Payback

When we encounter opposition, when we are hurt by another person or group of people, or when people merely don't act the way we think they should, we have to be careful that we don't keep a retribution list or a list of people whom we don't forgive, who we regard to be our enemies. Hebrews 12 states: 

(13)...make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

If we are keeping a list in our minds about wrongs done to us, to wounds perpetrated by people in our lives, it can weigh us down and seriously inhibit our walk with God.  He desires for us and gives us the capacity to forgive those whom we perceive to have done us wrong.  Instead of a list of perceived slights or outright rejection, we can place those people on our prayer list, so that we can take them before the Lord in prayer - and than can certainly have an impact on our attitude toward them.

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I maintain that Christians should keep short accounts with others, being quick to forgive and not to try 
to be consumed with how to retaliate when harmed. Romans 12 states:
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

No matter what the circumstances, we know that Christians are not called to be vengeful.  No matter how much we may have been wounded or mistreated, the Bible tells us to not allow a spirit of bitterness to grow.  Romans tells us that vengeance belongs to the Lord.  So, we can pray for those whom we are tempted to call our "enemies," but we are called to be focused and faithful to our King.

Not long after the election, the existence of a list of people who are candidates for "retribution" was stated.  Faithwire reported on it, the new Trump Accountability Project, saying:

Hari Sevugan has been a prominent voice pushing to make life miserable for Trump supporters, even encouraging people to contact potential employers and let them know “there are consequences for hiring anyone who helped Trump attack American values.”

The article notes that re-elected member of Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, someone who will certainly be a key player as balance of power is determined in Washington over the next two years, "called for Trump supporters to be put on a list or archive of some sort, wondering out loud if anyone was tracking them."  It also states:

Drew Holden reported on several others who have threatened some form of retribution against Trump supporters. Robert Reich called for a “truth and reconciliation commission” while MSNBC commentator Chris Hayes echoed the same. “Lincoln Project” flak and MSNBC pundit Steve Schmidt said people who have worked for the President are “complicit in the assault against American democracy” while adding that “none of them should be forgiven.”

This comes amidst calls for "unity" and "healing" from Joe Biden, who is prepared to take the reins at the White House if Donald Trump's legal actions are unsuccessful.  And, Dr. Everett Piper, who is President Emeritus at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, wrote at The Washington Times about a quote that he had shared, that had been incorrectly attributed to Kamala Harris, but turned out to be part of a satirical article: "And once he’s gone and we have regained our rightful place in the White House, look out if you supported him and endorsed his actions because we’ll be coming for you next. You will feel the vengeance of a nation. No stone will be left unturned as we seek you out in every corner … For it is you who have betrayed us." So she apparently didn't say it, but as Dr. Piper points out, there is little difference between that quote and some of the promises of retribution that are going around.

He relates, as did Faithwire, that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: “Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity in the future? I foresee decent probability of many deleted tweets, writings, photos …” And, a Michael Simon of the TAP (Trump Accountability Project) said: "Yes, we are … Every Administration staffer, campaign staffer, bundler, lawyer, who represented them — everyone."  Former Presidential candidate Evan McMullin stated, "We should keep and publish a list of everyone who assists Trump’s frivolous and dangerous attacks on the election. Name and shame forever.”  Piper also points out that:

Joe Biden himself who, in a 2018 speech to the Human Rights Campaign, described conservative Christians and Jews who live by the 4,000-year-old moral teachings of the Bible as “virulent people, some of them the dregs of society …”

So what is "unity" and "healing" going to look like?  I think it means that the expectation is that disagreement will not be tolerated.  Christians who speak up for good government that upholds Biblical principles such as life and marriage, get in line.  Piper, after listing 10 quotes, then delivers this proclamation:

Kamala Harris has said nothing to condemn any of these comments. She has said nothing about Jennifer Rubin’s, Keith Olbermann’s, Chris Hayes’ and Robert Reich’s thirst for pay-back. She has said nothing about the implied Bolshevik violence of Bhaskar Sunkara and Dick Costolo. She has said nothing about the spooky Orwellian lunacy of Evan McMullin. She has said nothing to condemn the derogation of Judeo-Christian people by her own “boss.” Nothing. Crickets. Total silence.

Just yesterday, as The Federalist reports, in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn took aim at tech heads Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Jack Dorsey of Twitter, declaring, "You have used this power," that's the power to host, post, and even censor speech, "to run amok."  She had choice words for Zuckerberg:

“You say you don’t keep a list. Obviously, you have a list, because there are some of us who are regularly censored and called down by your content moderators,” she said, noting that one of her recent Facebook posts discussing the Trump Accountability Project which is creating a blacklist of people who staffed for, donated to, or even endorsed President Donald Trump and his administration, was slapped with an “elections flag sticker.”

Even though not all Christians have supported the President, many have, according to exit polling data - at least three-quarters of white evangelicals indicated they voted for Trump this year. And, an Atlantic piece recently spoke of an "Evangelical Reckoning," a phrase that was actually used in a 2016 piece by the same author.  

So, what's up with these lists?  There is now concern that lists are being kept and people are being targeted for retribution. Public quotes indicate this is occurring, and you can certainly believe that there will be evangelical Christians who will face scorn as a result of their support for the President. And, as I have reported to you in the past, conservatives - and that includes a number of evangelicals - have found their content on social media removed or flagged.  As it's been pointed out, Facebook and Twitter are private companies, so they can allow what they wish.  But, they have pretended to be a neutral arbiter and received government protection - they should not enjoy a public shield if they censor the public.  

So, let's personalize this - who is on your list?  Do you have an "enemies' list?"  Are there people about whom you harbor bitterness or have determined to get even with?  Do you find yourself thinking in a less than charitable way about certain individuals?  Perhaps someone has wounded you in the past - it's important to be careful that the wound does not result in relational paralysis.  When we don't forgive, it inhibits our walk with God.

But, we can certainly put people on our prayer list.  That's much more productive than to allow what Scripture calls the "root of bitterness" to take hold.  We should be mindful of the needs of others and continue to hold them up before the Lord in prayer.  And, when there has been hurt and harm done, it makes it even more important that the person is lifted up, which can, of course, change our attitude.  

Finally, I do foresee policies that will be crafted by a potential Biden Administration that will be contradictory to our deeply held beliefs, under the influence of progressives who hold to views that are diametrically opposed to Biblical truth.  From pro-abortion policies to the hideous Equality Act to possible restrictions on freedom of religion, we should be prepared to be in prayer for the years to come, and be determined to continue to do God's work and uphold His truth in a potentially hostile environment.