If you watched the presidential debates last night you were probably bothered by the behavior of the candidates. The name calling, constant interrupting, and accusations made the debate hard to watch. Truly cringeworthy. But why? Why were you so bothered by the debate? Well, I think there are several reasons….

You may have a feeling that every person should be shown basic respect.

You may have a feeling that every person should be shown grace.

You may have a feeling that every person should be treated in an honorable and loving way.

If you had those feelings, you should know, you are right. These feelings are part of your God given DNA as a person. Because every person was created by God and because every person was died for by Jesus, every person should be loved and respected. The gospel was not exactly on display last night.

I think we can do better. By do better I am not talking about better candidates. That ship has sailed, the candidates are the candidates. By do better, I mean that we the people can do better. We can decide….

We will not resort to name calling.

We will not treat anyone with disrespect.

We will love one another.

We will be the gospel on display.

Everyone gets to speak. It is a cherished and valued part of our country. It has led to offense, anger, and division, and liberation, freedom, and love. We have a complicated history when it comes to free speech, but it is a rare gem that ought to be appreciated and protected.

That being said, there are a few caveats when it comes to free speech:

There are protections under the law. You can’t literally say anything. If you libel or incite violence, you can be sued or possibly prosecuted.

Free market ideology is also at play. Government is to make no law against free speech. However, your company doesn’t have to associate with you if your speech hurts the bottom line or business. Everyone gets to speak but there is no amendment about listening. So, if you can’t build an audience or maintain a following, your ability to speak to a large audience may be diminished.

For a Christian, there are a few spiritual tests to consider:

Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Test 1: Is what I’m saying helpful in building others up? As a Christian, who believes the Word became flesh according to my needs, I ought to care deeply about the needs of others. After all, Jesus cared about mine. One way I can do this is with my words. To encourage others and speak truth.

James 1: 19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Test 2: Have I listened well? Many of the problems in our culture come from a failure to listen. Quick to listen is hard in this current climate. It demands I lay down my speaking rights for a time and listen to your thoughts and ideas and, in the process, we are both served well. I gain perspective and you have been heard.

Ephesians 4: 15: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Test 3: Is what I’m saying lovingly true? Jesus balanced these two ideas perfectly, He spoke the truth in love. Truth without love is hard to hear. Love without truth doesn’t really change anything. In our speech, we need both.

A few things to consider:

Celebrate free speech: you don’t have to celebrate what is said, but take joy that you live in a country where everyone gets to speak. It is somewhat rare.

Avoid offense: in the first century, to be offended carried with it the idea of sin. I am so bothered by what you say that I hate you or need to destroy you. I sin. Jesus offended others but He was never offended. I would like to more like Jesus than the religious leaders in those stories. When I choose grace over anger, peace over war, and love over hate, I am most like Him.

Enjoy respectful dialogue: we are not required to love everything we hear. Free speech belongs to all of us. Form arguments, engage in debate, and articulate a point of view. Speak truth in grace.

That brings to my final point….above all, love well.

I have a few friends on my social media feeds that are really into politics and are loving this season. I am genuinely happy for them. Most people I know are frustrated, angry, and fed up with politics. If that is you and you are a follower of Jesus, I want to encourage you today. I want to encourage you in…

Hope: This election is going to matter in terms of national policy, but this election is not going to matter in terms of personal worship. On Wednesday, November 4, regardless of who wins the election, Jesus will still be on His throne. He will still be in control, He will still be worthy of worship, and He will still be all powerful. Nothing can change those truths. Nothing can stop those truths. They attempted to stop Jesus with a cross and He responded with a resurrection.

What does this mean? It means we should all settle down. Yes, there are things at stake, but the most important things are not at stake.

Prayer: There is a reason that Jesus taught us, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Praying for people we disagree with opens our heart to them in new and profound ways. As followers of Jesus we are called to love all people, even our enemies. It is a core part of the gospel. Praying for people helps us get to that place. Democrat, I hope you are praying for President Trump. Republican, I hope you are praying for Joe Biden. Prayer would certainly diminish much of the vitriol that our nation is experiencing.

Prayer does another important thing. It reminds us of the One who is above the candidates. I see people defending their candidate with a passion and zeal that starts to feel like worship. We need to be reminded that we serve a God that is above, better, and more powerful than any human candidate. We need to keep our eyes on Him.

Mission: The light shines brightest in the darkness. It might seem dark right now, so we allow that to be a clarion call on our lives to let the light of Jesus shine. When our culture chooses anger, we choose grace. When our culture chooses division, we choose love. When our culture chooses violence, we choose peace. The church has never run away from the darkness, the church runs to the darkness and lets the light shine.

Don’t be discouraged…. this is a time for hope, prayer, and mission. May we never grow weary in doing good.

A few short hours before Jesus went to the cross, He talked with His disciples about the frustrating, uncertain, and scary path they were about to embark upon. In these chapters, recorded in John, He seeks to preach to them as a prophet, minister to them as a priest, and command them as a king. We too are on a frustrating, uncertain, and scary path…my prayer for you is that the words of our prophet, priest, and king will encourage you:

A new command I give you, love one another. (John 13:33)

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me (John 14:1)

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. (John 14:16)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit apart from me you can do another. (John 15: 15)

So with you: Now is your time of grief but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy. (John 16: 22)

Because of social media, everyone has a voice right now. Many of these voices are frustrated and angry by their inability to be heard. In response, our culture is getting louder and louder to be listened to and noticed. Is that the right strategy? Simply turning up the volume? Before we turn up the volume we should engage in evaluation.

I think that a message might not be heard for 3 reasons, the message is…

Divorced from accountability. Social media allows people to have a platform that do not have a position of leadership. This can affect tone greatly.  In my position, I am a pastor, and I have democrats and republicans that attend my church. People I love, serve, connect with, and pastor. My tone is affected by my position. I need to love each side well. I need to challenge each side well.

Without this organic accountability that comes with leadership, voices can devolve into angry messages that fail to connect. If you do not have a position, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share, but it does mean that you should be aware and pay attention to your tone. Ask a few people you trust to evaluate your tone.

Divorced from grace.  We are hard wired for grace. Created for it, changed by it, and urged to demonstrate it.  Any post I see that is completely absent grace, I tend to ignore. I have taken my ball and gone home on messages that are condescending, harsh, or resort to name calling. I suspect a lot of people are feeling this way.

Divorced from truth. It is easier than ever to share information that is not true. It is also easier than ever to verify the truthfulness of claims. A message might not be connecting to an audience because it isn’t truthful.

More than any other people group, Christians should be obsessed with learning the truth and sharing the truth. We worship one who is called The Truth. Jesus was described in one of the best ways, we are told He came in grace and truth. His message has endured, in small part, because that is the best way for a message to endure. Truth and grace.

Over July 4^th weekend I finally got to watch Hamilton. Thank you Disney Plus. I enjoy history and enjoyed the telling of the story of our founding in a creative and fun way. Despite being 44 years old, I even enjoyed the music.

I was surprised to see a trending #cancelhamilton. The criticism is that Hamilton is portrayed and celebrated in a way that he should not be because of his ties to the slave trade. I’m not blogging today to debate the merits of the criticism, I enjoy history but I’m not equipped to comment on Alexander Hamilton’s participation in slavery. #CancelHamilton has me thinking about legacy, how we remember people, and this important truth…

Legacy should be spoken with grace.

I have officiated dozens of funerals. Never once have I eulogized someone by airing all their dirty laundry. A memorial, a legacy, should be seen and articulated through the lens of grace.

This is not to say that you lie. This is to say that you focus on what is good, right, and noble. It is the gracious thing to do.

This is not to say you ignore. Sometimes the sins of the past need to be discussed and even debated. Grace reminds me that a person’s sin is not the sum of who they are. Grace urges me to see the better that lies in almost every person.

I am not a perfect man. I hope that someday my children remember me through the lens of grace. I hope they can celebrate the best of me.

I bet you hope the same thing about your kids.

We are losing our connection to grace at a rapid level. The most basic expression of grace is the way we talk about those who have died. We have already lost sight of grace in the way we talk about the living.

We have replaced grace with our moral outrage. It is a moral outrage that assumes others are sinful and I am righteous. The former is true, the latter is not.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “None are righteous, no not one.”

Perhaps it is helpful to remember that history will judge our generation as well.

Is it too much to hope they judge us through the lens of grace?

We tend to think that the love of God starts with an “if”. If I am holy, righteous, and do the right things, then and only then will God love me.

We then apply this to our human relationships. If they are holy, righteous, and do the right things, then and only then will I love them.

I have good and challenging news.

Love does not start with an “if”, it starts with a “because.”

God does not just love us if we do the holy, good, or righteous thing. God loves us because He is holy, good, and righteous.

We do not love others if they are holy, we love others because we are called to be holy (different).

In short, our love for others is not determined by their behavior.

We are called to love the victim and the racist.

We are called to love the pro life and the pro choice.

We are called to love the opposition.

We are called to love our enemies.

We are called to love the democrat, republican, and independent.

We are not called to agree, but we are called to love.

Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 43-45.

Paul says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”  I Corinthians 13: 4-6

Peter says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4: 7-8

This love is radical, messy, hard, and so needed. Will you join me in making this the Summer Of Love? May we express the love of our Savior to every person. A love that transcends their behavior and is based on who God has called us to be. May we pray that this love changes us and transforms us and makes us more like Jesus.

We have become obsessed with pointing out hypocrisy. In nearly every debate/argument I have read online recently, at some point someone pulls out the hypocrisy card.  “Republicans are hypocrites, they did that exact thing a year ago and now they are against it.” “Democrats are hypocrites, they said that exact thing 3 years ago.”

Yawn.

I find this argument old and tired.

I also find that it blinds my heart. The idea that there is some group or organization that is not filled with hypocrites is comical. The idea that I am not filled with hypocrisy is even more comical.

If you are looking for a good description of hypocrisy, these are Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴ You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

²⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

When I am faithful to attend Sunday morning worship, but neglect justice on Monday….

When I work hard to present God’s word, but do not work hard to show mercy…

When I am diligent to appear holy but neglect true faithfulness….

I am a hypocrite.

I suspect you are as well.

In our hypocrisy obsessed culture, we often miss perhaps the most important point of all. Listen to the Old Testament prophets’ words in Micah 6:

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.

What is good, just, merciful, and humble? 

It appears that in our game of hypocrisy gotcha we have forgotten to ask this question: What is good?  

If an action is wrong, it is wrong for the Republican and the Democrat.

If an action is unjust, it is unjust for the liberal and the conservative.

If an action is unmerciful, it is unmerciful for all.

We need to ask better questions.  We can do better than, “who is the hypocrite?” Spoiler alert…all of us.

What is good, merciful, and humble? These are good questions.

If we ask better questions, perhaps, we will get better answers and maybe, just maybe, a better world will follow.

I was listening to a podcast the other day and one of podcasters had a line that I cannot get out of my head. This is a paraphrase…we want to think of ourselves like George Floyd, but we are all much more like the police officer.

We tend to think about ourselves as completely innocent.

We tend to think everyone else is the problem and at fault.

This has resulted in a tone of moral superiority, arrogance, and condescension in our culture.

The truth is we are all sinners. Our sin nature makes us all capable of sin. We are capable of lying, stealing, taking, and judging. I know that this is not an overly positive message but its true.

As Christians, we do not do what we are capable of for one reason. The reason is not that we are better or more enlightened, the reason is grace. The reason is Jesus.

It is the grace of Jesus that transforms us into His likeness.

It is the grace of Jesus that empowers us live differently.

It is the grace of Jesus that changes us completely.

Grace reminds me that I am sinner saved and changed by grace.

Grace reminds me that the people around me are sinners that are changed by grace.

I am not morally superior; I have accepted God’s grace.

I am not the Savior, Jesus is.

I am not the changer, the Spirit is.

I am not the answer, the gospel is.

There is a tone in our culture that says, “I am more enlightened than you and a better person than you are. I am the answer so look to me as your example.”

Let me say this, I am not the answer.

I am a sinner saved by His grace.

I am a sinner changed by His grace.

I am a sinner dependent on His grace.

Do not look to me.

Look to the grace giver.

Look to Jesus.

Let me start with a caveat, we often confuse the political and spiritual. Pastors preaching against racism aren’t being political, they are being spiritual leaders. The same could be true on issues of life, gender, and sexuality. These issues are thoroughly spiritual and demand a spiritual response.

I have always hesitated to comment on politics, particular pieces of legislation, and individual candidates for three reasons:

1. I don’t want to indicate the answer to our problems are political. Certainly some issues are political and we need our politicians to solve those problems. As a pastor, I believe that most of our issues are spiritual. Pointing people to Jesus is the most important thing I can do with my time and platform.

2. I never want to indicate the answer is a particular political leader. We set politicians up as as our savior all the time. If only __________ wins this November then everything will be better. They fail to meet our expectations, because they can’t, and anger sets in. Rinse and repeat over 40 years and you see why our culture is so angry. We have turned to the wrong Savior.

3. I never want to unnecessarily offend my audience. I have people from every political point of view in my church. I love each of them in Christ. I refuse to offend my audience over political matters. I would rather offend them over the cross, the spiritual, and the Biblical. When that offense happens, people are motivated to wrestle in ways that are truly helpful.