What can we do… to heal the nation?

A member of our Monday Bible Study group asked, “What can Christians do to help heal the deep divisions in our country?”

Here are a few ideas:

Let’s think about our News Sources. Some have a bias one direction or another. Some have an angry bias one direction or another. I want to listen to sources that are as unbiased as possible. This webpage is a helpful starting place: https://adfontesmedia.com. Funny story… My dad liked to watch FOX News, usually 24-hours a day. One day in the nursing home I walked into his room and the TV was on MSNBC. I pointed to the TV and asked what was going on. He said, a nurse was punishing him for something and then he continued, “It’s like their talking about a different world!”

We live in a democracy. If our politicians are contributing to the deep divisions in our country by their rhetoric or actions, it’s ultimately our fault because we elected them. Here are the questions I think we should be asking candidates for public office if we want to heal our nation:
Name an occasion when you changed your mind about a significant issue.
Name an occasion where you compromised on a significant issue for the sake of getting something done.
Name a person “on the other side of the political aisle” that you respect, trust and enjoy working with.
Name a historical Democrat and Republican that you respect.
Name an issue where you currently disagree with your own political party.
Name a significant issue where the right solution is still a mystery to you.
What national news source do you most trust?

A Christian should remember that we are all sinners. There are no perfect people, no perfect voters, no perfect political parties, no perfect candidates or office holders. A little humility would go a long way toward healing the nation. Sometimes I think the Brief Order of Confession and Forgiveness, practiced regularly, might save the world. We are all sinners. We are all forgiven. We are all free to love our neighbors and start again.

A Christian should consider Martin Luther’s instructions regarding the 8th Commandment: “We are to fear and love God, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead, we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.” Imagine what would happen if a nation followed this simple instruction for one year? “…speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.”

What do you think? How can we do our part to heal the nation?

Peace & Justice,

Pastor Bill

5665 merle hay road