When I was being raised in rural Ross and Pike County, Ohio, there were little buildings in our neighborhood that were used for voting. I don’t remember them having the doors open until election day. On election day they became the center of attention as people came out of the hills to vote. There was some disagreement between parties but no division in our neighborhood.
For the most part, you would have to stand at those little buildings to know what party someone belonged to. People were still there for one another when something needed to be done. Our community would run to the aid of those who might be going through hard times or sickness. They did not base their relationships on preferences in political matters. Church-going people did not all go to the same church but they were all connected by their belief in God. Schools and parents worked together to make sure we all received the education we needed. I was paddled one time in school and without any explanation, when I got home I received another paddling from my parents. It was a very different time in our country. People lived by the principles that are in the Word of God. There was no such thing as misspoke. You told the truth or you told a lie. If you got caught in a lie, you were punished.
Why am I going down memory lane? Maybe because we are in the middle of an election. I see the politicians making commercials that degrade one another. You have no idea if what they are saying about one another is truth or a lie. The ten commandments are still on the walls of the United States Senate chambers but it doesn’t seem that they live and rule by them. It seems that for many of our leaders, their political party takes precedent in all their decisions.
Matthew 12:25; But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
I have been to other countries and the United (not divided) States of America is still by far the best place to be. Our dollar bills still have, “In God We Trust,” printed on them and if that is what we believe, there can be unity and we can celebrate each other knowing that the truth will prevail.
Jesus said in John !3:34-35; “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.”
These are the truths that we look into at the Gathering Place every Wednesday evening at 7 and Sunday morning at 9:30 and 10:30. We have youth group and recovery class at 6 on Sunday evening. Come and join us.
