During an election year, it’s easy to get swept up in passionate debates, divisive opinions, and constant streams of political news.
With so much focus on who’s right and who’s wrong, it’s easy to lose sight of “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus didn’t suggest it just for the peaceful times though; it’s a commandment for all the times, polarized or chill.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22:36-40
Get me talking politics for even a minute, though, and the gloves want to fall off. If you don’t vote the way I do, you must be dumb or deranged.
Well, not “you” you. But people in general.
This is where we are as Americans – as American Christians – tend to get it wrong.
Loving your neighbor can be hard. Speaking from experience.
This isn’t me placing blame; I don’t know how we got here. If there’s any finger-pointing to be done, I’ll start with me.
I’ve always loved politics and “healthy” debate. Even in elementary school, I’d beeline to the Op-Ed section of newspapers over the sports, comics, or actual news pages. Like many other kids, my family would tell me I’d make a good lawyer because of all my arguing.
I was flattered, but maybe I shouldn’t have been.
How is winning an argument loving my neighbor as myself? It rarely is.
If this story resonates with you at all, these bible verses might speak to you as much as they did to me.
- “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” (Proverbs 15:18)
- “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” (Proverbs 20:3)
- “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
- “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” (2nd Timothy 2:23-24)
That last line in that last verse feels like a low-key remix of “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The first line in that verse about “foolish and stupid arguments” could easily apply to how politicians sound these days.
Even some of the ones I agree with, if I’m being objective.
4 Steps to Love Your Neighbor in an Election Year
So, what does it take to actually love your neighbor in an election year?
Step 1: Avoid the argument in the first place.
One of the simplest yet most challenging ways to love your neighbor during an election year is by avoiding arguments. Engaging in heated debates often leads to division and anger, neither of which foster love. Remember, it’s not about winning arguments; it’s about winning hearts.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1
Step Two: recognize that everyone is my neighbor.
The Good Samaritan parable goes beyond simply helping someone in need; it shows how love can transcend deep-seated prejudices. The Samaritan, who was expected to despise the injured Jew on the roadside, chose compassion over hostility.
In today’s world, where Christian Republicans and Democrats often speak harshly about each other, it’s concerning to think that some might not hesitate to leave a political opponent helpless, just like the priest and Levite passed by the wounded man.
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
James 2:8-9
Step Three: Focus on what can’t be outlawed.
Worry less about the laws that might be passed depending on who wins, and focus more on what can never be outlawed. Focus on cultivating qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which can never be restricted.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-24
Step Four: Recognize that God’s will is bigger than my preferred election result.
Win or lose, my faith needs to remain in God. I’ve voted in enough elections to see my candidates win and lose. Earth kept rotating. My life had highs and lows, most of which had nothing to do with who I voted for, and through it all, God was faithful.
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”
2nd Chronicles 29:11-12
What if American Christians were the only ones in the room attempting to be peacemakers? The only ones who treated our political opposites as if they were our beloved neighbors?
What if the first thing people noticed about us was our gentleness and goodness?
What if our confidence in God was so unshakeable that when combined with our fruits of the Spirit and being the only ones our neighbors never argued with, the rest of the country came to Christ?
Keeping the Ten Commandments is important. But not without striving to keep the Greatest first.
