I am glad the United States is a Democracy. Well, of sorts. We are a Federal Republic and I imagine for one or two first time voters it was a surprise to learn in the USA we vote for electors in the Electoral College who vote for our President - another story for another day.
As much as I am glad our country is what it is, I am even more glad Heaven is not a Democracy. In the Divine Above, there are no votes as to who gets in or does not, there are no committees and sub-committees, and I am reasonably certain there are no polls - what percentage prefers Chicken Divine for lunch or Shrimp Diablo in the heavenly commissary?
In Christianity, Heaven is the domain of God - Father, Son, Spirit. There is perfect unity between the three expressions of our God, and that same unity pervades the Heavenly Realm. Another feature of Heaven, is that God has company. Us! Minus our gripes. I do not know your take, but looking at Jesus I see heaven as an enormous variety of people and yet in the midst of great diversity there is complete unity around all that is good. Noah's Ark only forever not 40 days, where everyone loves - and does not devour - their neighbor.
And this gets to what I want to talk about - on Earth we have work to do to for the love on Earth to match the love of Heaven. As I voted the other day, it occurred to me that about half of the people in this election are going to vote the other way. It may be 53%-47% or 58%-42%, but a little less than half of voters will disagree with you if your candidate wins, and more will take issue with your choice if your candidate loses!
How do we go about living with - much less loving - so many people who obviously got it wrong?
And here is where Jesus - in non-democratic fashion - steps into the fray. Jesus loved people he disagreed with. Did Jesus think the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) made perfect moral choices? Did Jesus believe Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9) earned every shekel he had from honest means? No - but Jesus loved them both and knew that only actions based in his love for them would change them into the people they could be.
Maybe here is what Jesus knew - you and I will not be changed in any significant way by a vote. We will, however, be changed when we let Jesus love us and love others in return. Love changes so much more than politics. Maybe this is why so many seem so frustrated at the 'divisions' we cannot seem to overcome in our world today. Our divisions exist because we have not learned to love one another in a way that overcomes divides.
Only love truly changes. Only love casts out fear. Only love mends. When we let Jesus show us what it is to love, then our world will change into the world it was meant to be. Jesus shows us the way, and if you ever ask, 'Why?' only remember - 'for God so loved the world. he sent his only son,' a decision for which no elections were ever held.
As much as I am glad our country is what it is, I am even more glad Heaven is not a Democracy. In the Divine Above, there are no votes as to who gets in or does not, there are no committees and sub-committees, and I am reasonably certain there are no polls - what percentage prefers Chicken Divine for lunch or Shrimp Diablo in the heavenly commissary?
In Christianity, Heaven is the domain of God - Father, Son, Spirit. There is perfect unity between the three expressions of our God, and that same unity pervades the Heavenly Realm. Another feature of Heaven, is that God has company. Us! Minus our gripes. I do not know your take, but looking at Jesus I see heaven as an enormous variety of people and yet in the midst of great diversity there is complete unity around all that is good. Noah's Ark only forever not 40 days, where everyone loves - and does not devour - their neighbor.
And this gets to what I want to talk about - on Earth we have work to do to for the love on Earth to match the love of Heaven. As I voted the other day, it occurred to me that about half of the people in this election are going to vote the other way. It may be 53%-47% or 58%-42%, but a little less than half of voters will disagree with you if your candidate wins, and more will take issue with your choice if your candidate loses!
How do we go about living with - much less loving - so many people who obviously got it wrong?
And here is where Jesus - in non-democratic fashion - steps into the fray. Jesus loved people he disagreed with. Did Jesus think the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) made perfect moral choices? Did Jesus believe Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9) earned every shekel he had from honest means? No - but Jesus loved them both and knew that only actions based in his love for them would change them into the people they could be.
Maybe here is what Jesus knew - you and I will not be changed in any significant way by a vote. We will, however, be changed when we let Jesus love us and love others in return. Love changes so much more than politics. Maybe this is why so many seem so frustrated at the 'divisions' we cannot seem to overcome in our world today. Our divisions exist because we have not learned to love one another in a way that overcomes divides.
Only love truly changes. Only love casts out fear. Only love mends. When we let Jesus show us what it is to love, then our world will change into the world it was meant to be. Jesus shows us the way, and if you ever ask, 'Why?' only remember - 'for God so loved the world. he sent his only son,' a decision for which no elections were ever held.