Episode #34: How to be a grace-giver this election season

Today we’re talking about how to give grace to others during the election season. We’re going to break down:

Our cultural M.O. every election cycle
Our three options about how to act
And practical ways to extend grace to ourselves and others during the election season.

We want to answer this question: How can we love and give grace to people we completely disagree with?

Let’s start by remembering this fundamental truth.

Humans are sinful and flawed, and we should not be shocked or surprised when humans act like humans. Friends, we can start passing grace out like candy at a kid’s birthday party by recognizing the truth of our humanity.

This is what grace does.

Here’s how we define grace on this podcast: Grace is God’s gift to us that understands our humanity and comes alongside us to work on our behalf. Grace is based on the truth that we are all imperfect, flawed humans.

Now we have a choice to make:

How will we react in the light of harsh words or disagreement? How do we treat each other when we fundamentally disagree on issues important to us? How do we engage with those in the world who hold opposing viewpoints?

We have three options:

We can choose to win.
We can choose anger.
Or we can choose to love.

If we choose to win, we believe we are in charge of policing people, putting the other side in it’s place, and “taking a stand” for what is right.

As Christians, we are Kingdom people. We are not donkeys or elephants. We are sheep following the Good Shepherd.

We are not responsible for winning points or setting the record straight or defending Jesus. Jesus never operates on the defensive. We are commissioned to love others and to make disciples.

A second option is to choose anger.

Christian, you are to take off your sinful self and your old ways of doing things. So what do you put on? Paul tells us in Colossians 3:12-14:

“Show mercy to others; be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Do not be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each other because the Lord forgave you. Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.”

I’m telling you it’s okay to be angry. Then you must rid yourself of it — not by pushing it away or ignoring it — but by talking it through with Jesus then asking what He wants you to do.

So our next option is to choose to love.

We know that love perseveres, keeps no record of wrongs, and always hopes.

So if we are to respond to those with whom we vehemently disagree, we must keep these three principles in mind:

ONE: You are safe and secure in the unshakable kingdom of God.

Your identity is firmly tucked safe and sound in the Person of Jesus Christ. You are His girl, His beloved, His prized possession. Knowing your identity is so securely kept means that it doesn’t diminish your value or worth when others disagree with you or say hurtful things.

TWO: You are loved freely, and you are free to love others freely.

As God’s girls, we are not to respond in anger, but in love. We don’t type a comment because someone made us mad, but because we care about the person on the other side of the screen. We don’t engage in a conversation because we hate the other side and want to trash their arguments. We engage because love is what we’re invited into.

We remember that truth spoken in grace is better given within the context of relationship.

People are swayed by how much we love. People are moved by those in their life — people like you — who love God AND love them.

AND THREE: As a daughter of the King, ambassador of Christ, and citizen of heaven, you choose to prioritize relationships over right-ness.

We prioritize relationships when we humble ourselves. You choose relationships, which means you choose to treat others made in the image of God with dignity, respect, kindness, and compassion because all of us have value.

You want to be a grace-giver this season, but how can you do that in real life?

Here are 15 ways to give grace in this election season:

BEFORE YOU ENGAGE WITH OTHERS

Give yourself time to educate, analyze, and ask yourself why you support a political candidate, issue, legislation, or cause.
Make a plan for how you’ll steward your online presence.
Think about how you talk about politicians, causes, and issues, especially in front of your kids.

WHILE YOU ENGAGE WITH OTHERS

Ask God to show you what God sees and loves about the person who is driving you crazy.
Think of every interaction — not as a debate or a way to score points — but as a way to learn more about the other person.
Tell yourself, “I’m committing to being kind no matter what!” before you log on or bring up politics.
Don’t assume you know everything about a person simply because they support one cause, candidate, or piece of legislation.
Ask yourself if you have anything relevant, true, helpful, or kind to add to the conversation. You’re there to love and learn.

WHEN OTHERS ARE HURTFUL

While the other person may be lobbing attacks your way, they are probably not attacking you personally. They are scared and afraid that you’re chiseling away at their value system. Remember: you are not your political views. You are a complex person. And so is she.
Ask yourself if maybe you could have gotten something wrong.
Pause before responding. Remember, you want to go to bed with a clear conscience. Respond. Don’t react. THIS IS INSANELY HARD!
Please disengage when your dignity and value as a person are under attack. That’s not okay.

OTHER WAYS

The way you love, interact, and engage doesn’t always include posting on Facebook or talking it out.
You can serve your neighbor with whom you totally disagree. Serving and loving others unconditionally speaks volumes.
Maybe you need a news fast. Not forever, just for now.

Key Quotes

Truth spoken in grace is better given within the context of relationship.
We can win the political argument while losing the opportunity to love people and to share Jesus with them.
As Christians, we are Kingdom people. We are not donkeys or elephants. We are sheep following the Good Shepherd.
You are not your political beliefs, and neither is the person with whom you disagree.
You can love others no matter how much you diametrically oppose their political beliefs because loving others means treating people with kindness, patience, hopefulness, humility, and respect.
This election season, prioritize relationship over being right.