I’m worn out by the state of politics. But even more than that, I’m heartbroken at how it’s dividing people who have walked through real-life pain together.
My sister-in-law’s best friend recently told her she needed to know who she voted for because “she sees who she follows on social media” and needs to protect her peace. I understand boundaries. I understand being cautious about what we consume. But when did we start deciding whether someone is worthy of friendship based on how they vote? Especially someone who’s supported you through family trauma?
When did we stop asking who someone is inside and start judging them hard on what we assume they believe, based on whose following whom on social media?
This does not feel right to me. Scripture tells us to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2), not to demand ideological purity as the price of fellowship. We are supposed to be known by our love, not by our politics.
I’m praying we can return to seeing people as people…not as platforms, hashtags, or headlines.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Friendship is built on liking one another and having shared experiences. Political views if carried to extreems will spoil friendships.
If this person is determine friendship by politics tell them you love them but don’t base liking someone on their politics and be prepared to say goodbye.
Its hard to keep a friendship based on political views sometimes. told my mom about how I think minors would be allowed to take HRT with therapy and evidence, then she concussed me and said she hopes i get killed and/or hanged by a MAGA supporter. Never trusted her again after that.
And its mainly when people don’t accept the issues of who they vote for. i understand that Kamala Harris was rude on Joe Biden – who didn’t even want to be president, then she ghosted everybody because she lost. but when i prove a point that trump thinks Nazism and racial profiling is cool, then i’m the issue. so yeah, friendships can easily be ruined if you don’t agree. let alone accept your differences. you can’t change someone’s mind, you can only alter it. Proving points on a different perspective does NOT EQUAL fighting.
so PLEASE, if you talk about politics with friends or family members: don’t try to change their perspective. agree and move on. both left and right wing sides have done something wrong. accept it.
More and more difficult in these times. Time is slowly, yet increasingly, headed towards the end.
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Sadly, look around.
”Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4
Look around.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” 1 Timothy 4:1
Look around. Politics is an easy tool of division: Race-baiting, another. Sadly, Jesus and His Word are another.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36.
Remember, God scattered us at the Tower of Babble, not because we would not achieve our desire, but rather because, united, we can do anything. We need to be more united, and we need more peacemakers.