I Want to Be On the High Ground

So, as a nerd, I wanted to originally make a post commemorating “Star Wars Day” (May the 4th be with you, by the way). Yet, I couldn’t help but notice that a deeper issue struck my mind, like General Kenobi popping up to say “Hello, there:” the Bible and Politics. I’m a firm believer that the Bible, and especially your walk with Christ, should sway your politics, and everything else in your life for that matter (take that statement as you will). But your politics, and other positions should never sway your belief in Christ, or your reading of the Bible. If you start down that path, it may forever dominate your destiny, if you let it. If I come to a part of Scripture that offends me because it does not align with my core values, I honestly reevaluate myself, and I change course, rather than highlighting my Bible with a sharpie. When God speaks, I can’t afford to look the other way.

Loved ones, I am not conformed to the pattern of this world, or, at least, God is working on me toward that end. While I am not a “luminous being,” as Yoda would say, I am not this crude matter that I so happen to inhabit; I am a Soul with an eternal destination. No political party holds my heart, an Elephant and a Donkey (or a Jedi) has not died for me to spend eternity with Him, and people who want to divide me over skin color, region, and other factors, and who want to bend the truth and the laws to suit their needs have no place in my thoughts. I want to be found on God’s side, not wondering if He’s on mine. I don’t want to “love myself,” I want to love the One who loved my soul unto death. So I’m all in for Him. When it comes to me, my wants, wishes and desires, I understand that it’s over; He has the High Ground, and I will seek to stand as near to Him as possible.

2 Timothy 3

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.