Will We Betray Him?

 

Recently we heard a message at church called “Love Your Enemies” by Dallin H. Oaks https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/17oaks?lang=eng. Which has been rattling around in my mind for several weeks.

It is a great reminder during this very unsure time here in the United States as an election is looming. And I use the word looming, because many are feeling a sense of foreboding and dread, some are feeling a sense of optimism, and some seem to not care but are waiting for a fight. A fight to defend who was elected. A fight against who wasn’t elected.

I’ve heard people comment about this talk and say, “I hope they were listening.” Referring to “they” meaning those who don’t agree with them politically, or the “they” who may start fighting, rioting and looting, or the “they” who the person considers to be wrong.

In pondering all of this, I can’t help but think of the time as Jesus was preparing to leave His mortal life, His friends, His family, to atone for all of our sins. As He was sitting with His friends providing them a reminder of Him through the teaching and giving of the bread and wine, He said, “Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.” And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?” Mark 14:18-19.

I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum who have, I believe, sincerely prayed about who to vote for and received, what I believe, very different answers.  What if this is because the answer isn’t based on the outcome of an election? God knows the outcome of the election already. He knows what is going to happen. His plan is sure and in place.

What if we need to be asking the question His disciples did at the last supper?

“Is it me?”

Will I betray the God I love and try to serve by being mean, hateful and vicious to those I disagree with? Will I call others uninformed, unenlightened, uneducated, stupid or idiots because they didn’t agree with my political views? Will I carry a grudge in my heart? Will I be constantly angry? Will I be unforgiving? Will I be pointing the finger of blame of our country’s ills at a differing political party? Will I forget the commandment to “love others as I have loved you”?

I don’t think the outcome of this election is the biggest problem in our country, I think the way we handle it may be.

In just one week’s time I heard of theft, vandalism and intimidation happening to friends, coming from both political parties. Do we really think one side is the ‘bad guy’ or can we try to see that any of us could become the “Judas” of the situation?

Maybe the biggest question we can be asking ourselves right now is not, “Who will I vote for? Or “Who did my neighbor vote for?” But “How will I love and treat those who vastly disagree with me?”

Will I still strive to see others the way Jesus would and treat them the way Jesus would?

Am I suggesting that there isn’t right and wrong? Absolutely not! And I believe we need to voice that. I am suggesting that maybe we need to listen a whole lot more. And dig a whole lot more to get to an understanding. There may be things that we and our “political opponents” disagree on, but that doesn’t mean we need to become enemies. I have a friend who is constantly posting his political views. I have been amazed to listen to the banter of his friends who totally disagree with him and at times it gets heated. And yet, the friendship and admiration of each other has not diminished. Why? Maybe because the idea of intelligent debate is a notable and attractive quality. Maybe because even if they agree to disagree, they still care enough about one another to recognize that the relationship is more important than the debate.

We may or may not like the outcome of the election. We need to be considering how our actions afterward reflect on the beliefs we have. Will we betray the God we love, like Judas? Will we maybe stumble a bit like Peter, and discover we don’t want to betray Him?

Can we trust God that He will get us through the outcome of this, just like He does with everything else? If we can trust Him, then let us not betray Him.