No Offense Intended. Please Hear God's Heart.

Here we are just a few weeks away from the elections. The airwaves are filled with mud slinging. After just a couple of minutes of watching the news I feel I need to go take a bath!

Even FaceBook is ablaze with negative, degrading, criticizing comments about the President and his party, as well as his opposing candidate and party. I've never seen it quite this intense....thus far. We could truly label this year's election The Great Divide!

Not only the news media, but the social media has become a virtual cesspool of negative and derogatory words launched at the very folks our Lord Jesus came to suffer and die for. It seems to me that Christians (followers of Jesus) have become entangled in the same war of sludge and filth.  What a shame!

I'm sure I have your attention now. Before I continue with this post, I want you to notice that I use the word "we" and "us" quite a bit. This is because I am guilty of what this post is addressing. However I am tired of it, and realize it is NOT God's way. Please read on with an open heart and rise up with me to show forth the genuiness of the God who has saved us from darkness.

Does the United States need to change? Absolutely. Can we continue the way we're going? Absolutely not. But change will not come as a result of wrestling with flesh and blood (slinging mud). Criticism does not promote change nor will it fulfill our hopes. Change will only come to America as hearts are changed by the Spirit of God. When we truly cry out to God on behalf of our nation (ourselves), we leave no room for criticism. On the contrary, we open wide the door for God to show Himself strong and mighty by changing hearts.

Politics has become the arena in which we have given ourselves permission to ignore the principles of God's kingdom. Principles like (Ephesians 4:29), "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." And this one, (Col. 4:6), "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

My questions are these: Are you praying about this upcoming election as much as you are posting the negative stuff? Are you praying at all? Is God so weak that He needs us to criticize others to help Him accomplish His will? Our God is THE ALL-POWERFUL God who reigns from eternity to eternity. His will be done!

We as God's people (those who are called by His name), must stop the criticism. We must humble ourselves and pray! II Chronicles 7:14 says not only must we humble ourselves and pray, but we must also turn from our sins. When we fervently pray, the promise is that God will hear us from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land!

A follower of Christ should know that criticism is a form of judgment to others that opens the door for more intense "return" judgment. Jesus said, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged." Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Only a true Christian walking in the love of Jesus Christ will return a gentle answer for a harsh word! 

Please forgive me if I have offended anyone. That is not my intention. Perhaps we all need to be rattled somewhat before we can be spiritually awakened. But that is just it. What America and the rest of this world needs is a spiritual awakening! Jesus give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to receive, and motivation to do what you are saying in these latest of last days by Your Spirit!