In my book titled Not Just Any Old God will Do, two chapters are dedicated to a discussion related to politics in our country. Some may ask, “Why would a book with that title devote so much space to politics?” And that is a fair question. The simple answer is that since the enemy of our souls has been using both major political parties in our country against her, it would be difficult to have a meaningful discussion regarding his efforts to deceive without including politics. One of the most effective strategies he employs against us is to divide and conquer. For decades, he has been using the culture war to employ this strategy in our country. By influencing our perception, he has worked on both sides of the political aisle to engender hate, contempt, and division. And as he continues to advance his evil agenda, patriotism is being superseded by hyperpartisanship and tribalism. As I observe current events in our country, it appears we are now motivated only by the desire for our side to “win”, and not by what is in the best interest of our beloved country.
Early in my former telecommunications career, I learned that there were two things that should not be discussed at the office: religion and politics. And for the most part, I adhered to that unwritten rule for my entire career. At some point, however, I came to realize that it really was acceptable to discuss these subjects as long as the discussion was not disruptive to the work environment. In retrospect, I can see that it was this requirement that likely led to these topics being discussed only by subsets of the work force that were of like minds. After all, can you think of any subject more contentious and polarizing than religion and politics? So, without questioning that approach, over the years, I have tended to limit my discussions of these subjects (even away from the office) to people who shared my perspective regarding them. However, considering the current state of our country, I now question the wisdom of this decision. Here is why.
As I indicated in the book, one’s perception is his reality. So, if our thoughts regarding an issue are flawed because of the enemy’s influence on our perception, and we only interact with those whose thoughts are similarly flawed, it is likely we will always be on the wrong side of that issue. While I understand that being on the right side of an issue is not a priority for many, I assert without equivocation that it should be for God’s people. Our north star should be grounded in God and not in our affiliation with or loyalty to a political or even a religious organization. By no stretch of the imagination am I suggesting that we should all be political and/or religious rebels. I am merely affirming that we should not blindly follow political or religious leaders to the point of quashing the still small voice within. How about you? Do you think it is acceptable to God for us to determine right and wrong through the prism of tribalism? With him, does the end ever justify the means? Is it appropriate to apply his laws to every aspect of our conduct except to our behavior as it relates to the political arena?