My title may rankle enough people that only two or three will be left to read this article.  However, God made some things clear in His word—things that impact every dimension of life, including interpersonal relationships and politics.  Yes, politics because politics affects life, and God is all about life.

The Bible teaches some basic guidelines regarding Life and how to deal with each other. If those were followed, 99.9% of the manufactured and exaggerated problems we now face and focus on would dissipate. I believe that it would transpire relatively quickly, and many of those issues would become non-existent. 

You may vehemently disagree and believe that if we use the biblical directive to deal with people and the problems facing each of us and this nation, we will become doormats.   You may believe we must fight fire with fire and push back harder than we are pushed.   If you do, what I am going to say will not be palatable in your world, and you will deem me a weak-willed pacifist.   Think what you will, but I will go with God’s Word.

Jesus instructed in John 13:34-45 – “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”   We do not love one another in today’s world.  That is a fact! 

Paul informed us of how problems arise and the fruit of the lack of love in Galatians 5:13-15 – “For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” 15 But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.”

James gave a powerful dissertation offering incredible insight in James 3:16-18 – “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile]. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].”

My objective is not to make this a sermon but to highlight that we are focused on the wrong issues and the root source of the problems in today’s world. Interpersonal issues are not racial issues but heart issues. 

Whether we are talking about same-sex marriages, genders, abortion, adultery, fornication, murder, rape, theft, violence, and scores of other issues, the source of the problem is in the heart.   Not the physical organ that pumps blood to the other organs but the heart of the soul.   It is that place where the seed of who we are is birthed.  If that is aligned with God’s moral and spiritual principles and precepts, we will find peaceful coexistence; otherwise, we will have every kind of chaos and disruption known to man.

I view the situation in American politics as terminal and worth every ounce of energy we can expend to correct our wrong direction.  However, fighting with political weapons, hurling insult for insult, and seeking to destroy those in opposition will exasperate the problem, not rectify it. 

I refuse to allow hate to dominate my life and skew my worldview.  I am a Christian, and I believe in the Bible.  In America’s formation, our founders and the framer of our constitution recognized the value of God’s precepts being known by all citizens.  They acknowledged the divine providence and help of God in our successes.  They included the Bible as part of the public education curriculum and printed a Bible to be distributed to American citizens.  You may find that repulsive, but history validates what I just asserted.

I have determined to make it my life’s objective to see people as God sees them.  I continually endeavor to view people through the lens of heaven, not my ideology, preference, or any animus or bias I might be tempted to allow.  

There is much to dislike and even abhor in the lives and political activities of numerous people in government today.   The corruption is visible and documented in some who hold or have held the highest of offices in America.   But if I fight them on their level, they may not win, and neither will I.  Evil will prevail, and the hatred and division will be perpetuated.

We endured the horrific events of September 11, 2001.  I was encouraged when I witnessed my beloved America drawn together, transcending ideological and political lines, and standing hand in hand as a united people.  

After the attack by the Japanese Empire on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, America essentially threw aside ideological differences and united to preserve the republic.  We have done that numerous times in our history.  The Spirit of 1776 has been resurrected from time to time and the value of freedom became the driving force that allowed alliances otherwise impossible.

Had we remained in the death grip of the division created by jealousy, envy, distrust, misunderstanding, and hate, we would have lost WWII, been overrun after 9/11, and America would now be something other than the great nation she has been and still is. 

God warned time and again in the Bible regarding those who turn a blind eye to evil, embrace false gods, and engage in the debauchery of depravity.   America is on the brink of becoming so fragmented and divided that nothing short of a miracle of God could bring it together. 

Tragically, we have allowed politics to dominate our world, divided it into camps, and sought to eliminate all who are not of our tribe. If they don’t look, act, talk, walk, work, or believe as we do, they are worthy of annihilation in the minds of many today. That is a recipe for destruction, not restoration.

The politics of Big Government is ripping us to shreds.   The war on our inalienable rights, including the freedom of speech, religion, and the right to personal property, including self-defense embodied in the 2nd Amendment, makes us easy targets for evil to prevail. 

The fanning of the flames of racial discord, attempting to make one sector the sole villain and culprit while ignoring the inconsistencies of others, is destructive.  The adoption of idolatry in the form of abortion, gender, and denying the source of our creation is deadly.  There is much to hate, but hating people is not the answer.

It is my view that if we, as individuals, committed to following the biblical precepts I mentioned at the outset, regardless of what is done nationally or internationally, we could and would see healing begin. 

Am I being Utopian in my view?  Yes, if you believe it can be done without God.  No, if you understand that with men, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.  It is impossible for us to love everyone in our own strength.  It is only possible by the ministry and the work of God’s Love, Mercy, Grace, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. 

I love America and will expend every ounce of breath and strength I have to preserve her as the Free Constitutional Republic we were found to be.  I am a Vietnam Veteran, a Patriot, a Family man, a Lover of Freedom, and most importantly, a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I believe that the Bible is alive, active, and able to expose the depths of our souls to God and us.  If we will heed the precepts of God’s Word and, as much as possible, live peaceably with all men, demonstrating God’s love to everyone, we will overcome! 

Think of me whatever you please and wonder why I am not vilifying the Left over the many atrocious policies and actions being put forth today, but know that my heart is to please God and to save America.  I believe that this pathway is the only legitimate pathway to peace.

I will address the issue of “The Silence of the Lambs” in another blog post.

God bless you, and God bless America!