So... A Trump, A Hillary, And A Christian Walk Into A Church...

It is Sunday morning where I am. Christians all over social media have their Church face ready to go. It looks good for sure. Worship team members getting their praise on. Pastors tweeting out sermon teasers. Caring believers encouraging their lost friends to come to church with them. Those who haven't been in a while are posting that they are going back to church to get some peace, or joy in their life. On Sunday morning, Facebook becomes Faithbook. 

That's good, because on Monday, it will once again become a political and cultural battlefield. Sunday is basically considered the Lord's Day, in the Christian community. It is almost like the sabbath for the Jews, but not quite. So many Christians will not work on Sunday, some won't buy things. They generally take a slower pace and focus on God... and football. Granted, there are some believers who are still fired up about the election, and will not miss an opportunity to link to an offbeat click-bait blog to trash one candidate or another. But generally, Sunday is like a ceasefire.

This election has become the most caustic in history. Many friendships have been strained, and some ruined. For most of the week, social media is a website of landmines. It is filled with truth and lies about people and ideas. It actually gets nasty at times, though most of the time it is just an exercise in passionate persuasion... which can be good, and is important. But at the same time, there is a lot of fear and hate, which comes out in ugly terms directed at those running for office as well as their supporters. There is name calling. From 'moron' to 'spawn of Satan'... and some even calling Trump or Clinton 'Satan' himself, there is no lack of vitriol.

But as I scroll through my newsfeed. I wonder... What if Hillary Clinton showed up to church today where my Trump-supporting friends worship? What would their response be? If they saw her walk in, would they call her Satan? Would their eyes narrow? Would they instantly post about how much of a hypocrite she is? Would they walk up to her and ask her about the emails, or why she kills people who disagree with her, or why she wants to kill babies? Would their heart turn cold? Would they immediately pray that God uses the sermon to save her evil un-American soul today?

Or would they smile at her, walk up, introduce themselves, and invite her to sit with them? Would they tell her they are glad to see her? Would they pray that God would bless her during the service? Would they see her as a child of God by design and creation, even if they see her as a lost person because of her beliefs and actions? If she stepped to the altar, would they step up to ask her about her specific need, or would they try to cast demons out of her? Would they invite her to lunch after church? Would they be embarrassed to be seen with her?

I could ask the same questions about my friends who oppose Trump. Would they call him an adulterous racist when he walked in the door? Or would they be glad that he put himself in a position to hear the delivering Gospel of Jesus Christ?

The election is important. But people are more important. I'm not suggesting that Christians cannot love a candidate while using strong terms to hold them accountable. I do it. I'm sure you do as well. What I am suggesting is that we need to ultimately value what ultimately matters. I'm not beating you down for opposing sin, or calling out sin in high places. But we need to be able to oppose the sin without demonizing the sinner... the sinner who may just show up in your church some Sunday.

I'm sure you would embrace and show the genuine love of Christ to a prostitute or drug addict if they walked into your church today. But what about the candidate you just called 'Satan' on Facebook yesterday afternoon?

"First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

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