Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Navigating Political Discourse for Evangelicals
The Bible is chock full of great wisdom on how to conduct our affairs and personal relationships and I’ve been thinking a lot about this due to the tensions that are rising due to the last election. As I’ve mentioned in a couple of recent blogs (Entering the Fray: The Dangers of Political Discourse on Social Media, The One and Only Genuine Original Political Battle), I’ve noticed an uptick of people unfriending those who are on different aisles of the political spectrum.
While I respect anyone’s wishes to choose their friends as they see fit, as a believer, I truly want to treat others in a way that is pleasing to God first and foremost. And I found some wisdom in an unlikely passage about marriage in 1 Corinthians that I thought worth sharing. Imagine if you will that instead of ‘wife’ or ‘husband’ it was simply referring to any loved one…
“If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.” (1 Cor 7:12-13,15)
While I understand this is not a passage on how to deal with friendships or political adversaries, I believe the wisdom can be applied in the case of any loved one that as long as that person is willing to stay in the relationship, let them. And here is the reasoning…
“Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?” (1 Cor 7:16)
Regardless of the relationship, this speaks to the influence we have in people’s lives. If we truly feel we have truth on our side, and especially the answers to eternal life, it seems worth considering the impact we may have on the other person. And then there is always this…
“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.” (James 51:19-20)
Hope this helps someone else sort through it and perhaps save a relationship. Remember, this too shall pass! 🏵️
