For the recent State of the Union address an appeal was made amongst Democratic and Republican senators and representatives to walk across the party aisle and sit together. This effort was meant as a symbolic gesture to show the country that elected officials could act in a unified manner. While it was acknowledged by some that this act “might be little more than a nod to civility at a time of rancorous political discourse,” it was intended as a start to a more civilized dialog between parties.
Minutes after the president’s speech, opposing party members gave their rebuttal to points brought up in the presidential address. For the foreseeable near-future, TV and radio pundits will be dissecting the speeches in even greater detail, debating (ad nauseum) how either party might help or hurt America’s future.
Man-made unity at its best!
It’s tempting to jump into current political discourse and feed upon the vitriol that emanates over our airwaves. But ALL of this comes from one source, “according to the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). What Satan broadcasts is not the foundation that builds us into future sons and daughters of God, but is instead “the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
We know from God’s interaction with the city of Nineveh that a whole nation was capable of repenting and changing—this is God’s desire, to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). God wasn’t interested in the politics of Nineveh, nor their immigration policies or their health care plans.
Far from it! Jonah was sent to “cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). Despite their wickedness the entire city repented and God held back their destruction. Unlike Nineveh our society still refuses to repent.
A leading conservative pundit said of the president after his first year in office, “The fact that his agenda has totally failed this year is the best thing that could have happened to this country… I thank God every day that it is going down the tubes.”
God is not pulling for the left, right or center of any aisle—these are ideals and constructs of man. Man’s attempts all strive, but all fail—without God’s Spirit—to achieve unity and peace. We must constantly ask ourselves, what does God think? What is His Will? And we must pray for THAT Will to be done.
It’s God’s Will ALONE that allows this universe to exist. And only with His Will can lasting unity take place.
