This Election is Different

Maybe it's just me, but this election felt different.

Both sides, Republicans and Democrats, have been battling hard to gain important political positions in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and of course, the Presidency. And there is always vicious name calling and accusations, and claims that the accusations are lies. But this felt different.

For a while, I couldn't put my finger on it. I mean, I've always noticed the political ads on TV (and quickly tired of them). I've always seen my neighbors and friends and relatives put political yard signs out in a vast array of voluntary political advertisement for the candidate or issue of their choice. This isn't new.

But still something was different.

To be fair and transparent, I can get passionate about some political issues. There are certain candidates that I think would be more qualified than others. There are issues that I hold strong convictions about. However, because of my occupation, I have decided to remain publicly neutral on most things. I know that's not always the route that my colleagues in ministry go, and I'm ok with their choice to be vocal on issues they believe in. I choose not to be, because I serve in a setting full of Republicans and Democrats alike. I have friends and relatives on both sides of the aisle. And my number one goal in life is to share with all of them the love of Christ. I'm not willing to alienate any because of my stance on a political issue. Whether that would happen or not, I'm not willing to risk the gospel over it. That's just my stance, my opinion.

But this election has been different. And it's because of Facebook.

It used to be that it was fairly easy for me to remain politically indifferent in the public sphere. It's a rare occasion for someone in a public setting like my church to push me on my political views. Even if they go into a political rant, I can generally just nod my head, smile, and brush the conversation off.

But now, Facebook. Every day for the past two months (at least) as I have gotten on Facebook, I have been bombarded. Not by ads, but by my friends and family. The people I know and love. They are speaking their collective minds about their political opinions and agendas and opening cans of worms that used to stay closed. Debates between friends of mine who don't even know each other have leaked into my non-political posts. I have had to remove comments, and in extreme situations, disallow people from even being able to post on my wall because of politically divisive comments.

And then there are my friends who want nothing to do with politics. They rant about the incredible volume of political posts and how they can't wait for all of this to be over. Surely, this is not a new sentiment from previous elections, but it is definitely heightened.

Because of Facebook, I now know where almost every single person I am acquainted with stands when it comes to politics. I am surprised and sometimes even appalled at how some of my friends think. I can't believe their views are so different from my own. These are people who in some cases have helped form my identity and I have looked up to my entire life. Can I even have a rational conversation with them when these are the beliefs and convictions that they hold?

Things that were once hidden and private convictions are now publicly displayed for the world to see, and our human nature causes us to shy away from those different than us, further dividing ourselves, and pushing us towards those with whom we feel we belong.

And yet somehow, my calling is to preach the gospel to all of these children of God. How? How do I unite them together as the church? How do I convince such different people that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female....Republican nor Democrat....but that we are all one in Christ Jesus?

I guess what makes this election different is that every ad I see and every Facebook comment I read now reminds me just how fallen we are and how far we have to go. Not that I am already where I am supposed to be, but I know where God has called me to help lead people. I'm on the same journey, and the path looks a lot harder than it did before.