Greetings Dear Reader,
Let me first say that I am not going to offer any partisan opinions
here. My point is to discuss an issue
regarding all politicians and not to take sides in any debate.
As long as there has been government there have been both
good and bad politicians. In his novel, Men
at Arms, Terry Pratchett’s character Carrot makes mention that “policeman”
comes from “Polis” and “Man”. He insists
that a policeman is a “Man of the City.”
The Patrician of the city, Vetinari asks Carrot if he knows the origin
of the word “politician”.
A politician is literally a citizen that serves the
city. There are those, however, who would
deconstruct the word “politic” to be “Poly” and “tic” or many blood
suckers. Whilst I find that humorous but
it also points to an abuse that is too easy to employ. We constantly gossip about and slander political
figures with whom we disagree.
We are commanded to respect and pray for those who are our
leadership. We are told clearly that God
sets up and deposes rulers. When challenged
on taxes Jesus insisted that we “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. Paul requires us to respect those who rule
over us even when they are dead wrong.
It does not matter which side of the isle you occupy. It makes no difference how you feel about an
issue. We are not allowed to spew hatred
and epithets about anyone in public office.
We required are to love them. The
person who is corrupt or stands for all the things we hate is still someone that
God commands us to love.
We seem to have lost the ability in our culture to hold
civil discourse over civil issues. We
hurl insults and indulge in dishonorable speculation. We hate people we do not even know. We deny people the opportunity to be heard
and instead shout them down. Someone I
love dearly has done this to me over a political figure. Instead of listening and hearing what I had
to say he hurled insults at the political figure and at me. He has no idea the damage it does.
I am required to be respectful no matter how I feel. I am not allowed to hate anyone regardless of
his or her political stance. I must be
involved and do my part as a member of this society. I must always do so with love and
respect. I must disagree with deference
to office and position. I must follow
Christ in every word I speak in this arena.
Jesus’ brother James weighed in on speech. He said that as Christ followers we are not
allowed to have blessing and cursing issue from the same mouth. As with any other area, I must conduct myself
first as a Christ follower and then as a proponent of an issue or supporter of
a politician. I must assure that my
Christ centered conduct governs my political speech. Otherwise I am bound to utter words that are
unkind and unloving. No matter how
clever or well-crafted those words are I become just another banging gong when
the words lack love..
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home
owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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