiming to be Christians.

Christians, I have lost a great deal of respect for a lot of you this week. You’re supposed to be ambassadors for Christ That means you’re supposed to be Christians first, Americans second, and whatever party you happen to be affiliated with after that.

You’re acting like spoiled children. Stop it.

Some of you are having a hard time coping with the fact that Trump won the election. But he won. Guess what? God is still in control.

Proverbs 21:1 reminds us that:

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

I hate to break it to you but you are Scripturally commanded to honor and pray for those God has allowed to be in authority over you.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, andgiving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior

1 Peter 3:17

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king

If you can’t accept these commands, please stop advertising that you’re a Christian. Place a flaming pitchfork on the back of your car. Don’t continue to dishonor the name of Christ with your whining and squabbling. Christians in times past were commanded to honor and pray for authorities that were feeding them to lions! So suck it up.

Which brings me to the other side. Do you think you’re representing Jesus when you snidely tell people to get out of the country? Do you think that it’s OK that Latino school children have to endure hateful chants of “Build the wall! Build the wall!”?? Do you think gloating and mockery are fruits of the Spirit?

Have you forgotten the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Do you think such shameful and disrespectful behavior is really how you’re gonna make America great again?

Both sides of this Presidential social media war have forgotten that neither the Democrats nor Republicans are our true enemy.

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I get it. You think the other side is wrong and will lead or would have led us headlong into destruction. You might both be right. But is this how the Bible commands us to correct our brothers and sisters in Christ? Have our pastors really glossed over those Scriptures concerning strife and divisions and quarrels as things to be avoided?

There’s a right way and a wrong way to go about this.

Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Timothy 2:23-26

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We all want to make America great. We wanted to do so before one particular candidate made it his slogan. It’s really the most bipartisan ideal of this election. Yet it remains an incontestable truth, given authority by Christ Himself, that this current discord will do nothing but tear America down!

Matthew 12:25

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Jesus also said, Blessed are the peacemakers. No one man or woman determines the destiny of this Nation. Again, God is ultimate in control. If we want to build a better America, we can’t do it by tearing one another down.