Which side are you for?

When I interview people for their opinions about presidential election this year and read the news about Covid-19 daily for my job, I notice that people often argue the same things from different points of view.

And we often try to convince other people to agree with our views, either out of fear of being rejected, rather than out of empathy to consider others’ benefit before ours; or out of pride not getting our own way, rather than out of humility to have God’s way .

When I ponder about which side I should stand for in the political world, I suddenly remember Joshua from the Old Testament in the Bible. 

Joshua 5:13-15

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

In the midst of battle, Joshua asked a man with a drawn sword in his hand, appearing in front of him: “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither,” the man replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

So, what political side should I stand for as a Christian? Neither, but choose the truth of life because no humans are always right and perfect in all things.

Therefore, if you agree with the Republican conservatives, you still can wear masks for protecting self and others.

If you agree with Democratic policy of restraining the economic reopening during Covid-19, you shall not panic but be alert to cope with the current situation and carry out your responsibility as much as you can.

The truth behind Covid-19 is: We are weak. God is strong. God is in control. Our lives depend on His mercy and grace.

Therefore, we trust God for judging people’s hearts in the end so that we can respect one another to vote for speaking their own voice and choice.

Like Joshua, we may ask God for His message for us. And do what God teaches us: respect the leaders and pray for them because they are humans who need wisdom too.

And let’s honor this holy God, who is the commander for our lives, not we. Therefore, fear God, not people.

Prayer: Father God, praise You are the Sovereign Lord and you are in control in this chaotic world. Please forgive us for trying to rule over our lives by insisting our self-centered will. Thank you for being merciful and gracious to redeem our lives from the hell of death and for eternity.

May your Spirit empower us to pray for the lost who cannot choose the truth. May we pray for having your will, not our will, over our lives and this world. May we appreciate the different opinions because you create each of us uniquely and you delight in us. May we listen to you and one another in love and let your Holy Spirit unite us in one just as Father God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are one. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.