Lessons to be learned on the Campaign Trail
From the New York Times-
Internal battles divided McCain, Palin camps
Republican's running mate appeared to have been catalyst for infighting
I haven’t read the entire article. (I’ll read it as I write this.) The headlines are enough to tell us what happened to the McCain/Palin ticket. And, no, this isn’t yet another political post. it’s a lesson we, as Apostolic Christians need to learn. And, it’s a lesson we seemed to be failing to grasp.
The sub headline says it best:
Infighting. Infighting led to the first murder in human history. Infighting divided Israel and Judah. Infighting caused the American civil war. Infighting caused the UPC/WPF split. Infighting is why some people have left AFF. Infighting is, in fact, the worst kind of fighting. When brother turns on brother, that is the devils trophy. I‘ve said it many times, as long as the devil can keep us fighting among ourselves, his job is so much easier. Infighting stops any forward progression, just as it contributed to the defeat of the Republican Party in this years presidential elections.
Lets look at the destruction of the McCain/Palin ticket to see if there is anything we can learn.
Ahh, there it is…the very first lesson to be learned in the very first sentence: the word
“imploded“. It comes from the word “implosion”. Implosion is defined as:
A violent collapse inward, as of a highly evacuated glass vessel.
Violent compression.
The inward collapse of a building that is being demolished in a controlled fashion by the weakening and breaking of structural members by explosives. -http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=implosion
If I under physics correctly (and I don’t), an implosion occurs when the external pressures on an object become much greater than the pressures within. In a world in which spiritual warfare is being waged, there is great pressure being exerted on the church. Paul calls these pressures “ principalities, against powers,
…rulers of the darkness of this world…. spiritual wickedness in high [places].” Eph 6:12 Notice the word “powers”? That’s “pressure”. When are we ever going to learn that our fight is not with a brother or sister, our fight is not among ourselves , its not from within…. But our fight is from without- our fight is with “darkeness”, “the world“ “ spiritual wickedness”. Our unity is disturbed when we allow the fight to come between us. Our forward progression is halted when we take up arms against each other. The pressures among us to take a stand against the enemy is weakened, our defenses are broken when we fight among ourselves.
Heres a point well taken.. I agree with many of the Republican Party ideals. In my opinion, and in the opinions of many of us, the Republican Party is right because they stand for the right things. But, no matter how “right” we are… no matter how correct we are on the issues and on doctrine, when we fight against each other, we implode upon ourselves. And, the opposing team takes the ball.
The second sentence gives us another clue as to what happened to the political ambitions of the Republican Party. The word there is
“unwittingly”. This isn’t to question the wisdom of Gov. Palin, but merely to illustrate the need for “Wisdom”. We all need it, and we all lack it in some area. Wisdom teaches us that
“a house divided against itself cannot stand.” When teaches us that
“United we stand, divided we fall”. Wisdom teaches us that our stand should be against
“spiritual wickedness” and
“the rulers of darkness OF THIS WORLD”. Wisdom teaches us that when we take a stand against each other, we have done just what God’s Word tells us not to do… we have given
“…place to the devil”. Eph 4:27 Satans greatest advantage, his greatest opportunity is when we face each other in battle, rather than the forces of evil. Heres the good news:
Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Need wisdom? Talk to God. I guarantee you’ll hear in His answer something like this:
Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity! Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And, maybe if you really pray, you’ll have a vision of a solitary figure kneeling in the darkness of a lonely garden. You may see His tears, the sweat dripping like blood as He faces His destiny. Listen closely. You may even hear His Voice:
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:Jhn 17:22
To be continued.
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