A Word from the Pastor – Self-Serving Excuses or Self-Less Love
This year’s election season has been the most contentious and hostile in recent memory. So in the last three sermons, we talked about how we as Christ-followers can conduct ourselves during such angry tense times.
A running theme each week was that we act better when we are more aware of ourselves and others. Our goal is to see ourselves and our neighbors with the eyes of God. We will fall short, but we don’t stop trying.
When we lack awareness is when we fall prey to our base human tendencies and temptations: thinking we’re always right, being selfish, and acting irresponsibly. No matter how mature, grown, or old we are, we’re always susceptible to those weaknesses. We all have good tendencies and bad tendencies in us. The potential to serve God, and the potential to serve ourselves. Politics and elections can easily exploit the bad tendencies. The most effective campaign ads are, sadly, the ones that encourage people to be selfish—to think only of themselves and what they like or what they’re scared of, instead of what helps everyone.
When people’s bad tendencies are encouraged, their self-serving nature will take control. You can hear that when political operatives speak. One year they will be furious at “the other side” for doing something they say is bad—whatever the subject matter is—and they get angry because “you just shouldn’t do that.” But then the next year, if the power balance shifts and the shoe’s on the other foot, they’ll do that same thing, even though it goes against the principle they claimed. That’s when excuses come out about why it’s actually okay to do it now.
After watching this happen over many political cycles from both sides of the political aisle, you realize that people aren't actually interested in upholding principles, just getting their way. That’s the self-serving human nature in control—getting what you want is the only thing that matters, so you come up with whatever argument you can to justify it.
But it’s not just politicians who do that. The easiest example: we might say people should follow the speed limit and not drive fast… unless you’re the one who’s late. So be listening for people to say that it’s important to follow the rules when the rules are in their favor, but it’s okay to break the rules if they don’t like them.
This can happen with Bible verses too. In terms of politics, if there is someone in charge that people like, they’ll quote Bible verses that encourage following laws and governmental leaders, like these: Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; Hebrews 13:17; and 1 Peter 2:17. But when there’s someone in office they don’t like, people quote Bible verses that say it’s okay to disregard authorities, like these: Acts 5:29; Psalm 146:3-4; Psalm 94:20-23; and Proverbs 29:12.
Remember, people will use whatever reasons they can come up with to get what they want, even Bible verses. So don’t let yourself be swayed, but let the Holy Spirit guide your thinking, slowly and calmly. And keep these two perspectives in mind as you think: In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus condemns leaders who pretend to be honorable on the outside but are actually fake on the inside. That's one on side. And also keep in mind that 1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us to pray for everyone, including those in authority, so that all people can live in peace. And peace is something we all need more of.