Suit Up

You guys. This. All of this.

There's a million political discussions happening and I desperately want Christians to be a part of them. However, I want those Christians to remember that they are not merely a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian, or an anything else .... they are, first and foremost, a Christian. Spoiler alert: no political group is infallible and no politician worth following blindly as if they were perfect .... Because, well, they are human. So, be a Christian ... Think through things and people like a Christian, and then filter what you say and post (and think), like a Christian.

There's a hundred things happening. There are protest, there are riots, there are government responses, there are closures, there are openings, there are city ordinances ... There are people making different decisions than you. Guess whose making all those decisions from the one to riot to the one to require masks? Humans. So, be a Christian ... Think through things and people like a Christian, and then filter what you say, and post (and think), like a Christian. 

Wear a mask. Don't wear a mask. Choose not to go to stores that are requiring masks. Shop everyehere. Stay home and order grocery delivery. BUT make your decisions based on Godly thought and then go about your business in a Godly way.

Because when Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." we aren't talking about specific political parties or government figures, certain groups or businesses or policies. Now, could Satan be using those things? Well, sure! That's why Christians need to be thoughtful and watchful and ready to act. But do you know where Satan attacks us more often? Where most of the battles we fight happen? In our own hearts. So, do you know where most of our armouring up needs to happen and where a whole lot of our focus needs to be? You guessed it ... In our own hearts. 

Eph. 6:14 talks about the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. Truth = Biblical truth. You know, the kind not often gleaned from a Facebook meme. Righteousness = morally right. Guess where our morals are supposed to be coming from? 

Vs. 15 mentions that our feet should be shod with "the preparation of the gospel of peace". This peace does not negate our responsibility to stand up for gospel truth when necessary, but it should always govern the way in which we stand, and the motivation behind our stance.

Vs.16 mentions the shield of faith ... Faith that keeps us grounded so we don't get swept up in the devil's schemes ... Even the ones that show themselves through wordlh modes and tempt us to respond to ideas and people with ungodly thoughtlessness. Faith that keeps us steadfast and graceful even we have to take fire for our beliefs and stances.

Vs 17 mentions the helmet of salvation ...  salvation that is our hope and our goal above anything else. AND then goes on to mention Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Now that's not say we can't listen to science, and pay attention to leaders ... But we better be checking all the information and opinions against God's word before making them our own. 

And vs 18-19? "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel." Praying all the time. For ourselves. For situations. For others. For each other. And, for the boldness to speak, the wisdom to choose our timing, approach, our words, and our quiet times, so that God's word can be shared, but also, heard. So that we can be Christians ... Thinking through things and people like Christians, filtering what we say, post, and think the way God would have us do.