Political Thoughts in a Political Year (aren't they all ?)

None of my core beliefs are stronger than this: Jesus IS Who He said.

He said "I AM the way, and the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6).

Who Jesus IS carries with it an absolute logic for His followers: everyone who honestly loves Jesus, loves truth.

Loving Jesus is what it all comes down to, and what everything in our lives comes from. So I was thinking today on one of "His many benefits" (Psalms 103:2) that I've particularly become aware of in this political year.

If we honestly love Jesus, we love truth. In a political year (but also every other year), those who rigorously love truth are immune to all the political "spin-doctoring" that surrounds us. We're immune to all the politicians shading the truth, and mouthing half-truths, and telling outright lies to manipulate our thinking...for their political advantage.

It absolutely infuriates me to be manipulated: that is the worst form of slavery. John Dewey wrote that "Plato defined a slave as one who accepts from another the purposes which control his conduct." When people choose to think the way a politician wants them to, so they will do what the politician wants them to...don't they choose to make themselves his slaves ?

If we honestly love Jesus, we love truth: and that keeps us from being manipulated by politicians, their lackeys, or their pathetic deceived followers who believe and spread their lies.

This may be part of what Jesus meant when He said that all of us who love Him are His true disciples: and His true disciples "...will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32).

Politics, and Moral Wisdom

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident…enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying…I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

Sound like a political campaign ? That’s because the deeds of the flesh reflect the spirit that is in us, and the enemy is nowhere busier establishing his spirit of pride, hatred, anger, and violence in people’s hearts than through politics.

The enemy is constantly at work building his kingdom in the hearts of the unwise and undiscerning. In the moral foolishness of those who are deceived, and deceive themselves, that some human kingdom, or personality, or party, or faction, or philosophy will change the world’s evil system for the good. But how can that be, when human kingdoms, and personalities, and parties, and factions, and philosophies are EXACTLY the world’s evil system ?

May all who read this be morally wise, and morally discerning. May all who read this watch over their hearts with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23.)