Walk in Peace

We are called and empowered to reflect the presence of Christ in us, and Ephesians 4 reminds us:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Because we have peace with God and have a relationship with Jesus, we can act in a manner that is consistent with His truth and His love.  This can be especially important to remember when we come together with people with whom we have disagreements - we can disagree without being divisive and we have the Holy Spirit in us to help us check the tone of our words and the attitudes of our hearts. He calls us to pursue the path of peace as His representatives.

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The Bible has prescriptions for peace - with God and with others, which is especially important this
time of year. We can read in Romans 14:
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

The Thanksgiving holiday has the potential to bring out the best in people - a shared experience around food, family, and football (even though watching a Detroit Lions game year after year hardly qualifies as an exhilarating experience).  But, there are those that dread the holiday year after year for a variety of reasons.

And, as an article at The Federalist by Tristan Justice points out, it does seem that the mainstream media is on a bandwagon of ensuring Thanksgiving survival in the midst of gatherings with family members who may disagree.  He writes, regarding political discussion:

Every year there are countless headlines offering advice on how to approach the topic or to avoid it altogether, giving anxious individuals a how-to guide on steering away from discussing the serious problems of the day.

“How to avoid all-out political war at your Thanksgiving table,” reads an NBC News headline. “Have different politics from your family? Here’s how to survive Thanksgiving,” wrote the Washington Post. “How to navigate awkward political conversations at the Thanksgiving table,” offered USA Today.

Problem is, politics is certainly a divisive topic and it can be wise to avoid it all together in such a happy setting.  Nick Hall of the Pulse Movement, as I mentioned yesterday, released a statement that included these words:

The truth is that despite being physically together for the holidays, families often are anything but ‘together.’ Old fights, grudges, hurts — even politics — put distance between many of us and our families. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are called to a ministry of reconciliation, and that ministry can begin at a Thanksgiving table.

And, as I have said, our differences don't have to be divisive.  So, it may be a matter of tone rather than substance, grace rather than conflict, that can rule the day when we wade into difficult discussions.  But, Justice says not to shy away from those potentially explosive areas, writing:

But talking politics doesn’t have to be stressful, and nor should it be, especially among loved ones. Sadly, our toxic political climate has led to the rapid deterioration of civil discourse, where polarization has reached historic heights not seen since the Civil War.

The country is seeing something far worse than the simple breakdown in political civility. Our modern political climate has become saturated with contempt, where American politics has become so divisive that individuals on opposing sides of an issue begin see their friends and neighbors as something less than human.

You can also recognize that the purpose of a family dinner is not to win an argument, but ultimately to glorify God, and to be a good representative of Him.  Billy Hallowell over at PureFlix.com offers some ways to share the gospel during Thanksgiving gatherings, and it begins with prayer - for the right approach including the right words.  Also, he states - and this is important:

Another simple way to share your faith is to live it. Whether you’re the host or a guest at someone else’s home this Thanksgiving, it’s important to show God’s love through your interactions. We often focus intensely on the essentials of spiritual conversation, yet fail to realize that actions often speak much larger than words.

So, in the midst of holiday gatherings, we can consider how we have been placed there by God.  And, while politics can certainly be discussed, in a sensitive, even delicate way, we have to recognize that there are far more weighty matters that can be part of a conversation.  But, we can always be mindful to show respect and compassion.

And, realize that even friends and family disagree - a friendship doesn't have to be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics.  Perhaps you're familiar with the legendary friendship between the late John McCain and his fellow senator Lindsey Graham.  Well, it seems that McCain's daughter, Meghan, has been receiving criticism about her refusal to criticize the senator from South Carolina, even though she has developed some policy differences with him.  FoxNews.com reports:

After Meghan McCain refused to criticize Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. on Monday's episode of "The View," she once again defended herself on Twitter.

"I literally grew up with @LindseyGrahamSC who I have always considered an uncle," the 35-year-old said. "We never have agreed on everything, and do not now. I refuse to let politics destroy my personal relationships across the board."

That is a good perspective that I believe can have parallels to Biblical prescriptions for relationships. These family relationships can certainly be complicated, but God specializes in helping us navigate - His ways and wisdom are higher than our own.  Above all, we can seek to reflect the character of Christ.  Happy Thanksgiving!