Humanity has just not advanced all that much (if at all).
I am not a fan of political speeches and campaign hijinks, but you simply cannot avoid watching or hearing it.
I am tired of the trick questions that are given at interviews, the name calling and disparaging comments. It makes me wonder if there are any honorable politicians out there. (I know there are, but still … )
The point is, we haven’t really gotten any better as a human species. When I look at how politics was played over 2000 years ago and how they are played now, there really isn’t much difference.
Take for instance the Pharisees, Sadducees and Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees laid a trap for Jesus.
They wanted a statement about his politics. If he answered one way, he was a hater of government and Caesar. If he answered another way, he was a collaborator with an occupying army.
It’s all there in Matthew 22:15-22. The question was “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor?”
This was supposed to be a “GOTCHA” moment. They were going to ruin Christ in one fell swoop.
Boy, were they ever wrong. Jesus takes a coin and asks whose picture is on the coin. Of course, it was the picture of Caesar, and Jesus utters those famous words, “Render to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s.”
Boom, mic drop, trap tripped, shut and done and on the wrong people. It fell right back on the Pharisees and Sadducees.
In my 56 years, I have seen this very game played time and time again. It seems the only way anyone can get ahead of their opponent is by discrediting them.
As you can see, it worked really well for the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
So well in fact, that 2000 years later, there are still Christ followers and there is no Sanhedrin.
Coincidence? I think not.
We, as the church, should always be taking the high road. We should always let our beliefs and actions speak for themselves. We should always be holding ourselves and our leaders to higher standards.
This petty name calling, and word trapping is for the birds, not for Christ.
The next couple of weeks are just going to get worse. The television and the mailings will get more cynical. Texts and phone messages will tell us how awful the other pundit is. But, we don’t have to succumb to that. We can take the high road.
First off, get informed about all the issues. Don’t rely on someone else’s opinion. Read for yourself the platforms and ideologies of each candidate and each issue.
Next, pray. Pray for God’s presence in the voting booth and the hearts of the voters.
Finally, don’t add to the noise. Listen and learn, don’t shout and spurn. Open dialogue is good, but don’t let it get hateful.
Be followers of Christ and seek peace rather than turmoil.
It’s going to be a rough ride folks, but God will pull us through.
See you in church.
Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.