Making America Good Again: United by Equality

For America to be good, America must also be united.  What unites us is not our race, tribe, ethnicity or religion.  We are not held together by the dictates of a king, dictator, spiritual leader or an oligarchy. 

Americans are united by two big ideas: 

all people are equal and

people should be governed by laws, not men. 

Human equality and the rule of law are real-life applications of "love one another" and "The Golden Rule." 

Today, let's make this personal. How are you and every other person on the planet equal? 

Let's start with the most obvious.  We all started the same way.  People aren't necessarily conceived through the traditional method anymore, but it still takes the DNA of male and a female of our species to get a human being.  From conception, our bodies grow and function the same.  Muscles, bones, organs, blood, and the rest. 

But being human is more than our physical body.  You know without being told that you are more than what you see in the mirror.   There is a lot going on inside you.

You have emotions - like love and hate, happiness and sorrow, contentment and frustration. 

You think.  You learn and solve problems.  You remember. You imagine things and dream. You ponder the meaning of life.

You make choices, what I call free will.  Viktor E. Frankl, a world-renowned psychiatrist,  was repeatedly tortured during the three years he spent in Nazi concentration camps.  He came to the conclusion that no matter what our circumstances or what happens to us, we can choose how we will react.  He said, "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."  That space, that freedom to choose, is in you.  

You are often self-centered.  You sometimes think that the world revolves around you and your needs.  You want to gain power and possessions.  Sometimes you think you are better than everybody else.

You have a conscience and are sometimes surprised by that unasked for feeling of knowing what is right and wrong.

In addition to all of that, you still find that there is something else that no thing, no thought, no feeling can satisfy.  The 17th century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal put it this way:

What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?  This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself."

You see, you also have a spiritual side, what many through the centuries have called the soul.   

So, how are people equal?  We are all physical, emotional, rational, free, self-centered, conscience-laden and spiritual beings.  

And one more thing.  Some might say we are equal because we agree that we are, but if that is true we could just as easily agree that we aren't!  The primary reason we are equal is because we are all created and loved by God, and God wants us to see each other as God does. That will never change.  

You are a human being - a complex and wonderful creation of God.  So is every person you see. 

There are many other things about you that are important - your sex, your race, your ethnicity, your family, your religion, your talents, your bank account, your intelligence, etc.  All of these are secondary to your essential humanity.  These things do not make you superior to any other person.   These things do not make you inferior to any other person.  They make you different from some others, but not better or worse.

To make America good again, can we unite around this idea?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Making America Good Again: Another Golden Rule Challenge

The news of more rioting in Charlotte, NC, greeted me in my newsfeed again today.  My sister-in-law asked:  "When is it going to stop?"  Good question, but which "it" do you want to stop? 

Do you want the police to stop targeting black people?

Do you want to stop the injustice in America's criminal justice system?

Do you want black people to stop disobeying the orders of the police? 

Do you want people to stop protesting in violent ways?

Do you want everybody to stop from forming opinions until all the facts are known?

I'm sure you have your own "it"?  Which "it" do you want stopped?

My challenge to you today is to take the Golden Rule and apply it to what you know about this situation and similar ones from other cities.   What would you do if this were your hometown? 

Today, "seek first to understand, then to be understood."   

This is the fifth habit from Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People."  It is a corollary to the Golden Rule because understanding is an essential step in doing for others what you would like them to do for you.

How can you seek to understand? You should talk with people who have a different perspective.  In situations like this, the best you might be able to do is get your news from multiple sources!  The news media and social media are not trustworthy.  Balance liberal and conservative sources against the other, and try to glean the truth as best you can.  Try to grasp the facts and the feelings of those involved.  Seek out, as the Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said, "Not my truth, not your truth, but the truth." 

And then, find a quiet moment and put yourself into this news story. 

If you were the person confronted by the police, how would you respond?  How do you think police officers want you respond, and by law, how you should respond?  Do you think the police can be trusted?

If you were the police officer, how would you approach this situation?  How do you think people want to be treated as you approach them?  Do you assume that all, or some groups of citizens, are more likely to be criminals? 

Put yourself in the place of the family, friends and neighbors of the person killed by a police officer.  How do you feel?  What do you want to know?  How would you respond?

Put yourself in the place of the community.  How would you protest?  What would push you to violence? 

You can never know for certain how someone else might feel about or respond to a situation, just like no one can know how you would.  Different life experiences shape our thoughts and actions.  But empathy, a part of loving, requires that we try to understand where the other person is coming from.   It may not change your opinion, but it will help you understand the opinions of others.

Walk a mile in the other person's shoes - and then perhaps we can find common ground to have a conversation and prevent a conflagration.

Next:  Unity

 

Making America Good Again: The Golden Rule

We have all been taught, I hope:  "Do to others as you would have them do to you." 

Some form of the Golden Rule appears in almost every faith and culture.  Just Google it.  Eugene Peterson in The Message paraphrases Jesus's words this way: 

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior:

Ask yourself what you want people to do for you;

then grab the initiative and do it for them! 

 

We often think about the Golden Rule in relation to big things, like helping the poor or demanding justice.  But for now, think about applying the Golden Rule in the small things that happen everyday. 

I challenge you to pick a day and try to live the Golden Rule for 24 hours. 

Yesterday, I ran a bunch of errands.  My Golden Rule day included letting folks pull ahead of me in traffic, opening doors for some older ladies, and patiently waiting in line at the meat counter for $2.99-a-pound chicken and ground beef with a dozen other folks.

I smiled and made eye contact with folks, including the lonely looking old guy in the motorized shopping cart who also got a "how ya doing?"

I had my purchases organized and my credit card ready to go.  I made small talk with the cashier (no phone!) and thanked her and the person who helped me with my groceries.

On other errand days, I have helped people get something off the top shelf, given money to the person in front of me to complete their purchase, complimented a mom taking the time to explain something to her kids, bought stuff for the food bank, and let the person with just a few things go ahead of me. 

I also didn't do some things that I wouldn't want others to do.  I didn't blame the pharmacist that there was an issue with my prescription.  I didn't yell at the guy sweeping the floor because there was no mouthwash on the shelves.  And other than using these as illustrations for you, I didn't brag to anybody about doing this stuff.

All simple things, but if I were in these peoples' shoes, I would want someone to acknowledge me and not blame me for things that weren't my fault.

There is the key.  Be aware of the other guy.  The Golden Rule encourages us to focus on other people and not be consumed by our own needs and wants.  Be intentional about what those around you might be going through and take the initiative to interact and help them. 

Take up my challenge and live the Golden Rule for a whole day. Don't forget to pay attention to family, friends and co-workers, too. Let me know how it goes.  Maybe you'll like it and make it a habit!

Tomorrow - Another Golden Rule Challenge

Making America Good Again: Love One Another

Loving one another is the single most important thing we need to do to make America good again. 

Christians are commanded to love because God loves the whole world and wants us to love everybody in it too.  Christians don't always succeed, but we try.

Even if you are not a Christian, I think you would agree that America would instantly be a better place if we all decided to love one another. 

Jesus talked a lot about love - loving God, loving our neighbors, our enemies, the poor, and society's outcasts. He even talked about loving ourselves.  I'll share more about those later, but first, here are some general observations.

 - Love applies in ALL situations and is the foundation of what it means to be good. For example, if you find yourself conflicted between being loving and being honest, you need to figure out how to share the truth in love. More about that later, too.

 -  I'm not talking about having warm, fuzzy feelings for each other. This is not even about liking each other.  In fact, loving one another doesn't require that we like each other at all.

 -  Loving one another is about how we interact with each other. Do your words and actions show that you care about the other person and are willing to put the other person first?

You have probably heard one of the best definitions of love at a few weddings, but the words were actually written to apply to how we "love one another" and not just in our marriages.

They come from Paul of Tarsus who was Christ's primary champion in the 1st century.  He established many churches in what is modern Greece and Turkey.  Some of the letters he sent to them became part of what we know as the New Testament.  To a church in Corinth, near Athens, he wrote:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (NLT)

How well do you show this kind of love to other people?  If you were to take Paul's words and substitute your name for "love", can you say about yourself.....

I am patient.

I am kind.

I am not jealous.

I don't boast about myself.

I am not arrogant.

I am not rude.

I don't demand things be done own way.

I'm not irritable.

I don't hold grudges.

I don't rejoice when injustice happens, but rejoice whenever the truth wins out.

I never give up.

I never lose faith.

I am always hopeful.

I persevere, even when things get tough.

 

How did you do?  Don't worry; we are all a work in progress!  Improve where you need to. Share this, lovingly, with someone you think might need it.

Love is the foundation of all that we must do to make America good again. 

 

Tomorrow:  The Golden Rule

 

 

Making America Good Again: The Source of Freedom and Goodness

The moral landscape that shaped America is deeply rooted in Christianity.  Interestingly enough, this does not mean that to be a good person or enjoy the benefits of freedom you must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  I am a follower of the resurrected Jesus Christ, but won't ever insist that you accept my beliefs.  Jesus never forced anyone to believe in Him.  He invited people to follow Him. 

So whether you do – or don’t - believe God is the Creator of all that is, including freedom and goodness, please accept this invitation to read on.

Americans talk a lot about “rights" and "freedoms."  Our founders trusted that these rights came from our Creator - things like equality, life, liberty, and being able to freely pursue your dreams. The Constitution's Bill of Rights ensures that we are free to believe what we want, say what we please, and use our time and money as we see fit.  These ideals are yet to be fully realized for everyone, but we come closer with each generation.

But what does it truly mean to be a person who is free?  It is more than not being a slave, although that is a part of it. Human beings have free will.  People are created to  think and act as free agents, without any outside restraint.

Freedom works reasonably well if you live alone or with people who think like you do, but that is not the real world.  Why?  Look at human nature.  People are self-centered.  We yearn to be free, but freedom is lost as soon as one person or group hinders the freedom of another. The reality is, if I fully exercise my freedom it will at some point hurt you, oppress you or enslave you - and vice versa. 

For all of us to be free, we must agree to place limits on our freedom; “My freedom to swing my fist ends where your nose begins." 

This is where goodness comes in.

I like to think about it this way - if freedom is living without restraint, then liberty is freedom infused with goodness. 

America is the land of liberty.  When we make good choices with our freedom, we will live at peace with ourselves and with those around us.  Not only that, we will need fewer laws and less government!

In short, the only way to live free is to be good. 

But what does it mean to be good?  For most of American history people would have thought the answer was obvious, but that is no longer the case. 

Over the past 50 years or so, our concept of goodness has been changed.  Many have worked diligently to remove America's Judeo-Christian foundation from our education system, history and culture.  Then opinion-shapers moved us to accept the idea of moral relativity that assumes each of us can determine what good, right and  true for ourselves, but not necessarily for anyone else.  Now we are awakening to a culture where opinion-shapers are defining morality for us with only the faintest of nods, if any at all, to our Christian heritage.

Things are not working out so well, are they? 

In these reflections, I will be challenging you to explore what it means to be good, personally and in relationships within families, communities and between nations. They are based upon the teachings of Jesus, revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, and confirmed by observing human nature.  I hope that you will come to see God and goodness, faith and freedom in a whole new light. 

And I also hope that together we can discover some common ground to make America good in our generation and beyond.  Our liberty depends on it.

Next:  Love One Another

Making America Good Again: Happy Constitution Day!

On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was adopted and sent to the states for ratification. Today we celebrate this amazing document which now includes the Bill of Rights and 17 other amendments dedicated to maintaining and expanding America's commitment to freedom.

Government by the rule of law, rather than by the whims of kings, dictators or politicians was an idea centuries in the making.  America's constitutional republic has survived for 229 years because even in dark times, Americans have always risen to the challenge of defending the Constitution and the freedom it protects.

Americans know the freedom we share comes with great responsibility.   Ronald Reagan famously said:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

American citizens fight for freedom on battlefields, in statehouses and courtrooms, in public protests and in voting booths.   But there is more we must do.

In 1798, John Adams observed that greed, ambition, revenge and sexual immorality "would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net.   Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

In other words, for our freedom to be secure, to protect our Constitution and way of life, Americans must be people of good character.

In this election season, Donald Trump wants to "Make America Great Again."  Hillary Clinton proclaims that we are "Stronger Together."  Their slogans have one thing in common - both America's greatness and strength depend upon the character of the American people. It is often repeated, perhaps because we know it to be true, that "America is great, because America is good."  If John Adams is right, the opposite applies as well - when America is no longer good, America will no longer be great.

History has shown us that goodness, like freedom, is not passed down in our bloodstream.  Goodness must also be "fought for, protected and handed on." Some generations have done this better than others.  Now it is our turn.

So whether you support the candidate who wants to make America great or the one who wants us to be stronger or another candidate altogether,  it is your responsibility to be a good person and to pass goodness, like freedom, on to the next generation.

In the days to come, I will post a series of reflections on to help you think about what it means to be good and how that impacts our freedom.  Read them, think about them, respond to them and share them with those around you.

Let's Make America Good Again.  

Next:  The Source of Freedom and Goodness

It's Up to You

 The Greatest Commandment and the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NLT)

First United Methodist Church, Bradenton, Florida

January 24, 2016

 

Are you tired of this election season already?  Or, now be honest, are you enjoying the drama, the tension, and yes, the chaos?  Some of you I know enjoy yelling at the TV, or shaking your head at newspaper editorials.  We kind of like it,  don’t we? 

 I’m curious, have you watched all the debates?  Some of the debates?  What debates???  How many of you have already made up your mind who you will vote for?  Do you think churches and preachers should stay away from all things political?  I strongly believe churches and preachers should be at the heart of all things political, so this morning bear with me. 

Dave and I heard two sermons recently that bring us some hope in this heated political season.  My message today is for you, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Socialist, Independent, or Uninterested and Unengaged.  What I am going to talk about today are concrete ways you can make a positive impact on America’s politics – and more importantly on America’s culture that seems to grow more course, more corrupt and lacking in civility by the day.

I’m going to share with you a few ways you can be a Good Samaritan, like in our lesson today, to a hurting and wounded America.  You see, what happens in America, well, it’s up to you. 

One sermon we heard came from prayer rally led by Franklin Graham in Tallahassee.   

Franklin, in case you don’t know, is the son of Billy Graham and currently the head of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the head of Samaritan's Purse.  Many of you participate in one of their ministries - Operation Christmas Child.   Like his father’s crusades in the past, Franklin is going to each state capitol to pray for America before November's election.  It’s called Decision America if you want to find out more about it.

Using Nehemiah 1 as his text, he called us to prayer.  This is the first and most important thing Good Samaritan’s can do.  Franklin led the crowd, of about 2,500, in a time of prayer to confess the sins of America, to confess our personal sins, and even to ask God’s forgiveness for the sins of our fathers. 

I encourage you to continue to pray for America, and for America to turn to God.  He talked about the sins of the past, like slavery, and the sins that plague the history of many families like abuse and addiction.  And we asked God to heal those scars.

Franklin continued:  “Before our nation can be healed, our individual hearts must be healed.”  He knows, as I do, that America will only be reformed, one heart, one mind, at a time.   Dave and I pray every day for the people we love who don’t know Jesus.  They don’t listen to us anymore.  We pray that God will put someone in their path that will encourage them to give their life to Jesus.   That is what will change America.

Just like Nehemiah called for the people of Israel to repair the part of the wall of Jerusalem that was right in front of them, pray for the needs right in front of you.  You know what touches your heart.  Pray about it. 

And pray for yourself.  Franklin encouraged all us to confess our sins, and humble ourselves before a loving and forgiving Father.  And to never, never doubt that God loves you and that your sins are erased.  Never doubt that God is with you and that eternal life is a reality.  Knowing all this puts a whole different perspective on things, and helps us to not be afraid.  Pray for God’s guidance in your own life as well as in the life of our nation and its citizens. 

Franklin also offered a prayer, as we just did, to invite people to give their lives to Jesus.  I saw one man in front of us do just that, and then text Franklin that he had made a decision to follow Jesus. 

Prayer is essential to the reformation of our nation.  Can you imagine if most Americans followed Jesus and prayed to him daily how different our nation would be?  One heart, one mind at a time.  

What can we do to help heal America?    Pray.    It’s up to you.

The other message I want to tell you about came from Andy Stanley.  Andy is the son of another famous preacher, Charles Stanley.  About 20 years ago, Andy left his father’s ministry and with a few others started his own church, Northpoint in Atlanta.  Their goal to engage the unchurched or the never been churched with Jesus and to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  I’ve heard it is the largest Protestant congregation in the United States.  Between their various campuses and on-line services, they reach over 30,000 people each week.  The message we heard a couple days before going to Tallahassee was "Avoiding Election Infection."  I’m going to share some of it with you, and if you want you can watch it here:  http://northpoint.org/messages/avoiding-election-infection/   

Andy issued a challenge to his congregation:  between now and the election on November 8^th, put your faith before your politics.   

That should be easy.  Of course, there is no conflict between my faith and my politics. God is a Republican – right?  Jesus does sit on the right hand of God after all. He praises the truly righteous.  That’s easy.  However, many of my Democrat friends, would tell me hold the phone.  Jesus was all about healing the sick, feeding the poor and bashing the rich, and so are Democrats.  Jesus would definitely be a Democrat.  I can make the same case, with different Biblical examples of course, for everyone from libertarians to socialists. 

Andy went on to explain how to put your faith before your politics in a way you may not have thought of before.  When it comes to putting faith before politics – we can't say Bible first, politics second.  No matter where you stand you can find something in the Bible to support it, and someone else can find something to support their position.  (I’m sure you can think of examples) 

And, no matter where you stand, we can’t even say we should put Jesus first, political party second because you can find something Jesus said or did to support where you stand, and again, so can the other guy.  (Again, provide your own examples.) 

We all want Jesus on our side, but Jesus didn't come to be on anyone's side.  He came to take over.

For us to get this right, and we must get this right, requires more than doing what the Bible says, and more than what Jesus said.  This requires that we approach this topic the way Jesus approached everything.  To get this right we must do something that Jesus always did.  And Jesus did one thing specifically and one thing consistently that models the way for all of us.  All of us can do this.  It’s not complicated.  You don't have to write it down.  It is simple but so convicting, and so transformational.

The way you keep your faith in front of your politics.  The way you put your faith filter first is by putting people first and politics second. 

Jesus always put what was best for people first.  That is our common ground as citizens and our common ground as Christians.  That is our common ground with our Heavenly Father.  

We can and will disagree, which we will and we should, on what is best for people, but we can't disagree that what's best for people is what's best.

Name anything, any issue, before Congress or the city council.  We can debate what the best approach to address the problem is, but we can't debate that what's best for people is what's best.  We all want to help the poor, to be like the Good Samaritan, if you will, but how do we do that?  Do we provide the poor with handouts or with a hand up – or with some combination of both. 

Let me remind you again of The Greatest Commandment from our scripture lesson this morning.  “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Love God, which is mostly inside work, heart work – as seen in your prayer life, worship, study.  And you demonstrate your love for God on the outside by how you treat other people. 

If you don't remember anything else Jesus says, remember this - love God, and demonstrate your love for God by how you treat the people God created.  People made in the image of God.  How you treat people is a reflection of how you love God.

We can disagree on what's best for our neighbors, but we dare not forget that what is best for our neighbors is what is best. 

Imagine if everybody in the United States said - I am going to consistently love my neighbor as myself.  I'm going to do for others what I would want them to do for me.  If that happened our nation would feel different.  Many of the laws on our books would become quickly irrelevant. 

What can you do to help a hurting America?    Love people.  Put people before politics.  It’s up to you. 

Both Andy Stanley and Franklin Graham encouraged their listeners to engage in the political process as people of faith.  

It’s good, it’s essential, to have an opinion on important issues facing us– but law of love insists that we listen to the opinions of others and try to understand where they are coming from. 

It’s difficult to do, because we might have to think about new ways of doing things.  Your behavior, your political views make perfect sense to you.  So do everybody else’s. 

One of best things you can do this election season (all the time actually), is listen to folks whose opinions are different than yours.  Learn from them.  Be a student first, critic second. 

Let me give you two personal examples.  When the Syrian refugee crisis was in the headlines, a preacher friend of mine posted something on Facebook criticizing those “Republican Tea Party Evangelical ‘so called’ Christians” for wanting to refuse the refugees entry into the US.   In a private message – not on Facebook:

I'm one of those "Republican Tea Party Evangelical 'so called' Christians" you mentioned, and I'd like to give you my perspective on this. I'm not as heartless as you seem to want to portray me.  I, as have many others, have been supporting humanitarian efforts in Iraq and Syria since the crisis with the Yazidis  over a year ago through Samaritan's Purse (providing help to folks of all faiths), the Cradle Fund and Mercury One (focusing on Christians).  Mercury One has raised over $12 million and is in the process of relocating Christian families and communities, I believe somewhere in Europe, since the US will not accept Christians despite the genocide being waged against them. [They have since settled about 150 in Europe.  UMCOR while on the ground seems to have a fairly insignificant presence. I think bringing folks from that region of the world to America puts Americans at risk, but does not mean we don't help folks of all faiths displaced by ISIS, Assad, and others.  There is no one on the "Right" who is denying humanitarian aid, in fact just the opposite. Most want to increase it, and perhaps help secure it with a no-fly zone.   Speaking as a Christian and as a conservative, I want to make sure in this time of war with jihadists (and yes we are at war) that our leaders keep America safe and help those persecuted by ISIS and displaced by the fighting. Please don't paint me as hateful, racist, and especially not a 'so called' Christian.  I am as concerned as you are, but my heart leads me to a different solution.

Here is her response:

Susan, I so appreciate your thoughtful insight from a different perspective. I'm afraid the media paint everything in broad strokes and eventually it taints our thinking. You've reminded me that nothing is as simplistic as we'd like to make it. Thanks again for taking the time to send me this message. Just knowing your one of those conservative evangelicals makes me think of all more highly.

We’re still friends and have a respect for each other’s opinions even if we disagree.

Another example:  Dave and I went to a community discussion on gun violence sponsored by League of Women voters.   We are very supportive of the 2^nd Amendment and wanted to hear what was said.  One speaker focused on the importance of the 2^nd amendment.  Another talked about the need for increased regulation and spoke strongly against expanding concealed carry on college campuses.  The couple was obviously very interested in more gun control, and expressed concern about guns in the hands of untrained citizens.     

Afterwards, Dave started up a conversation with them.  Many of their concerns were rooted in fear of what happens when guns get into the hand of the wrong people.  We talked about how criminals will still break the law, and law-abiding citizens will still follow it.  During the conversation, we agreed that we should perhaps take the focus off guns, and talk more about combating the sources of violence in our culture.  Perhaps our children need more education on civility and respect for human life.  Perhaps more resources should be devoted to mental health care.  Perhaps more gun education and gun safety information should be provided in school – rather than focusing on further gun control regulations.  All of us want to feel safe in our homes and communities.  We could agree on that.

Two civil conversations.  It’s possible. 

In our world, if we listen to each other we might just find a new way, a better way to solve our problems that actually honors God and does what it best for people he created.  By listening and responding respectfully, we are less likely to jeopardize a relationship, less likely to burn bridges with someone.  For in the end, it’s more important that we influence them for Jesus than we do for any political candidate or policy.

Engage in the process through civil conversation – you might learn something.  And you might just help someone see Christ’s light in you by your kindness and gentleness.  

Engagement in the world is more than conversation.  Franklin Graham also encouraged us to become a part of the political process.    

He quoted his father, Billy Graham, who is 97 now, and still praying hard.  In 1952, Billy Graham said,

It is the duty of Christian men and women to offer themselves to public office.  One reason we have such bad leaders is that in some places only bad ones offer themselves for office.  Christian men and women must offer themselves for office.

And it’s not just the presidency that is important.  Those who are elected as mayor, school board members, city councils and state representatives have much more influence over the communities in which we live.  In your prayers, ask God if you should throw your hat into the political arena. 

Billy Graham also said in that speech,

I feel that we are going to have to meet our political obligation as Christians to make our voices known if America is to be preserved with the type of Christian heritage which has given us the liberties we now enjoy.  

Unless America turns back to God, repents of its sins, and experiences a spiritual revival we will fail as a nation.  God honors leaders in high places who honor him.  It is easiest thing in the world for us Christians to think of national and world politics as something involving only men and women of the world.  That is where we fail.  Our job as Christians is to make the impact of Christ felt in every phase of life.  Religious, social, economic and political.  We must not do it in our own strength or wisdom.  We can only do it when we surrender ourselves completely to God and allow him to work in us.

And there is more, Billy Graham also said – “If I were the pastor of a church, I believe would speak to my congregation about where the candidates stand morally, spiritually and in relationship to the church.” 

And, I would add to that list which candidates will work for what is best for people, who will listen to folks with different opinions to learn from them, to find new and better ways to do what is best for people. 

I’m going to take a moment and name the current presidential candidates of the two major parties.  Over 20 others have declared candidacies as well.   If you don’t know where they stand morally, spiritually and in relationship to the church it is your responsibility to find out.  I suggest you not trust CNN or Fox or whichever media outlet you prefer, but read their own words, listen to their entire speeches, and visit their websites.  Liking them on Facebook is good idea too. 

Look at what they have done and accomplished in their lives – and how they went about accomplishing their goals. Have they sought God’s guidance in prayer?  Have they honored God?  Have they followed God’s law of love done what is best for people? 

Here they are in reverse alphabetical order: Donald Trump, Rick Santorum, Bernie Sanders, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Martin O’Malley, John Kasich, Mike Huckabee, Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, Chris Christie, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush. 

My preference this election cycle is Ben Carson.  I can confidently answer yes to all these questions and respect him as a healer and as a strong leader.  If you don't know much about him check him out.  If you have another opinion, let’s talk about it.  

As you think about it, the choice for you of who to vote for may not be clear.  Pick the person who best represents godly principles.  Whose life exhibits the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.  This isn’t just a quiz for presidents, but for all elected officials.  Not just in national elections, but local ones as well. 

How can you help and heal America?  Get engaged.

And, guess what, I’m going to vote – and so should you.   

In that 1952 speech Billy Graham said – what was repeated strongly by Franklin and Andy - “I think it is the duty of individual Christians to study issues and candidates and go to the polls and vote.”

In many countries people can talk about things, complain about things, have an opinion about things but in America we have a vote, which is our voice in deciding these things. 

Franklin and many others cite statistics from the 2012 elections, but I’m not sure of the source.  I got these numbers from a recent interview I heard with Ted Cruz’s father.  There are approximately 59 million evangelical Christians in the US.  I am one of them.  Not all Methodists are evangelical.  Actually, we are considered more a mainline denomination than an evangelical one, but I digress.  The point is that out of the 59 million evangelicals, over 12 million are not even registered to vote.  Of the ones that are 26 million didn’t bother to go to the polls.  That means at least 38 million Christians didn’t vote, didn’t contribute their voice to deciding the direction of our nation.    

Our politics are a reflection, not of all Americans, but of American’s who vote.  And so many elections are decided by just a few.   

There are three opportunities for Floridians to vote this year.  The first is March 15^th for the Florida presidential preference primary.  To vote you must be registered by February 16^th.  For the RNC, the winner receives all of Florida’s delegates for the national convention.  For the DNC, delegates are awarded proportionately by congressional district and by the state.  It’s a fairly complicated formula.  There  is still time for you to register and to vote.   Don’t delay.   

In August there is a primary election.  We are not sure yet who will be on the ballot then.    

To vote in the general election on November 8, you must be registered by October 11.  Go to the supervisor of elections office or their website for the details. 

How do we heal a hurting America?  I’m going to make my voice heard by my vote.

After the San Bernardino terrorist attack, the headline in the New York Daily News declared, “God Is Not Fixing This.”   But I think you are here this morning because you believe, or you at least hope, that God can fix this.  But how? 

God can fix this.  God can fix this through you – for you are God’s hands and feet and voice in this world.  That’s the role of the Good Samaritan. 

Pray.  Put people before politics.  Get engaged.  Vote. 

It’s up to you.