Politics and Family

It is rare that all families – and our close friends – share our political views. Ours should always be cultivated and focused on Biblical truth. Often family and friendly conversations turn from casual to confrontational when political opinions are expressed. As believers our lives are ordered, we are called to live in submission to the commandments and principles outlined in Scripture. Politics is no different. Any political system has criteria that one must believe to support it. These criteria become the principles supporters live by. The principles guide their thoughts, and are expressed in their conversations. Politics provides community and community fosters an identity.

Our identity is found in Christ – through sanctification we are growing more and more into His likeness daily!

When we – believers – meet politics it can become awkward, and it can become ugly! The ugliness comes when we are not prepared in how we are to respond to family members and friends who in their frustration may want to antagonize us. They may do so intentionally, or when surprised by a statement we may make. Either way, what are we to do? How are we to honor the Lord in our responses?

Our first thought should be – I am living for Him, and not myself. What I am hearing is not about me, it is about Him! They are sharing the value of their heart – and it is their political view – what they live for.

Secondly, we need to calm the situation not escalate it. We can discreetly change the conversation, or give a gentle response. We can leave the conversation – graciously. We are not to stomp away muttering our objections. We need to respond in a way that glorifies the Lord – that reveals Him to be central to our reasoning!

Then we are to commit – in our hearts – to pray for the person, and the political movement they support. And, we are to actually follow our commitment. We are to remember they are blinded to Truth, and their knowledge is worldly – they are enslaved to what they believe in. Their functioning is in line with what they know and what is important to them – self-realization of their ideals.

• A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (Proverbs 15:1-2).

• With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone (Proverbs 25:15).

• In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world (Galatians 4:3).

• Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Galatians 4:9)

• See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8).

• Guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," (1 Timothy 6:20)

#politics #family