United we Stand is also a great slogan for God’s family.
I am always excited to see people praying. In our church, we gathered around an individual and laid hands on that person as we asked God to help them or bless them. So when I saw a picture of people laying hands on Mr. Trump and calling on the members of their churches and organizations to pray – I was excited. I had no idea that posting it on Facebook would let me know that so many Christians are hurting.
If a Christian announces they are voting for Hillary, they may be instantly attacked by other Christians who are voting for Trump and vice vera. The attacks can elevate to accusations that the Christian is Not a “true” Christian.
I’m sure we all know that judging another person’s faith is not allowed! Yet, the attacks have cause the Christian vote to be bitterly divided with hurt feelings on both sides.
This has to stop. Before we can pray for our leaders in government, business or the local church – we have to stop the bickering and name calling. Perhaps we need to go back to the old church custom of calling other members brother or sister. It’s a bit harder to get mad at a dear Christian friend when it’s proper to acknowledge them as “Sister Sarah” or “Brother John”.
I have to do some research so it may take a couple of days, but I will publish a post titled “God’s Choice”. No, I will not reveal a candidates name. Instead, we will explore what it means to be “God’s Choice”.
It’s a beautiful Sunday here. I have a broken toe so I’ve got my foot elevated and I’m staring out the window at soft puffy clouds floating past red and gold trees. Even with all this beauty, my heart is breaking to think that so many in the body of Christ are hurting. We all should be passionate about our faith but that passion can not be allowed to wound the heart of our Christian friends. I realize that many times passion can be ignited by fear. There is a lot of fear in this country and that fear is not unfounded. However, we cannot allow fear to cause us to hurt the body of Christ.
There’s an old saying that the church is the only institution that shoots it’s wounded. How horrible!!!
I think it’s fitting that on this beautiful Sunday we refuse to pray for our country or our leaders. Instead, we will all stop to pray for the body of Christ. No matter what happens this election we can’t allow Satan to divide and conquer God’s children. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 12:25 “that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
As Jesus was praying for the disciples as well as all believers, John 17:20-21 records, “I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Join me in prayer for the family of God.
Dear Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. Please help me to be a better Christian. Reveal ways that I can serve you better and impact this world for you. Please unite your children. Before we can pray for anyone else, please give us a desire to pray for your family. Help us to find ways to agree. Help us to heal the hurts and to bind the wounds that keep us apart. Help us to look at each other with compassion and understanding. Give us the strength to hear opposing words and not be upset – but rather find a way to apply wisdom and find the “real” truth. Help us to look at those who think differently and see the eyes of another Christian who truly wants to do what is right but sees a different path.
Passion is good and can be found on both sides. Help us to use passion as a method to find your truth. The real issue is that “all” of your children must come closer to you. If we do that, there will be no division. Make us one. Help us to see through your eyes. Make us one.
See you tomorrow