My heart is broken. I know our faith is not to be in people but it’s hard not to be disappointed when someone you know, especially ministers, do something against what you have been taught in God’s word. I have always been taught ministers will be held to a higher standard.

We can thank the mainstream media for a lot of the division and a lot of the hate that is being spread around. Someone said to me last week that people have always been crazy, we just know more about it now and are constantly bombarded with it through social media. She’s right I guess.

I keep trying to focus on the positive and to show love and I have had to bite my tongue a lot lately. Regardless of your political affiliation, I don’t think we should sink to the level of bashing the others and laughing about it. Doing so helps spread the hate considering everything that is going on in the world today. Everyone is on edge and anything posted on social media can be taken the wrong way and strike a wrong chord in someone.

We have our opinions, yes, but sometimes we should just keep those opinions to ourselves to keep peace.  Having the right to voice an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that we should vocalize it. God doesn’t like ugly in any shape, fashion or form. If you disagree with someone’s political views, you don’t have to let them know it. Or you can just say I disagree in a polite way but add I still love you or we will agree to disagree amicably. Don’t spread the hate by making a derogatory comment or lambasting them. We are adults after all, aren’t we? I’m beginning to wonder. 

I try to keep the peace and even tried to convey some of this to a minister friend but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. I don’t think they saw anything wrong with it and that’s okay, each of us answers to God individually, not collectively when we stand before Him. And I can agree to disagree and still love you and consider you my friend. I will also continue to pray that God will open hearts and eyes.

But,  the enemy (satan) prowls about devouring, dividing and stealing joy. He loves it when we argue, when we are divided and when we post or say something that God would not approve of at all. It’s a small victory for him. Blessings and cursing cannot come from the same mouth and some of the people spout scripture on one hand and then post something making fun of someone or spreading hate the next minute. This is not as it should be people. 

Yes, I post sometimes political things but I try to keep it in perspective and try not to say something without facts. I’m sure I’ve fallen short in that area but God has really been speaking to me about this recently.

The Bible even tells us to have respect for authority. That means the government. That doesn’t mean we like it or agree with it. Most of the time you will not change someone’s opinion concerning a certain politician anyway, but if you viciously attack them, they aren’t even going to listen and it just causes more strive. 

We have to live in this world but are to come out from it. Therefore, we shouldn’t be sinking to the level of all those around us in bashing and spreading the hate around. Instead of just engaging the political process, perhaps we should be upgrade it. We should be standing above the partisan  rhetoric and discourse and exemplify a better way.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have an opinion, that we shouldn’t care about our country or that we shouldn’t vote. Quite the contrary.

But we should be talking about politics in such a way that it imitates the teachings of Christ and not sneer at them. We can be engaged but not be defined by the lines which are drawn.

People on both sides of the political spectrum are Christians and many go to church. We should be taking the things published out there with a grain of salt. The media personalities get rich off instilling fear and paranoia and we act if they are the voice of God. There are good sources out there for you to read but you have to do your due diligence and seek them out.  The mainstream media is all about ratings and making money and you need to remember that fact. Doing so makes you a good steward of information.

Arguing over politics, in my opinion are marks of a weak faith, and among things God detests (2 Timothy 2: 23-25). We should rise above it and show love as we are commanded. If you mock government leaders on social media, you have grieved the Father. God tells us to pray for our leaders, not only for their wisdom, but for their hearts and for them to be led by Him.

Berating them also spreads fear. Something the enemy laughs about. You see God already has it all planned out and knows who the next president will be in America. Christians believe God is in control and we need to act like we believe it. He also has a time for the world to end and America has survived many periods where everyone was saying the incoming president would destroy us. If it happens, it’s God’s plan.

We shouldn’t keep saying this is the most important election in our history. Each generation thinks that and each generation has had it’s share of ups and downs. Yes, I believe we are in perilous times and things are getting worse. We are going to have survive some tough times and can only do that by the grace of God. 

God is all about love and that love extends past our own little world to even the atheist, our gay neighbor down the street and yes, even our Muslim neighbor.

People watch us, they listen to our words and our actions. What they see says a lot about each of us. There’s nothing wrong with good, healthy discussion. But arguing, bashing and becoming angry about it is a completely different story. Blessings.©2016

VICTORIA SIMMONS is an author, columnist, motivational speaker, minister and publisher of The Georgia Post/Byron Buzz. Contact her at: vsimmons54@gmail.com