Years ago I remember reading a column by a news correspondent that began; “It was a tense and tumultuous day in the Middle East…which is to say it was a normal day in the Middle East” One could say that about the current situation in the US today. We seem to be explosively divided over many political and social issues. We are struggling with racial and political unrest as well as a global pandemic like few have seen in our lifetime. These are truly difficult days but they may not be that abnormal. I am not Buddhist but I understand and somewhat agree with two of their Four Noble Truths: The First Truth is that life consists of suffering, pain, and misery. The Second Truth is that this suffering is caused by selfish craving and personal desire. Much of life does seem to consist of suffering, pain and misery (sounds a lot like me waking and trying to get my 68 year old body out of bed). Our selfish cravings and personal desires have led us to be in the midst of some interesting, painful and confusing times for many.
Four years ago I received a call from a former church member
who said, “Pastor, you have given me wise
counsel over the years from the pulpit and in personal discussions. You always taught us to follow the direction
of the scriptures but I am having trouble finding scriptural guidance and I
need your guidance on how to vote.” While I was flattered that my counsel was
still considered worthy I was also taken aback.
I had never publically approached any political opinion as a
minister. I always considered my job to
promote Jesus and his love and stay away from politics. I never backed away from a moral directive
that had a Biblical basis but I never wanted anyone to know what my political
leanings or opinions were. Heck, I didn’t
even want them to know what sports teams I followed. I did not want anything to take away from my
presentation of the Gospel.
I thanked the friend for their trust in my counsel and told him
that I could not tell him how to vote except to follow his understanding of God’s
guidance and his own moral convictions in making his choices. The Bible does not give specifics on these
matters. The Apostle Paul gave the following advice; “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people—or kings and all those in authority, that
we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is
good, and pleases God our Savior,” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). So we are to pray for them that we may live peaceful and quiet lives. I personally
always liked the advice of my barber in Louisiana (which is famous for wild
politics). He told me that his
grandfather advised him to; “Always vote
the incumbents out!”
Putting politics aside, in all my years I have sought the
most Biblical and peaceful direction in life.
When you are always the shortest guy in the room it is easy to be one
who seeks the pathway of less conflict.
However, Jesus also told us the peacemakers will be blessed and “called
children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Therefore, I have always sought to make peace with my
fellowman. My mother was a peacemaker
and I guess I inherited those genes from her.
Thank you Mom!
I have also been influenced by my upbringing as a child of
the 60’s growing up in Mississippi in the middle of the violent civil rights
movement. I was just 3 days shy of my 12th
birthday when Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner were murdered
by a group of civic leaders and law enforcement officers. Their crime was seeking to help black people
have the right to vote. This happened 81
miles from my home. I was forever
impacted by these events. In fact, I
began this occasional blog on August 9, 2008 with an article entitled Labels
are Best on Soup Cans referencing this evil event.
One of the advantages of being old is that you have lived
through many crisis situations and realize that while the days may seem gloomy
and dark, we have always survived. When
I was in my pre-teen years there was murderous racial strife, riots, assassinations
of a president, political and civic leaders along with a war that was deemed unwinnable
and unjustified. However, some 50 years
later we are still here.
In my 40 years of ministry I have served as a Pastor and Director
of Missions (where duties consisted of being a pastor to pastors, a mission’s
leader, and church conflict mediator among other duties) and I have learned
much. I have had the privilege of
meeting and becoming lifelong friends with some of the sweetest saints that one
would wish to encounter in life. I have
been blessed to travel and share God’s love to 5 of the 7 continents. I don’t know if I will ever make it to
Australia (even though I speak the language, 'Mate') or Antarctica. I have
also met some of the meanest and hardhearted people who are in church
every Sunday and have even acquired positions of leadership. Surprisingly to many, my greatest spiritual
experience in worship occurred in the chapel of the toughest maximum security
prison in the state and not a church.
I have discovered that there are loving people in and out of
the traditional church. I have also
learned that there are mean and evil people everywhere. Some are in political office and some are in
church and even in pulpits. Remember I
am a child of the 60’s where segregation was preached from some pulpits in Mississippi.
So, without rambling on too much more, where does this
lead? In all these years of study,
ministry and travel I have learned that it doesn’t really matter if one is a Democrat,
Republican, Socialist, Communist, Liberal, Conservative, Christian, Muslim,
Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, or whatever; the best theology, philosophy
or way to seek the best life each day is to simply “love your neighbor as yourself.” If we will give our fellowman the
same status in life as we think we deserve and treat them as we seek to be
treated the whole world will see more harmony and peace.
We are all neighbors on this planet with a wide diversity of
people. God seemed to enjoy different
people because he made a lot of them. We
have different backgrounds, beliefs, skin color, cultures and experiences. These should never divide us but they should
be used to bring us together and enjoy growing and understanding the vastness of whom
we are and who we can be when we are in harmony with one another. Life is better
when we love one another! Trust me, I am a Doctor!
