Living in the Spirit

August 15, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 15:10-20

Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’

I am already tired of campaign ads, and it is going to get worse. During the last election, I started hitting the TV mute button every time any ad played that was not publicly approved by the candidate or party it was supporting or did not indicate who was paying for the announcement. I also generally do not listen to anything that is only critical of the opposing candidate. I do not care about one candidate’s opinion of the other. Manipulating people with hot button issues that will never be a significant part of the work required in the office being sought is also counterproductive to electing qualified officials. I care about the values and principles of the one running for office and what legislation, regulations, or solutions they will pursue to support their ideas regarding providing for the whole Common Good.

In the scripture above, Jesus is stressing the importance of what we say and how we say it in fostering the development of a kingdom ruled by love. Developing and sustaining such a world was and still is his prime directive. In a Christ-follower’s life, this principle exceeds all others. As citizens in a democracy, we are called to discern what candidate is best qualified to move our society toward a world ruled by wanting God’s best for all God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, guard our tongues as we venture through the thicket of politics this election year. Plant in our hearts the words to say or not to say. Help us study each candidate objectively as we discern how to vote. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.