I was watching a Chiefs game the other day, which is generally a fun experience for me. But then the commercial break hit. Political ad. Then another one. Then another. By the end of the third quarter I had been told that nearly everyone on the ballot is a disaster and that the other side is coming for everything I love. I'm pretty sure I saw more attack ads than first downs.
What struck me is that hardly any of those ads told me what the person actually wants to build. They were all about who to be afraid of. Somebody is paying a lot of money because somebody figured out that fear and anger work. And they do work, for a while. They just leave all of us a little smaller.
Paul gave the church in Philippi a different way to fill their minds. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, think about such things (Philippians 4:8). That is hard to do in an election season, when our screens seem designed to do the opposite.
Scripture speaks to how we talk, too. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29). Or Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). And A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1). These verses do not have an exception for politics. Or for the group chat. Or for the comment section.
So should we check out? No. Please hear me on this. Please vote.
God told His people living in a city that wasn't their own, Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you (Jeremiah 29:7). Voting is one of the practical ways we do that. It's how we care for neighbors who depend on good schools, safe streets, and fair decisions. One vote feels small, but it's yours, and it's a way of loving the place God has put you.
Here's my encouragement for this month. Vote, and pray before you do. Do some homework beyond the thirty second spots, because those were never designed to inform you. And let's be the kind of people who can disagree with a neighbor and still wave at them in the driveway. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).
The process may be broken. We don't have to be.
peace,
Nick
What struck me is that hardly any of those ads told me what the person actually wants to build. They were all about who to be afraid of. Somebody is paying a lot of money because somebody figured out that fear and anger work. And they do work, for a while. They just leave all of us a little smaller.
Paul gave the church in Philippi a different way to fill their minds. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, think about such things (Philippians 4:8). That is hard to do in an election season, when our screens seem designed to do the opposite.
Scripture speaks to how we talk, too. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29). Or Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). And A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1). These verses do not have an exception for politics. Or for the group chat. Or for the comment section.
So should we check out? No. Please hear me on this. Please vote.
God told His people living in a city that wasn't their own, Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you (Jeremiah 29:7). Voting is one of the practical ways we do that. It's how we care for neighbors who depend on good schools, safe streets, and fair decisions. One vote feels small, but it's yours, and it's a way of loving the place God has put you.
Here's my encouragement for this month. Vote, and pray before you do. Do some homework beyond the thirty second spots, because those were never designed to inform you. And let's be the kind of people who can disagree with a neighbor and still wave at them in the driveway. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).
The process may be broken. We don't have to be.
peace,
Nick