Salt and Light
With humility and love.
Over the next 24-48 hours, the world will witness the United States once again exercise a cherished hallmark of the democratic political system: the selection of the next President and Vice President of the United States through free and fair elections. Much like the previous two election cycles, this cycle is characterized by sharp and divisive rhetoric, political and social tribalism, and a general uneasiness and anxiety toward its outcome. Simply stated, we are in a season of meanness and fear. The results will be revealed over the next week or potentially over the next few months, and our nation will be tested. Meanwhile, the world is watching. They wonder how Americans on both sides of the political divide will respond. Many in the recent news cycle are predicting violence and social unrest. Our response will reveal much about who we are as a nation today.
Similarly, the world has been watching with a critical eye, how we as Christians have acted throughout the past few election cycles, and they will be watching to see how we respond once the results are posted. How we respond will reveal who we are as individuals who claim the name of Jesus and who we are as a church.
As we prepare for the days and months ahead. I am encouraged and challenged by Jesus’s words from His sermon on the Mount. His audience was the multitudes of people attracted to his message of repentance and hope. His audience was also the religious leaders who had lost sight of God stubbornly and arrogantly grasping on to their religious ritualism and self-righteousness. And finally, His message was directed to His disciples, whom He instructed concerning life in the Kingdom of Heaven. We, too, can learn from His message. In Matthew 5, verses 7-9, Jesus stated:
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In this powerful message, Jesus utilizes two piercing metaphors of salt (Matt 5:13) and light (Matt 5:14) to illustrate how the disciples should live and their potential impact on the world. The same goes for me and you. We can let political divisiveness, fear and uncertainty dictate our response to the political and social climate of our day, or we can respond in obedience as salt and light by standing firmly grounded in our identities in Christ, living in a manner worthy of being called sons and daughters of God.
As I navigate the next few months, I will be reminded to ask myself, will they see mercy when the world observes my reaction to the election and my overall outlook on life? Will my actions reflect a purity of heart? Will they characterize me as a peacemaker? I challenge you with the same question.
So, I encourage you to remember that God is sovereign, and no political candidate or party has all the answers to the challenges of this life. Justice, righteousness, peace, mercy, love, and salvation are in Christ alone. I pray this message settles your spirit and gives you peace of mind during this season.
Amen,
Brad
Wisdom in a Whisper is a non-political, non-denominational, not-for-profit parachurch ministry.
