Do you ever find yourself agitated in spirit where something deep inside you is on edge but you really don’t know what’s up? That’s what has been going on with me. But, it has been helpful to pause and expose this thing to God. The habit of waiting, subjecting my distressed (and often putrid thoughts) to a fresh stream of truth does my heart good. This morning His words are bringing clarity and perspective, relieving me of some of the rancor within.
I looked up “rancor” just to make sure my application was consistent with the actual meaning. The example it offered was: “In the end, the debate created a degree of “rancor” among the Sunday school members.” Yes. “Rancor” is the right word. Thank you, Mr. Webster.
I confess: I substituted “Sunday School” for “committee” in the above definition. I took this liberty because (as I read Psalm 125) I backtracked my tumult of spirit to a Sunday School class which recently turned into a town hall debate, exposing a gulf between one side of the political canyon and the other.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts. (Psalm 125:4)
This verse is God’s-common ground to those on either side of the divide. As I listened in, I heard in both the longing for righteousness and social justice. Both the super-majority, who are my friends, and the super-minority who is my friend, want to see good.
Media does not help. Their method of hosting our political discourse assumes there is no common ground. It forces us to shout sound bites at each other across the divide. I believe that ‘there is no common ground’ is a lie promoted by the father of lies whose mission it is to divide. He is no doubt pleased with the nasty spirit of our debates and the growing divide in our culture.
“Oh great! Here Rob goes over-spiritualizing things again!” This was the warm feeling I got when I stepped into the gulf and tried to say something unifying in this divided Sunday school class. Neither side knew what to do with me. Both contingents viewed me as a defector from their camp. If my 100% pledge of allegiance to a side is the cost of belonging, then, in truth, I can’t belong.
My bright and sensitive son attended a Christian school where he learned the Westminster catechism and more. We discovered the and more on the way home from school one day when he asked us to pray for a close friend of our family. (It happened to be my super-minority friend). We were taken aback! What had awakened the intercessor in our son? I said “Ok, son what shall we pray?” He replied, “We need to pray for Jerry—he’s a democrat.” My son knew intuitively that this leftward leaning soul was damned due to an infection apparently as fatal as sin—the wrong political ideology.
Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. (Psalm 125:1)
My brief study of Mount Zion revealed it as the city of the great King David, the seat of power in a time thought of as Israel’s golden age.
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever. (from Psalm 125:2)
Those who have submitted to the rulership of Jesus are looking for “the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” They have citizenship in heaven. Because they have been raised up with Christ, they keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They set their minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Hebrews 11:10, Phil 3:20, Col 3:1-2).
Political discourse, as it is, moderated by a biased media, breeds hopelessness, frustration, and agitation of spirit, as it focuses on our differences, highlights the negatives, and stirs up contention (and consequently rakes in huge profits). Unfortunately, at least in this hour, media thrives on division and, in my opinion, disqualifies itself as a useful moderator of any meaningful or productive discourse.
As the water of His word washed over my soul this morning and gave it needed perspective, my agitation was altered to more of a hope-oriented type of longing, which I pray is an appropriate emotion for those who have been subjected for a time (along with creation) to a season of futility.
For we know the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together.” We have hope though because creation itself will be set free from it slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:19)
Our King came to us from heaven born as a child and a government of peace rests on His shoulders. There will be no end to the increase of this government or His rule over this kingdom. He will uphold it with justice and righteousness for evermore. This is going to be accomplished by the zeal of the One who is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. (From Isaiah 9:6-7)
Father, Your Word gives us peace and hope in a world where it is in short supply. May the sons and daughters of the Kingdom arise. Birth a dialogue that honors our common ground—our instinctive love of righteousness and justice. May Truth and Wisdom be vindicated by her words of love, wise counsel, and deeds of social justice. May this new conversation birth unexpected healing and unity in behalf of all men for Your name’s sake. When You return, may You find us conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ’s kingdom, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. Thank You for restoring my spirit again and again. Amen.