Deja Vu

A coworker of mine told me today that her parents are making her vote for Barack Obama despite her desire not to. She said that her mother and an in-law were adamant that she not vote for John McCain. When I asked why they wouldn't allow her to vote for who she wanted to, she said they told her that John McCain wanted to freeze everybody's money so they couldn't have access to it, or words to that effect! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Not only was she being coerced to vote against her will, but the reason for doing so is simply ridiculous. Later, I asked her if her mother and in-law were angry most of the time and didn't like the United States? She said, "yes." I told her not to let anyone tell her how to vote because it is her right to support who she pleases. It reminded me of the struggles I have faced in my own life. The first Presidential election I was eligible to vote in was in 1992. Like a "good" African-American, I voted for the Democratic candidate, Bill Clinton. I did the same thing in 1996. Honestly, I never knew why I voted that way and couldn't defend my reasons other than by saying that "Democrats are for blacks." This was something I was told by those older than me and, supposedly, wiser than I was. It was assumed that is how I would vote. But, something strange happened to me. In 1996, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. As time went on, and the Lord revealed the truth to me in regards to the scriptures, other truths were revealed. I realized that the faith I had, and even proclaimed to have prior to salvation, did not line up with the Party I, slavishly, had been supporting all my life.

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." 1 Peter 4: 12-16

I have heard it said that when you are walking with the Devil he doesn't bother you much, but when you turn in the opposite direction, he will do all it takes to get you to turn around. After becoming a Christian, and my new found conservative values started revealing themselves, I realized I could no longer support the Party that I grew up supporting. In 2000, and 2004, I supported President George W. Bush in the elections. This was quite a change for me given my race, culture and history. I just felt, and still do, that the best expression of my christian faith and personal values is found in the Republican Party. However, my family and friends started to show their displeasure whenever my beliefs clashed with their long-held beliefs. Not only was my Christian faith assailed, but nearly everything about me was attacked. I have been told that I am "sheltered" because of my conservative values. Never heard that when I was voting Democrat. An in-law of mine called me a "white apologist" just for offering a different viewpoint on subjects. Never heard that when I was voting Democrat. But, the craziest thing I heard occurred when I was attending a family function at my Aunt's house. I was having a conversation with my sister and must have mentioned, or it was inferred, that I voted for President Bush. A cousin of mine apparently overheard that I had supported President Bush. She calls me over to her table, I lean down to hear her question better, and she says, "Are you a Republican?" Fearing the can of worms about to be opened, I sheepishly said, "uh huh." And then, it happened. "George Bush is the Antichrist!" "Do you have white friends?" This is the nonsense that is supposed to pass for coherent dialog. It was nothing more than a racist and, unbiblical, rant. Respecting my cousin and my Aunt, herself a Democrat politician in my states local government, I removed myself. Furious, I went to a place to be alone. Later, my cousin tried to apologize by using the old "blood is thicker than water" line that was hard for me to swallow. I thought suffering for being a Christian was supposed to come from unbelievers. Two of the three people I have mentioned, including my cousin, claim to be Christians. Go figure.

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5: 38-42

I don't for one second believe that my being slammed by family members over disagreements about values and political leanings is the same as the apostles being abused for preaching the Gospel. However, the changes that happened to me, that revealed themselves in the form of a change in values and political leanings, were the byproduct of the Holy Spirit working on me from within. While conservative values and politics do not a Christian make, in my case they were the first signs of a changed heart that was visible to those closest to me. If I had just told them that I was a Christian, they would not have thought anything of it. After all, most of them were too. Although, their definition of Christian is the "I have gone to church my entire life" Christian. But, that is another discussion. My point is simply that proclaiming faith in Christ would not have had any effect on them. However, I know the suffering I endured that day had an effect on them as well as on me. Today, my family knows where I stand on many issues, and more importantly, they know Who I am standing on. I don't like being at odds with family and friends over things, but I know the anger that can arise when they discover you don't think like they do. In fact, I miss some of the closeness we once shared. But, that closeness was a byproduct of me "walking with Devil." I was in the darkness, unaware of exactly just how far from God I was at the time. I blindly followed the crowd without the first thought as to why I did it or what the consequences were. As I continue to grow in my faith, I am also understanding more about how my faith effects my worldview and my role in the world. No longer will I allow the peer pressure of family ties and cultural bonds override what I believe to be what the Lord would have me do. I can only hope that my coworker, who once asked me about Jesus Christ, will someday come to know Him like I do. And, in turn, allow Him to guide her throughout her life regardless of what her family and history tell her.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" Romans 8:31