Tired of the Hate

It's hard to believe that is was just a week ago that I was excited for the first presidential debate. I really do enjoy politics and debates are where you can see certain strategies being used for each candidate. I popped some popcorn, got a nice big glass of water, got wrapped up in my blanket, and sat on my couch as I began to watch the debate. After the first question was asked, it was clear that this would not be a debate. Instead, this debate would be a name-calling battle between three toddlers having a temper-tantrum. Twenty minutes in, I couldn't stand it anymore and had to turn it off. 

Political commentators on both sides, as well as my friends and family on both sides of the aisle, were all disgusted by the debate. This brought me some hope. If we are this disgusted by a debate, maybe that means we are ready for polarization, the spreading of anything we see on Facebook (usually not even true), sign-stealing, and uncivil arguments about politics. I thought we had decided this was enough and that people all over would turn a new leaf. 

I was wrong.

Just two days later, a White House employee tested positive for COVID. By Friday morning, President Trump had a positive COVID test. Instead of reading statuses, tweets, and articles that all said, "We hope the president gets well soon," I read:
"Serves him right." 
"Looks like Karma has paid him a visit."
"I hope he dies."

After reading the responses from so many people, I felt disgusted. Since when is it okay to wish anyone ill? Why do others think it is okay to hope someone dies? I read many people who tried to validate their responses, "It's how he treats other people, why should we be any different?" 

I don't care if you like or dislike our president and his policies. I don't care if you like or dislike the House of Representatives, the Senators, the Supreme Court Justices or their policies and decisions. I don't care if you like your mayor, your governor, your police officers, your business owners, your family members, your pastor, the people you work with, the people who cook your food at restaurants.

You don't have to "like" everyone. But you do have to respect and love them as fellow human beings created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." When you say you hope someone dies, or they deserve what they get, or why don't we treat them like they have treated us, you are saying that about someone who is created in the human likeness of God. You are treating God's children badly, and I can't imagine that God is happy about that.

The words used in the presidential debate and the responses to our president's COVID diagnosis were completely unacceptable. The words used in politics (on both sides of the aisle) has progressively worsened and I imagine it will only get worse as we get closer and closer to the election. The way our political landscape looks is truly a snapshot of our current society. We are quick to shoot down a stranger's beliefs. We find it okay to shun someone based off of what they do or do not believe. We judge others based off the political signs in their yards. We see someone voting a specific way and deem them to be "bad Christians" or "bad people." We don't listen to others. We don't care about the opinions or difficult experiences of others. We have forgotten the basic truth that we are ALL created in the image of God, whether we are male, female, gay, straight, married, divorced, single, rich, poor, black, brown, white, tall, short, have a job, jobless, have a leadership position, don't have a leadership position, a Christian, or a person who has not yet accepted Christ's free gift of grace. 

We must do better. This is completely unacceptable. God has taught us to love one another. God's love is given to each of us. It's up to us to actually use that love and refuse to buy into the world's idea that it's okay to voice even your worst opinions about others. We don't have to give into that idea. We can be different. We can show love through our words and actions to each and every person we encounter, whether we believe what they believer or not.

A prayer I've had on my heart lately is a song with the chorus, "Change my heart, O God. Make it ever new. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you." May we sing it, pray it, hold it in our hearts, and earnestly work to change our hearts, stop the hate, and show others that we love them just like we love Christ.