“God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her and guide her through the night with the Light from above….”
“America, America, God shed His grace on thee…”
Sobering lyrics at a time like this in our country’s history, aren’t they? Our country is no longer the United States of America, but the Divided States of America. Everywhere we look, whatever we read, hear or watch, there is division over how our country should look and be governed. We have each taken sides, have closed our minds to any other way of thinking, and then we shut down or rise in anger. We fold our arms, close our ears and turn away from differing Americans.
There are angry marches, violence in the streets, power plays in Washington, and the political gridlock continues and has for decades. We name it democracy, which is defined as “government by the people, a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral vote.”
Wait! But what if I don’t like who was elected, which, by the way, has happened several times in my own life? What we see today is far beyond my understanding. Yes, I get the issues and certainly understand the angst and hatred people have towards our president, but our American democratic way of election determined who our president would be, for at least the next four years. Period.
Let’s look deeper at the issues and our responsibilities as followers of Jesus Christ. First of all, “Be imitators of Christ, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us…” Eph. 5:1,2 We are only responsible for what comes out of OUR mouth, OUR attitudes and OUR actions. We answer to the Lord God first and secondly to everyone else after that, no matter how much we disagree or how angry we become.
God doesn’t need OUR help in sorting these things out and if His Word is true, He goes before us, is everywhere and sees everything. Nothing happens, NOTHING HAPPENS that He doesn’t cause or allow. Whoa! Nothing? Nothing! If He wasn’t in control, He would not be God.
He sees the turmoil in our country today and yes, He sees the brokenhearted, the frightened, the anger and hatred, and He knows all about the issues that are dividing our country and affecting other countries. He sees the racial turmoil and division, the hungry children, the shattered families, the gender confused and diverse lifestyles. The truth is, He loves every single person on this planet and sent His Son to save them and bring life and hope, if we would each believe and accept His love.
So, my question is…Where do YOU stand, America? Do you stand on the side of darkness or Light? Despair or hope? Bondage or freedom? Hatred or love? The Almighty God or not? The United States or the Divided States of America?
Do you trust God and His sovereignty or not? If you do not, I understand your despair.
Let’s work for unity and weigh our words, thoughts, and actions concerning all of this. Strongly considering how we communicate through social media and other connections is a good start. Can we even listen to an opposing opinion and belief to have a more balanced opinion? Are we open to the Holy Spirit’s leading at all? Who and what is filling our minds?
Are our words, thoughts, and actions toxic? We answer to the Lord God first. (“Be imitators of Christ as dearly loved children”) Let’s be a part of the solution and not a continued part of the problem. After all, Christians, we represent Christ to our world and our country. God bless America!