A Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
As I continue to reflect on Andy Stanley’s book, Not in It to Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church, please help me to show wisdom as I express opinions about politics. It is so often the temptation to use harsh language and attitudes to try to convince other people that my opinion is best. As you have shown throughout scripture, Jesus’ way is better!
I love the idea that when Jesus was presented with a tax question that was intended to show loyalty to either God or Caesar, he was able find an honest, truthful, and wise answer that pleased everybody. “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 15:21 (ESV). It is my fervent prayer that when I have the opportunity, I will be able to find responses that mirror Jesus’ wisdom!
Another political season is approaching where all sides are expected to be nasty and show their worst colors. I pray that Christians will surprise the world with their wisdom, compassion, understanding, and self-control. Please make it clear that those who follow you know how to present compelling and persuasive arguments that make sense to both Christians and non-Christians and keep anger from entering our conversations. As Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV) says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Let this be true of all people who call themselves Christians!
Division within the Church is terrible! When Jesus spoke in Matthew 12:25 about a kingdom divided not being able to stand, he was referring to Satan’s kingdom. How much worse is it when the kingdom divided is speaking about Jesus’ kingdom? Please bring unity to the church.
The entire New Testament is filled with examples of Christians who had no reason to like each other, and yet, they chose unity. Before Paul became a Christian, he fought bitterly against the church and even approved of Stephen’s killing in Acts 8:1. When Paul asked for forgiveness, he was welcomed into the body of believers. Let it be so for everyone who is fighting against the church and causing division. If the source of distress is from outside the church, show the person the truth about you and let them have a conversion moment like Paul did. If the source is within the church, show the person that you love unity above almost everything else.
As it says in Philippians 2, if we all share the mind of Christ, how can we so bitterly fight against one another? Let love reign freely. Jesus shares a very important command with his followers in John 13:34-35 (ESV): “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Let us be known by our love for one another. When I disagree with someone, let Jesus shine through as I show love for that person. Hate gets us into Satan’s kingdom, but love gets us into your kingdom.
Please show me the right way to live as a sister of Christ, as a daughter of God.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Respond
Please pray a prayer about wisdom in political decisions. If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.
As you consider the theme of controlling your speech and showing wisdom as you express political opinions, are there any Bible verses that came to mind? If so, add a comment at the end of this post!
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Related Resources
Read: A Book Review of Not in It to Win It: Why Choosing Sides Sidelines the Church by Andy Stanley
Visit the Joyful Moments in Christ homepage for all posts, or scroll through other blog posts related to politics, wisdom, and self-control.
English Standard Version (ESV): Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
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