Last week, I wrote about the passing of Congressman John Lewis. You can read the whole thing here, but I need to highlight a portion to set the context for what I’m about to write. Lewis was a partisan Democrat. He hated Donald Trump and was openly contemptuous of Trump. Years ago, John Lewis recorded a radio spot for a candidate running for Chairman of the Fulton County Commission in Atlanta that claimed Republicans running the Fulton County Commission would be as bad as the dogs in the street and hoses of the white supremacists in the Civil Rights era. He ended the spot telling black voters their “very lives” depended on this voting for John Eaves for Fulton County Commission Chairman.…
Read this, and I finally had to sign up. You keep nailing it. Thanks for cutting through the c!@& and daring to say what is, vs. what parties, populists and powerful would have you say. Keep on.
Jesus chose to submit his fate to the murderous authorities, rather than allow his right hand man to take up the sword against an opponent.
He had taught his people "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
In this spiritual wisdom is found the divine power by which we overcome principalities and powers that are arrayed against us and against our Lord's holy purpose.
Jesus' power far surpasses the petty politics and socialmedia-driven drivel that drags our formerly-principled discourse into the mud and mire of human enmity.
We know that John Lewis was a Christian.
Furthermore, he was a man of incredible courage and high principle.
I confess, Erick, that, last week when I began reading your post about him, I stopped reading when I encountered in the second paragraph your mention of Rep. Lewis' opinion of Trump.
He was indeed considered an opponent of conservative politics. Nevertheless, there was so much more about the man's life worthy of respectful mention than the President's supporters' judgement of him.
There are not many believers who are willing to give their backs to the smiters and ferocious police dogs.
I am weary with GOP'ers who fall for the trumpian trap of judging every person and every movement according to how it affects the President's image or re-election.
I do commend you for the peace-seeking column that you posted above. It represents well the attitude and grace of our Savior.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
It is wise to be able to actually see there are trees making up the forest. I believe Scripture calls us to “live circumspectly.” We must always be aware of those things and people surrounding us. This too easily descends in an excuse for using pragmatism as a decision making criteria.
Yet as people of the Truth—as the only people who know, recognize and see what is really true—we must often make decisions which separate the “lesser of two evils.”
Not because they are righteous or even that we are. But because as limited, fallen humanity, we are trying, with God’s help, to the best we can, as far as it depends on us, to make this world better for those lounging in the chairs on the deck of the Titanic we call this world.........
I am a native Georgian and once I got back from service in Vietnam in 1971, I settled in the 5th District in Atlanta, Georgia. I was there when he ran for Congress the first time in 1977 to replace Andrew Young who was named to be UN Ambassador under Carter. Young's replacement was selected in an open primary that featured two future US Senators: Wyche Fowler and Paul Coverdell. Fowler won with Lewis finishing well back. I voted for Coverdell but learned to respect Lewis as I often respected battlers. We disagreed on most issues but he was a solid citizen and I respected him.
I wonder what, if anything, to do about what has made me a pariah, to some extent, both inside and outside of the Christian Church. Part of it is my Army experience. In the Army I had to associate with people of different backgrounds; then I would turn and read, for example, Charles Spurgeon's blasts against people who go to the theater -- and much of the recreation of military people comes from movies... The love of Christ is supposed to flow through us, so that even those who hate us will acknowledge Him (Matt. 5;16; Romans 6:11-14; Galatians 2:19-20). May the Holy Spirit bear us up when we fall short of this lofty goal.
Erick, I hear you. Jesus would have been a friend of John Lewis'...BUT...He would not have left John in his sin. Like He did with Zaccheus, He would have said, "I'm going to your house today..." at which, He would have sat John down and had a long...long......L-O-N-G talk.
I believe He would have had some convicting words about baby-killing.
As despicable as sex with a porn star is--and it IS--it still doesn't rise to the level of 60M babies having been slaughtered in the USA since Roe V. Wade--and so many of them black children.
Jesus was a friend of sinners, but He always brought restoration and redemption.
I agree , I just wrote “Can’t We Just Get Along”. Everything seems extreme by people today (speaking in General) Politics seems be driving everyone is either Right or Left and judged accordingly. Hate seems to be prevalent in our Society today. God Help Us🙏
Great post Erick. For Christian's, it is important to remember that Jesus was a friend to sinners. And that is a good thing because none of us could be friends of God if that were not true.
I cannot help but love what John Lewis was willing to endure to change the great amount of racial injustice that existed in the 1960's. At the same time, I cannot love what I consider to be the unjustifiable partisanship he exhibited later in his life, as in your example of his comments about John Eaves. Unless one lives in a bubble, almost everybody knows somebody who has political views that don't align with hers (even among family members). It is possible to strongly disagree with somebody and politely agree to disagree. My private joke is that if I only was willing to fellowship with Christians who shared my exact set of theological views, I would be a denomination of one, and I would have to excommunicate myself because sometimes I have changed my mind.
The main reason I follow you, Erick, is because you’re able to align politics not with the ‘truth’ of the Right but the TRUTH of Scripture. And, you nailed the heart of love that we are to exhibit as Christ’s followers. I never expect those who are not in relationship with Him to do the same, and I am rarely disappointed. Thanks for all you do!
I try to use the following guidance of who I associate with:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
It is difficult and I guess it goes both ways, I have seen this happen so much lately people giving up on friendships of decades not to mention family members from either say of the political aisle. If we took the time to listen to each other perhaps our country wouldnt be where we are... I've seen Donna on Fox and she strikes me as a fun lady (don't agree with her politics, but she seems fun).
This has all become so complicated. I'll keep trying to apply the Golden Rule. And when I don't recommit myself to keep trying.
Read this, and I finally had to sign up. You keep nailing it. Thanks for cutting through the c!@& and daring to say what is, vs. what parties, populists and powerful would have you say. Keep on.
Jesus chose to submit his fate to the murderous authorities, rather than allow his right hand man to take up the sword against an opponent.
He had taught his people "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
In this spiritual wisdom is found the divine power by which we overcome principalities and powers that are arrayed against us and against our Lord's holy purpose.
Jesus' power far surpasses the petty politics and socialmedia-driven drivel that drags our formerly-principled discourse into the mud and mire of human enmity.
We know that John Lewis was a Christian.
Furthermore, he was a man of incredible courage and high principle.
I confess, Erick, that, last week when I began reading your post about him, I stopped reading when I encountered in the second paragraph your mention of Rep. Lewis' opinion of Trump.
He was indeed considered an opponent of conservative politics. Nevertheless, there was so much more about the man's life worthy of respectful mention than the President's supporters' judgement of him.
There are not many believers who are willing to give their backs to the smiters and ferocious police dogs.
I am weary with GOP'ers who fall for the trumpian trap of judging every person and every movement according to how it affects the President's image or re-election.
I do commend you for the peace-seeking column that you posted above. It represents well the attitude and grace of our Savior.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
It is wise to be able to actually see there are trees making up the forest. I believe Scripture calls us to “live circumspectly.” We must always be aware of those things and people surrounding us. This too easily descends in an excuse for using pragmatism as a decision making criteria.
Yet as people of the Truth—as the only people who know, recognize and see what is really true—we must often make decisions which separate the “lesser of two evils.”
Not because they are righteous or even that we are. But because as limited, fallen humanity, we are trying, with God’s help, to the best we can, as far as it depends on us, to make this world better for those lounging in the chairs on the deck of the Titanic we call this world.........
Amen my brother from another mother.
I am a native Georgian and once I got back from service in Vietnam in 1971, I settled in the 5th District in Atlanta, Georgia. I was there when he ran for Congress the first time in 1977 to replace Andrew Young who was named to be UN Ambassador under Carter. Young's replacement was selected in an open primary that featured two future US Senators: Wyche Fowler and Paul Coverdell. Fowler won with Lewis finishing well back. I voted for Coverdell but learned to respect Lewis as I often respected battlers. We disagreed on most issues but he was a solid citizen and I respected him.
I wonder what, if anything, to do about what has made me a pariah, to some extent, both inside and outside of the Christian Church. Part of it is my Army experience. In the Army I had to associate with people of different backgrounds; then I would turn and read, for example, Charles Spurgeon's blasts against people who go to the theater -- and much of the recreation of military people comes from movies... The love of Christ is supposed to flow through us, so that even those who hate us will acknowledge Him (Matt. 5;16; Romans 6:11-14; Galatians 2:19-20). May the Holy Spirit bear us up when we fall short of this lofty goal.
Proverbs 11:30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
We can only influence people through relationship. Great post!
Erick, I hear you. Jesus would have been a friend of John Lewis'...BUT...He would not have left John in his sin. Like He did with Zaccheus, He would have said, "I'm going to your house today..." at which, He would have sat John down and had a long...long......L-O-N-G talk.
I believe He would have had some convicting words about baby-killing.
As despicable as sex with a porn star is--and it IS--it still doesn't rise to the level of 60M babies having been slaughtered in the USA since Roe V. Wade--and so many of them black children.
Jesus was a friend of sinners, but He always brought restoration and redemption.
I agree , I just wrote “Can’t We Just Get Along”. Everything seems extreme by people today (speaking in General) Politics seems be driving everyone is either Right or Left and judged accordingly. Hate seems to be prevalent in our Society today. God Help Us🙏
Great post Erick. For Christian's, it is important to remember that Jesus was a friend to sinners. And that is a good thing because none of us could be friends of God if that were not true.
I cannot help but love what John Lewis was willing to endure to change the great amount of racial injustice that existed in the 1960's. At the same time, I cannot love what I consider to be the unjustifiable partisanship he exhibited later in his life, as in your example of his comments about John Eaves. Unless one lives in a bubble, almost everybody knows somebody who has political views that don't align with hers (even among family members). It is possible to strongly disagree with somebody and politely agree to disagree. My private joke is that if I only was willing to fellowship with Christians who shared my exact set of theological views, I would be a denomination of one, and I would have to excommunicate myself because sometimes I have changed my mind.
The main reason I follow you, Erick, is because you’re able to align politics not with the ‘truth’ of the Right but the TRUTH of Scripture. And, you nailed the heart of love that we are to exhibit as Christ’s followers. I never expect those who are not in relationship with Him to do the same, and I am rarely disappointed. Thanks for all you do!
Erick. I understand your points of view.
I try to use the following guidance of who I associate with:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/2ti.3.1-5.niv
Well put and spot on! Thanks for having the courage to do so!
It is difficult and I guess it goes both ways, I have seen this happen so much lately people giving up on friendships of decades not to mention family members from either say of the political aisle. If we took the time to listen to each other perhaps our country wouldnt be where we are... I've seen Donna on Fox and she strikes me as a fun lady (don't agree with her politics, but she seems fun).
I often have to remind myself of something I heard a preacher once say, “Lord, help me forgive those who sin differently than I do”