Politics and War

http://bible.com/100/col.3.2.NASB

Last night I asked the question, why do I get so defensive about politics. Which led me to the question, why do Americans get so defensive about politics. Why are there no conversations or discussions about political matters, but only strong statements, name calling, and conflict?

But that led me back to the question, why I avoid all political conversations, particularly about international politics. It’s not just that I am conflict adverse or that my job has so much inherent conflict that I avoid any additional conflict. I truly have an emotional, visceral reaction to most political conversations. Things that should be merely interesting topics, cause me  to become very upset, especially if someone is accusing my country of not being good, which is ridiculous, since there is little that government had done in the last many years that I actually agree with. But I still, love this country and what it was formed to be, and the conflict in my mind between its potential and it’s actions is hard to resolve. I have not been able to have a logical, unattached conversation about things that I should have unattached, logical conversations about.

But then I realized…

I have not been following the direction of this verse. A part of me has had my mind focused on the kingdoms and governments of this earth for truth and justice, when it should have been focused on the heavenly kingdom and spiritual realm. This realization  actually caused one of those snap, everything changes moments. Suddenly, I can have real conversations about world events. I am not in control or responsible for them. It is not a personal attack. It is not an attack on my faith. So conversations are now welcome. My interest will vary based on the subject, but I have no personal need to defend the actions of my government. It is not my hero, nor my savior, nor my protector. And my God, who is these things, can defend himself.