My parents take us on a trip to Walt Disney World every other year, and watching our kids enjoy themselves there brings me tremendous satisfaction. They wake up excited and don’t want to go to bed because they’re having so much fun. We’ve experienced the parks during the busy Christmas season, where the Magic Kingdom can have around 90,000 visitors. Despite the chaos, we’ve never lost a kid. All it takes is calling out their name; my voice pierces through the music, fireworks, and conversations.
My kids recognize my voice so well because I’ve been talking to them since they could hear it. However, something odd happened recently. Oliver and I were in the car, driving to our football game. I gave him last-minute “Coach Dad” reminders, but he didn’t respond. After asking a third time, he stared blankly and asked, “Wait, what are you asking?”
How did we go from him hearing my voice in a crowded theme park to him ignoring me in a car?
I get it, though. Sometimes, I get so lost in my thoughts that I might have a conversation out loud without realizing it. It’s not just my voice in my head, though. It’s many others. We interact through social media, books, podcasts, and news, sometimes creating overwhelming noise and making it hard to truly listen.
The voice I want to hear most is God’s. Two prayers I pray the most are: “Not my will, but yours,” and “Help me become the person you intended me to be.” I am convinced God desires the best for us and knows how to guide us if we let him. Yet, we often let other voices drown out God’s.
This struggle becomes pronounced during election years. It’s hard to distinguish between those who follow Jesus and those who are passionate Americans. That’s why we’re doing this series called “Outrageous Faith.” Our faith should be outrageous in a good way, not resembling the outrage seen in recent elections. This series is not about advocating for any particular political party. It’s about reflecting on the intersection of faith and political beliefs. We need to address this topic because:
- Your neighbors are talking about them.
- Jesus spoke about them.
- It hurts our witness to our friends and family when we act like everyone else is frustrated with the state of things.
- Politics affect everything from healthcare to the economy to foreign policies.
Paul points out to a first-century church dealing with similar issues that encountering Jesus should transform our thoughts and attitudes. The Gospel, our guiding light, should shape our worldview, a set of fundamental beliefs that inform how we see and engage the world. The Gospel provides a transformative framework for understanding reality, guiding us through life’s challenges and opportunities.
Maintaining a Gospel-shaped perspective is crucial in an election year. Our faith should guide our political views and discourse, not vice versa. This series will explore winsome love, neighborly engagement, and online etiquette. Today, we focus on developing a Gospel worldview, a perspective rooted in Jesus’ teachings and principles.
Developing a Gospel worldview is not just about eliminating bad habits. If we only remove the bad, we might replace it with other harmful things. Sometimes, we must let go of good things to embrace what’s best—God’s Kingdom and his will. Discipleship, the process of becoming more like Jesus, is critical. It requires patience and perseverance, which cannot be quickly obtained or achieved.
Discipleship involves three essential practices: reading the Bible daily, praying regularly, and fasting periodically.
Reading the Bible Daily
Reading the Bible daily provides wisdom and guidance in a chaotic world. One method that has resonated deeply with me is Lectio Divina. This reflective reading fosters a personal, intimate relationship with God. Here’s how it works:
- Read and Listen: Choose a passage, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you, and read slowly. Repeat twice with a minute of silence in between.
- Meditate: Reflect on a noteworthy word or phrase from the passage.
- Pray and Respond: Reread the passage, then pray, expressing how you feel encouraged or challenged.
- Rest in God’s Word: Reflect quietly, allowing the scripture to permeate your being.
Praying Regularly
Reading the Bible is one thing, but prayer is another. Prayer fosters a continuous, intimate dialogue with God. Paul tells us to “pray all the time” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Breath prayer, a short sentence that can be said in one breath and used throughout the day, has become significant in managing my anxiety disorder. One specific breath prayer I use is based on John 3:30: “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Fasting Periodically
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus discusses fasting, the practice of temporarily giving up something to focus on God. Fasting signifies depending on God beyond physical sustenance, turning our hearts to him. Though challenging, fasting has been rewarding during Lent, helping me focus on God and experience significant spiritual breakthroughs.
The Role of Community
Nurturing diverse spiritual friendships across political spectrums is not just an excellent idea; it’s a crucial part of our spiritual journey. Engaging even when we disagree is not a sign of weakness but a mark of discipleship. Hebrews reminds us to “motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Our social circle should encompass friends from all political spectrums, demonstrating a commitment to unity and love that transcends political divides and reminding us of the value of diverse perspectives.
Conclusion
Each of these practices helps us become more like Jesus, understand God’s will, and rise above societal outrage. We are called to something greater. As 1 Peter reminds us, we must live as God’s obedient children, embracing these practices and committing to this profound spiritual journey. Let’s prepare our minds for action, embrace the hard work of spiritual growth, and support each other in love. By doing this, we grow closer to God and navigate the challenges ahead with grace and steadfastness.
