I don’t know if you heard, but Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before Congress yesterday. The President did not agree with his decision to do so, but Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu did so anyway. He was invited by the Speaker of the House and the President had no right to rescind that. The rhetoric leading up to the speech was inflammatory enough. It only got worse post-speech as pundits weighed in on both sides.
One side took issue with him speaking at all and sought to discredit him or anything he would say. The other crowed about the speech as a political victory and a show of leadership and passion they wished for in their President. The regular joe on the street, people like you and me, said some pretty crazy things across Facebook and Twitter.
Insults are referred to as “jabs” as though it were a boxing match. I think it’s because we recognize what they are intended to do, harm the opponent. These folks would likely never slap their opponent, but it’s as though they think dressing their hand up in a velvet glove and then slapping them is OK. Clever rhetoric and flowery speech to insult someone is still doing the same thing as an outright insult. Just as a velvet gloved hand slapping someone and a boxer throwing a punch are both intending to injure.
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” (Titus 3:1-2)
Those verses should be a cup of cold water on the hot and bothered arena that passes as political discourse and commentary. The rulers of Paul’s day were nothing like the men and women who govern America. The Emperor ruled with incredible power and brutality. Keep that in mind as Paul warns us to be submissive to rulers and authorities.
Not only are we to be submissive to the government but we are not to speak evil of them. This doesn’t mean we can’t disagree. The American political system allows and thrives on disagreement. Through this disagreement compromises can be reached. Through this disagreement votes are cast to determine the will of the majority. Discussions over various things in the House and Senate chambers show that many disagreements exist.
However, we can disagree without murdering the character of those we disagree with. We are commanded to “speak evil of no one.” Let that sink in. We speak the truth, and no I don’t mean the truth as your political views would have it. We avoid quarreling (fighting, not discussing). We are to be gentle and show perfect courtesy toward all people.
How would our political landscape look different if we weren’t trading velvet slaps but treating each other with gentleness and courtesy as we disagreed over profound things? Instead of using sophomoric insults on the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, and various and sundry other people, what if we spoke with respect?
What if we Christians showed the watching unbelievers that we could discuss in love and respect rather than frothy mouthed screaming matches hurling junior high insults and asserting things we can’t prove as true? What if we quit behaving like American political pundits and commentators and instead spoke with the love of Christ to a watching world?
What if we did what the Bible says in these two verses? Not only might we show the world something of Christ, we’d be obeying the instructions our God has given us. While you may get a chuckle and a back-slap for that next velvet slap at some elected official, will you honor your God with it?
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
