This article isn’t an article about my personal beliefs or whether or not I am happy about the final results of the election. I’m not saying who I voted for or the reason behind that. It’s not because I am embarrassed to say that I voted for them but rather, it's irrelevant to the topic at hand.
I am not writing to pout about my candidate losing or to boast about my candidate winning. I write because the country is divided on a conflict that should not be dividing us.
One of the greatest things about our country is that we are a free country with the right to vote for whoever we want to be president. In regards to my last post, “I Refuse to Hate,” I refuse to hate either candidate that ran for president. I will not refer to Trump as hateful, homophobic, racist, or any of the other slanderous terms thrown at him. I will not refer to Hillary as a criminal, murderer, or any other negative labels.
They are people. They deserve to be loved and are both loved by Christ. I refuse to hate any American based upon who they voted for. I may not agree with who you voted for but, I will not hate you if you voted for Trump, Hillary, Johnson, or even Harambe. My question is, why are Americans hating each other for exercising our right to vote for whoever we choose to vote for? Why are we attacking each other so much? Why is there so much hate behind this election?
What is the point of attacking each other based upon who we voted for? I truly believe that every Clinton fan has the right to be sad and disappointed that their candidate lost the election. I would feel the same way for the Trump supporters had they lost the election. One of the big arguments that I have seen against Trump is about how he talks about people and how he talks to people. Why complain about how Trump attacks people, then turn around and attack his supporters? That seems kind of hypocritical.
Clinton supporters have the right to be disappointed, but they don’t have the right to attack Trump supporters. Trump supporters also should not be attacking the Clinton supporters. Trump supporters should be showing the Clinton supporters love and understanding during this time. The country as a whole needs to come together and start planning how the next four years are going to go. Now is the time to unite. For years, we have been saying that we are a “divided country.” We now have the opportunity to start over and do the next four years, and hopefully years after that, undivided.
Another perspective to look at is from countries outside of the US. Think about the election in terms of sports or any other competition. When you see teammates arguing and fighting, you know that they are crumbling and becoming weak. The rest of the world is watching the United States right now and they are seeing us all fight. They all think that we are weak and cannot work as a team. They see that we are separated and not accomplishing our goals because we are too busy fighting. This in no way benefits the United States. Being in a weak state opens the door for our country’s enemies to step in and attack or try to “hit us while we’re down.” Let’s unite together and show the world that even when we disagree, we are able to rise above the issues and overcome our divisions.
Now, what does the Bible tell us to do in this situation? Whether you are a Trump fan or not, the Bible tells us to submit to the authority placed above us.
1 Peter 2: 11-17 reads, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”
Hebrews 13:17 tells us to obey our authorities placed before us that and to groan about our authorities would be of no advantage to us. What does all this mean? It means that we need to unite together as a nation and trust that God is in control of the situation.
Whether you agree with the outcome or not, God’s will is going to be done.
