Elections, Disagreements, Christianity are They Disconnected Topics?

In the wake of the second presidential debate my facebook wall is blowing up. I see people threatening to blow others up, arguing in ugly ways, give a blow by blow, getting angry because "gosh darn it, people died so you could have the right to that vote!" and it got me to thinking....



Why are we so "sure" that not voting is the one sin that will cause damnation. "Thou shalt pick a side, either democrat of republican" or "If thou doest not votest thouest willest diest!" I just shake my head and wonder....because sadly so many of the most violent and vitriolic members of this grand argument called the presidential election call themselves "followers of Christ".

And isn't it funny that we aren't so vehement about reading the bible? We aren't so assured about following Christ in obedience, but gosh durn it, WE WILL VOTE because some nameless patriot gave the ultimate sacrifice. But what of the life that Christ calls us to? What of denying self and considering others as greater, serving and not looking to be served. What happened to laying down our lives in the cause of Christ?

Christ paid the ULTIMATE sacrifice that we might live in the face of His holy wrath! He redeemed us from our wormish and sinful status and called us into fellowship with himself! But why aren't we stoked about that, why doesn't that get our blood boiling or our blood pressure up? Because it's HARD to follow Jesus. Only those who endure to the end will be saved. THAT'S why.

 "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." ....GK Chesterton.

So maybe instead of thinking to ourselves "We must exercise our rights to vote because some nameless/faceless person 300 years ago died for that right" maybe if you call yourself a follower of the way you can begin thinking something like this "Deny yourself pick up your cross and follow him" or "Lose your life for his sake and you will find it!". Sell your life to follow Jesus! Get rid of anything that will give you money and go and buy that field with the hidden treasure. It may be painful and you probably will experience some buyers remorse, but it will be the greatest treasure you can take hold of.

And really in the face of eternal demands on our time is it really worth all the attention to make the demands of our state every four years so much more valuable to us that the demands of eternity? Be warned friend so many things are waiting to snatch you off this narrow path and even though things may be good they are truly not as great as following the One for whom you were created!