Amidst the constant bombardment of vociferous political rhetoric and flippant disrespect aimed in every direction, I feel compelled towards realignment and stability. Words like "liberty" and "freedom" have taken the center stage, while the marketplace of ideas has been flooded with bombast like a full-on fire hose that leaves us all feeling soaking wet and bruised from the wear.
In moments like these, when issues that affect lives are discussed, there is an inherent tendency to elevate priorities in an effort to clarify thoughts for the purpose of coherent dialogue and debate. But although there may be significant, if not severe, differences between how we evaluate, critique, and decide on any particular issue, it is always important that the method of debate must be commenced with decency and respect. The means with which we arrive at some semblance of consensus is at least as important as the ends we are aiming at.
Humility is the key. Admittedly, this is much easier spoken of than accomplished, especially when convictions about truth are the matter at hand; however, it is vital that we maintain humility throughout our debates. Additionally, humility under circumstances such as these can be nearly impossible because we are dealing with issues of great importance, that strike our deepest persuasions.
Consider this: Christ Jesus was the very Son of God. He possessed, within His very person, truth. This was not some humanistic "idea" about an abstract, subjective truth. Christ Jesus knew the truth, for He, being God, was the source of truth and it is essential to His being. Yet when He was faced with controversy and contrary "opinions" about truth that opposed truth, He spoke gently, directly, and with the utmost humility.
Jesus had the right and the authority to tell it like it is, being in very nature God. Make no mistake: Jesus did call out people directly, but His tactic always matched the matter at hand, and His priorities were set in such a way that He knew when to hug a person to teach them and when to indict them to their faces (think turning tables over in the Temple and calling religious elitists: brood of vipers).
As we continue the debate of politics, let us take this same mind of humility among ourselves. No matter how strongly we feel/know what is true and right, we should always strive to present it in a way that is inline with our Christian convictions and that would not damage our testimony. In other words, we need to love. And above all else, let us pray with earnest supplications that the Lord would help us always to match our convictions with our love.
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