I have a tendency to rant (even a category on this site). I can be elitist. Snobby. A know-it-all. My family and friends already know all of this, and it’s their graciousness (and the grace of God) that they remain my friends (family - you’re stuck with me!).
Over the past year I’ve come to the conclusion that the vast majority of people on this planet are idiots in the classical sense - simply ignorant, lacking the intellectual capacity to be productive members of the world stage. I ranted about this to friends, bemoaned the consequences, and generally blabbered on about the hopelessness of our civilization, particularly when it came to the US population voting in our broken political system, or sitting on juries in our broken justice system.
Last night, however, for reasons I don’t know (though I guess the Holy Spirit smacked me on the brain), I had a sudden thought - I don’t want to say epiphany, too grandiose. We’re not simply a nation of ignorant people (myself included).
We’re a nation of 300 million sinners in need of the grace of Jesus Christ.
That struck me right to the core as I sat on the couch waiting for a commercial break to end. I didn’t get up and write anything down. I didn’t initiate a deep conversation with Valerie who was sitting beside me. The evening went on as usual, but today I felt I had to get this though recorded - at least so I wouldn’t forget what I believe God told me.
Will I still be upset at the collective misunderstanding of our political system by my fellow citizens? You bet. But my prayer now is that I won’t spend time stewing in anger about it. I want to be reminded of the fallen state of this world, and bring my complaints and requests about it before God. My ranting won’t change this country or this world, but God is in the process of changing it already, preparing us for the arrival of His Kingdom.
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Just don’t forget that while knowledge of this is good thing. Action is even better. In order to see fruits, you must sow the seed (No, not that seed).
-You slut
Well put, Dan. It’s much of what I’ve been feeling lately. We can criticize our leaders–it’s part of our accepted societal structure–but as Christians we need to also look at them through compassionate eyes. We need to pray for them.
We are allowed to hate the policies, but God grants us no permission to hate the policy-makers. Speaking of the missteps of our leaders as though they were personal insults to ourselves is not only an unfair evaluation of their actions, but a view, I think, that leads to bitterness and the holding of grudges–two things that increase the distance between ourselves and the Lord rather than make it lesser.
Good show, laddy.
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