Wow, just wow! What is wrong with us?

I have to admit to you that I have tossed and turned for several nights regarding the elections. It’s painful to see what is going on throughout our Nation. But what is happening on social media is downright troubling.

My Facebook page is rife with posts about the election. Instead of promoting an honest exchange of ideas, people are at each other’s throats! Family and friends are verbally biting one another, and the anger level is rising.  People are hurdling insults, such as idiot, stupid, blind, and evil, to those who supported the opposite political party.

Frankly, it’s heart-wrenching. I get the passion behind the rants, and in some cases, I can see where some people are coming from—but no President is worth tearing down relationships. The President will fail us in one form or another, and he will do some good for our Nation (we pray so).

However, when we lower ourselves to name-calling and personal attacks, we lose the debate. Flat out. Insults end a reasonable discussion of ideas and are self-serving. It leads to animosity. What’s more, I’m surprised to see the fury on Facebook from Christians, who wish evil on either President, call longtime friends names, and shutdown discussions with family members—including those in the body of Christ who didn’t vote for your guy!

I’m not trying to sound self-righteous, because I’m not. God convicted me of my thoughts as I had a moment when I no longer wanted to see a family member or communicate with an old friend on Facebook.  Thank God for conviction, and I repent. 

Why? I remember that love does not hate or does it ridicule, nor does it eliminate people from our lives. Love humbles and promotes thoughts of goodwill and forgiveness.

Matthew 5:22 says, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

First John 3:15 says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

James 4:11 says, “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.” (All verses from the NASB: emphasis mine).

In his sermon, “Loving God’s Image in Our Neighbor,” Pastor John MacArthur says, “We’re not to love our own brethren and fellow believers to the exclusion of strangers and unbelievers. God’s image was placed in humanity at creation, not redemption. Although the image of God was seriously marred by Adam’s fall, it was not utterly obliterated. The divine likeness is still part of fallen humanity; in fact, it is essential to the very definition of humanity. Therefore, every human being, whether a derelict in the gutter or a deacon in the church, ought to be treated with dignity and compassionate love, out of respect for the image of God in him.” (emphasis mine)

Did you get that? If you are quarreling with someone on Facebook or another social media platform about politics that results in insults, you are defaming the image of God in that person. It doesn’t matter whether they are Christian or not! 

Fellow believers, this is our time to shine. It is not a chance to allow the sin in our hearts to fall out of our mouths. The Nation is damaged, and if we do not bring unity and answers from God’s word, what are we doing?

Finally, let me throw a bombshell at you: both Biden and Trump are your neighbors! As the Good Samaritan aided a man when he found him wounded, we are to do the same for these Presidents and not hope for their ruin. 

Here are the details of the Good Samaritan story:

“Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.Now by chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Think about it, if you find Trump or Biden, (or their supporter) naked and beaten on the road, will you help him? Or are you more apt to enjoy his suffering?  Sounds extreme? Yeah, but wishing evil on someone says a lot about your heart.

God help us to love our neighbor.