Why are you so afraid?
Are we living the way God intended for us, following the footsteps of Jesus, living and loving sacrificially, or have we gotten caught up in all the noise?
The theme I keep hearing in voices, posts and news is: Fear. And I hear it from everyone involved:
Fear of groups of people.
Fear of losing our democracy.
Fear of losing power.
Fear of losing rights as human beings.
Fear of things that are made up, yet lifted up by voices of influence.
God reveals to us what we need to hear in His Word. The disciples were fearful of their physical surroundings. This passage serves as a reminder that Jesus calms all our fears, just as he did for His disciples on that boat.
Even with this reminder, I still ask the question of those around me, “Why are you so afraid?” If I am being honest, I ask that question of myself too.
As a child, I was influenced by the voices around me, the church I grew up in, and what I heard from the adults within earshot at any given time. All of this to say, I believed that there was only one way to vote as a Christian.
Only after I became an adult, did I truly understand the falsity of that belief. Faith isn’t black and white, why would we expect the election of earthly authorities to be so too, especially with all the brokenness in this world?
In the U.S., specifically, we live in the tension of a two party political system: we are forced to believe that we have to choose one and put all of our eggs in that basket. For followers of Jesus, the temptation that comes with that, is the faith gifted to us becomes one of those eggs in the basket, instead of the lens we view others through and Jesus’ command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in God’s Kingdom and a U.S. citizen with privilege and ability to influence positive change by voting in the earthly realm?
My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:1-9 ESV
Partiality as in bias
“an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities” (merriamwebster.com)
Jesus addressed favoritism and partiality in a pretty radical way, especially considering who was ruling on earth: The Roman Empire.
Family: “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’
‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’” - Mark 3:31-35 NIV
Jesus reminds us that everyone who seek God’s will should be considered part of our family.
Government: “‘Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. He said to them, ‘Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’” - Luke 20:24-25 NIV
Jesus states pretty clearly that we are to honor the authorities of both of the kingdoms.
Fellow Believers: “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” - Matthew 9:10-13 NIV
Jesus reminds his followers that we are to step out and faith, reach out to those who not like us, and listen to and love them just the same.
In none of these scenarios does Jesus put himself first nor does he seek to put his earthly citizenship above his love for others.
When I hear phrases like, “Forgive me if this is too political.” or “It’s too political, I don’t want to talk about it.” I know the conversation will not go far, as this excuses and avoids addressing real issues that impact human suffering.
Jesus never avoided a conversation that sought to teach about God’s Kingdom and how we are to carry out His teachings as we live in both spaces.
For Jesus to talk about living and serving in God’s Kingdom while also living in an earthly kingdom was political!
For Jesus to talk about loving others before yourself was political!
For Jesus to spend time with women and children was political!
Jesus was perfect in his actions toward others. That is impossible for us.
But just because we live between the black and the white, doesn’t mean we don’t vote. A significant way to use our voice to influence how we address human suffering, voting is just one action we can take in this earthly realm.
If anything, all the actions I am called to as a follower of a Jesus, inform how I vote. Voting for one candidate or another doesn’t mean I agree with everything they stand for, but the privilege of a democracy is that we can (and should) still use our voices and take action beyond the election ballot. And we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus every single day of this earthly life.
When we look at the big picture, it’s not just one person or one group’s job to serve the needs of the people in the earthly realm. The governing bodies who make public policy, schools, churches, non-profits and the like are all significant pieces that shape the betterment of those around us, serving and loving our neighbors.
I have a hard time understanding how Jesus followers can disagree on loving our neighbors sacrificially. It seems very clear that bigotry, racism, and fear mongering are not a part of the solution, but are utilized to grab the power. These messages benefit only a few and that’s not something that aligns with what Jesus has taught us in his sacrifice for all people.
I have to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and follow His teachings in all I do and say.
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
- Exodus 22:21 NIV
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.” - Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.” - Isaiah 1:17 NIV
“Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” - Matthew 19:21 NIV
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” - Luke 14:13-14 NIV
If Jesus speaks so clearly about how to live and love according to God’s will, why are we so afraid?
Anxiety is high in these last days. The truth is, we don’t know what will happen next, and that scares us. The divisiveness and polarization will continue, even after the election has come and gone, as fear drives our national politics and divides communities, churches and families.
I, too, feel that anxiety. It’s a normal feeling when we so easily tangle ourselves in the web of the world. But Jesus says it best and gives us the hope and peace that can only come from him. Jesus is the only way to dissipate the fear.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33 NIV.
Jesus is LORD and we as His followers know that he has already won the victory. This earthly life is not easy, nor are we promised happiness or comfort, but that doesn’t mean we just live each day waiting to join Jesus in eternity. Our contentment comes from belonging to the LORD and being a part of His kingdom. Our purpose comes from loving others in the earthly kingdom with the same love He has gifted us.
These verses from Ephesians are my daily prayer for myself and those around me. Be purposeful in your conversations, emitting the light of Christ as you listen, speak, take action and share the truth.
In the earthly kingdom, we vote.
In God’s Kingdom we live radically different from the rest of the world as we love others sacrificially.
In both ways, we live out God’s purpose for us.
“36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
Amen, Emily! Jesus' way is completely other than the world's way, neither right nor left. And it is Right and True. Trust him. I
I would just add that Jesus calmed the disciples' fear when he stilled the wind and waves that had caused their fear. He doesn't always take away the cause of our fear but if you know him, you are fully aware that he can because he is Lord even of those things that cause us to fear.