The polls are closing, the votes are coming in, and there will be a new President elect for the United States of America. The past nine months have been the most intensely followed presidential election of many of our lives. We've been bombarded, and bombarding, each other with social media comments, late night discussions at parties, and just about everywhere else. It has all come down to this:

Donald J Trump.

Or Hillary Clinton.

I've been involved in church camp ministry over the last three years of college, and the bonds I've formed with my staff each summer have changed my life in so many incredible ways. People always say that camp is for the campers, and it is of course, but camp is also for the counselors, the maintenance boys, and the leadership staff. It changes us as much as we change the youth. My first summer out at camp I really got along with one of the other counselors, Ben, and one of the maintenance boys, a high schooler who we'll call Nate. Now Nate and I were one of those duos where we were so comfortable around each other. We could just joke and laugh all day long, and he became a good friend. The next summer Nate worked elsewhere and we fell out of touch, but at the beginning of this summer I found out he was coming back to do maintenance again. I was overjoyed, reminiscing in all the fun times we had, and excitedly looking forward to the coming summer. Nate had grown some. He had just graduated, but things between us were basically the same. Now after an amazing eight weeks out at camp, the summer came to a close and we headed back to our respective lives. One morning I posted an article talking about the inappropriate conduct of one of our presidential nominees on Facebook, and Nate commented on it, obviously frustrated with my political choices. What happened next dumbfounded me: Over the next couple of hours Nate and I engaged in a conversation about our views on the election. I tried to be candid and respectful, but I unabashedly stated my opinions. Nate however, became increasingly angry over the subject, and began to lash out, not at my preferred candidate. or even my views, but at me personally. This finally culminated in a final spectacular set of insults, followed by an abrupt end to the conversation. We haven't spoken since.

In the wake of this conversation, I found myself extremely sad. While I take the future of our nation very seriously, I couldn't understand why Nate lashed out the way he did. My opinions on who I think should be president led a good friend to such cruelty and anger, that they no longer cared about our relationship. All this over a Facebook article!

This is a quintessential example of the problem our democracy faces.

I do not like Donald Trump. I do not like Hillary Clinton. But I love them both, and I will respect the outcome of this presidential race. Someone recently told me that "we often talk as if America is our heaven." It is most certainly not. These candidates are human beings who, just like us, make a great many mistakes. I do not condone acts of sexual assault or discrimination, but I certainly can empathize with the feeling of lust. I do not condone acts of deceit, and yet I couldn't begin to guess how often I've lied. We idolize political leaders, and expect the world of them. Worse still, we judge them having never been in their shoes ourselves. And we hate. We hate. So. Much.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2: 17 "love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

Honor the emperor.

Peter wrote this letter from prison, and he would very soon be martyred by the Roman emperor he refers to here. That man was named Nero. Emperor Nero was a brutal, Godless (in the Christian sense), and violent persecutor of Christians. As far as followers of the Way were concerned, Nero was public enemy number one. Can you imagine, just for a moment, what it must have felt like to hear those words? The sheer love Peter had for humanity was the foundation of the church. And if he can forgive Nero, can't you?

The moment you place another person beneath yourself due to their beliefs is the moment the church breaks apart. This same hatred creates divisions between denominations, races, countries and states. I know that the root of this lies in sin. A great example of this would be the pro-choice vs. pro-life debate. One side claims women ought to have the right to do what they wish with their body, but you have to realize, the other side of the debate believes that results in murder. That's a pretty capital sin. I'm not saying either way is right or wrong here, but it becomes very easy to place someone beneath yourself if that person approves of what you see to be murder. This judgement pervades all aspects of our life, and it poisons us. It destroys friendships and families, Nate and I being an example of that.

I'm not calling you to throw away your beliefs. Peter would not have wanted Christians to submit to authority in a way that defies God. But I am saying that, all defying God aside, I know how often these issues are petty and insignificant. We throw hatred and anger at candidates, friends, and all too often, complete strangers. This is not the way Christ calls us to act. Show restraint, kindness, and respect. It really is that simple. Your angry Facebook comment will change nothing about November 8. The only thing you really have to lose is yourself.

I'll leave you with the words of one of the Bishops of the ELCA, that's the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. He, like myself and so many others, wrote a short piece in preparation for the election this week.

Gustafson writes: "Next Tuesday will witness the end of the most contentious American election cycle in memory. The results will please some of us and disappoint others, but one fact is certain: As Christians, the issues we will face the day after the election are the same ones we’ll face the day before – the God-given mission of waging peace in a world in love with war; feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and welcoming the refugee"

Take a step back for heaven's sake. Take the anger many of us will inevitably be likely to experience Tuesday, and turn it to love. Give, instead of taking away.

Peace,
Eric Jensen