Christian Election Behavior

McLame. McSame. McBush. McPain.
Fauxbama. Oblama. Obama-Osama. NoBama.
Billary. Hillary Rob'Em Clinton.

Heard any of those names during this campaign? I have. Many of them by Christian friends, and I'm apalled. We should be ashamed of ourselves. I believe Christians are under biblical imperative to constrain themselves from disrespectful comments of this nature.

Remember the saying when we were children, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? Sounds fine on the playground, but it is wholly untrue. Words do hurt, and they can bring shame on those who speak them.

James writes extensively on our need to control our tongue:

• Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (1:19);
• If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless (1:26);
• With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, an with it we curse men . . . this should not be (3:9-10).

Paul told us to put away coarse language from our lips (Colossians 3:8), using a Greek word that means shameful, vile, or base communication [in other words, more than just "curse" words].

Jesus told us that we will give account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36).

Taken with admonitions concerning our leaders, I believe the Scripture presents a clear witness as to our acceptable behavior.

• 1 Peter 2:13-15: Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as tohe supremem 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 gdoing good you should sielnce the ignorant talk of foolish men. Ouch! We certainly haven't done any silencing, have we?
• Titus 3:1: Remind the people to be subject to rules and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
• Romans 13:1: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for these is no authority except that which God has established. [I recommend reading this section through verse 7]

This does not mean that Christians are restrained from speaking their conscience, voicing their opinion, and speaking their mind. We may choose a candidate and feel free to share why. We are free to criticize the candidates we do not choose. We are not prohibited from strong opinion, but we are, by nature of our commitment to Christ, limited to attack on ISSUES, and are restrained from calling names.