Hebrews 12: 1-3 "We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose life tells us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. .... Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying." (parts of v. 1 & 3; New Century Version).
Hola, this piece went in early Tues. for the Thurs. email blast; so between Sun. worship and election results, thinking that my thoughts could be differently tainted post-election. I intentionally said 'thoughts', and not 'belief', there. Could it be that such anarchy is raised that this never even gets posted? Fact is, that if you're reading this, that all that may have been foretold by media channels did not come to pass, and God is still in charge. And if outlandish (to the "norm") strife and dissonance are the order of the day, God remains on His throne, in command! Our forebears of both country and the faith are testimony that disagreement has existed before and been overcome sans bloodshed pre- 2020.
Now I am not that politically attuned nor savvy. I actually prefer not to be; in fact this writing is about as 'political' as I've ever been. Yet, I will say that over my brief 60-ish years of cognizance of town, county, state or national selection of leaders, I cannot recall this degree of ill-will cast between opponents. Tis very difficult to weed through who to believe, to put it mildly. For me, following Christ [is] so much easier! We don't have to like who's at the helm, but Scripture tells us to support, abide by and pray for government authorities, due to God placing or allowing them to be there, for His purpose. The Hebrews text used this week encourages my gratitude to those who perpetuated faith, while propelling precepts of the Bible into a community like ours at FCC Franklin, MA through the centuries. Maybe it's naiveté or my stage of life, but I'm not finding slander, put-downs or condescension as key teaching tools with grand-kids that'll bode them well, particularly in the spreading mercy and beneficience realms of their maturing. How about you? Are you tired of trying? One can easily be exhausted, for sure. Perhaps, cling to: Titus 3:1-8, which reminds us to be subject to rulers and authorities; to speak no evil; be gentle and show courtesy to all, as we used to be foolish, disobedient, slaves to illicit pleasures, envious, malicious and hating one another till God our Savior appeared by His mercy, re-birthing us through the Spirit of Christ poured on us by His grace that we become heirs to the hope of eternal life (paraphrase of the NRSV)
Blessings & think about asking God's Spirit to pray for you if no alternative appears, Kevin T.