Politics is What’s Trending Today

The word “politics” stems from the Greek word “poly,” meaning “many,” and “tics,” meaning “blood-sucking parasites.” At its most noble, the word “politics” describes those relationships that help us navigate our most complicated tensions.

Politics and religion are a volatile combination. But they have this in common. Your faith is about what you believe. So is your vote.

Nov. 3 is the most contentious election of our lifetime. Because of your faith in Christ, consider this:

Followers of Jesus are called to love people who aren’t like them, who don’t like them, and (if we’re honest) people we might not naturally like.

Scripture teaches that the world will know we follow Christ by our love.

Matthew was a Jewish tax collector and Roman sympathizer. Simon the Zealot was part of a radical Jewish sect that sought to overthrow Roman oppression. Yet both Matthew and Simon sat comfortably together at the feet of Jesus. That’s the radical power of grace through Christ to transform bitter enemies into lifelong brothers.

How you vote matters. How you treat someone who votes differently than you matters more.

Originally written for the Owasso Reporter.