WHO STOLE THE HONOR FROM AMERICAN POLITICS?
There are things I read about the way politics are working these days that makes my stomach turn and my heartache. It seems that the healthy dissent and honorable debate that the founding fathers engaged in is not what we are seeing today.
I am aware that you can’t paint all people in politics with the same broad brush of generalizing and stereotypes, but there are people on the left and on the right side of the aisle who have forgotten honor in their discourse. The name calling, accusing, mud slinging and attempts to tear others down show that our culture is slipping more and more into a shame and blame society.
It was Samuel Johnson (English writer in the 1700’s) who said, “You raise your voice when you should reinforce your argument.” Booker T. Washington (advisor to the president in the 1800’s) added, “We must reinforce argument with results.” “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
When the culture is swinging the opposite way from the culture of honor that the Kingdom of God is based on, we are reminded once again that as Christians, this world is not our home. It should not feel comfortable or familiar; we should feel as if we are foreigners in an unknown culture. Our mission is to bring the Kingdom in all it’s fullness to earth. We want to see the culture shift and change to reflect the culture of heaven. But how do we change something so broken?
The answer is in going to the one who has all the resources and can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). We have to believe that among all of the dishonor and shaming, the Lord is able to use those who will follow Him and live in a counter cultural way. So, I am praying for those who are part of our political system to have encounters with Jesus and learn the culture of honor. I am praying specifically for those in politics who seem to be the biggest offenders of speaking words of dishonor, that the Lord will change their hearts. I am praying that truth is seen, heard and known.
As the body of Christ, at the city level, we are mobilizing teams to silently pray at the city council meetings every time they meet. There is no political agenda here, just the heart to see good healthy discourse and conversations in an honoring way.
Our turn comes up again next Tuesday evening. If you have a heart to engage in this active approach of praying, you can let us know ahead of time, or you can simply attend and silently pray. We just ask you that you would not speak at the meetings, and stay until the very end.
Prayer is the weapon we have to change the atmosphere; we will also count on the presence of God arriving at meetings we choose to attend.
Whether you join us down at the City council chambers or stay at home, will you pray with us for the culture of honor to be restored here in our local politics?
