1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (NIV) 23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
A recent incident in Oil City, PA is indicative of the overall lack of civility and kindness that inhabits the political sphere in this generation. {Judge: Anti-Trump Signs Can Stay Up Through Election Day - by Aly Delp of Explore Venango October 8, 2020} An Oil City man decided to place an anti-Trump sign in his yard. That in and of itself is not uncommon in an election year, both homemade and signs furnished by the campaigns are common, including those against one candidate or the other. What made this sign stand out was the decision to place a vulgarity (the 4 letter one starting with F) in front of Trump's name. This is, a step removed from a sign that might say, for example, 'Dump Trump', or one that said, 'Say no to Joe'. Clever, witty, or sarcastic is one thing, crass, crude, and rude is another. This one sign is hardly an outlier given the current animosity, even rage, that is being expressed by politicians, pundits, partisans, and the people who gravitate toward them. A quick look at Youtube, Facebook, or the letters to the editor (if you're old school like me) will reveal a plethora of variations on this theme: 'They're trying to destroy America!" "If they win, you can forget about your freedom or prosperity!" Political mud flinging always crescendos when an election draws near, that was as true in Ancient Athens as it was during the Roman Republic, or the bitter election between Thomas Jefferson and President John Adams in 1800 {1800 United States presidential election}. In that election, the Federalists claimed that the Democratic-Republicans would ruin the country, and the Democratic-Republicans countered that the Federalists had subverted republican principles (The Alien and Sedition Acts were later partly invalidated by the Supreme Court). Sound familiar? In case you're wondering, neither the Federalists nor the Democratic-Republicans destroyed the country or its system of government.
But this is just talk, right? Nobody takes all this seriously, do they? Actually, they do. Thirteen men (thus far) have been charged with plotting to kidnap (and presumably murder) the governor of Michigan, target police officers in their homes, and plant bombs. {F.B.I. Says Michigan Anti-Government Group Plotted to Kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Authorities charged 13 men, some of whom were accused of plotting to storm the State Capitol building and planning to start a civil war. - by Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Shaila Dewan and Kathleen Gray, the New York Times, 10/8/20} Unfortunately, if you read the article (or others covering this act of domestic terrorism) you will likely read that Governor Whitmer and President Trump have chosen to use this moment to criticize each other rather than call for calm. A thwarted act of domestic terrorism was not enough to break through the partisan goggles, the fight between the two parties didn't even pause.
Where then can we look for wisdom in this chaos? To what standard should Christians hold themselves? The words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth at the start of this post point us in the right direction. As Americans, we have 1st Amendment rights to say far more than is beneficial or constructive. We can, legally, say things that are detrimental and destructive. When we do so, there will indeed be real-world consequences ranging from broken relationships, to divided churches, to civil unrest, to even domestic terrorism. What we can say/do and what we should say/do are NOT the same thing. As Christians, we are called to a higher standard than legality. We are called to seek the good of others, to choose righteousness.
What Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians is self-control. This is not a popular topic, but it is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must choose to limit our own freedom for the sake of others. This perspective affects our personal relationships, our business endeavors, and also our civic and political engagements. Self-control is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. It is not an optional part of being a Christian, but an integral one.
It is past time that we, as Christians, choose to walk away from this toxic environment. The politics of mutual destruction can have neither our participation nor our support, for they are clearly not beneficial, constructive, or seeking the good of others.
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