How to be an upstanding Christian in a foul political environment

The state of world politics is a mess. No matter what party you affiliate yourself with, or what causes you hold dear, nobody is happy with anybody now. A few years ago, the big term was "the discourse is coarsening." Well, these days it's more like the discourse feels about as rough  as industrial grade sandpaper.

The problem is, its making many of us nasty, thoughtless, and defensive. As the gap between opinions gets wider, the rhetoric gets sharper, more personal. I've seen it in my own life. I've had family dinners that have devolved into passive-aggressive snaps between warring camps. My Facebook feed is so toxic with bickering "friends” that I've had to step away. Even casual coffee shop conversations can suddenly become tense stand-offs when some political matter happens to roll into the discussion.

So how do we rise above it as Christians? How do we retain our values when some people are just waiting to pounce on an "incorrect” stance and everyone else is walking on eggshells? We stick to the fundamentals, that's how.

It's important to be true to yourself and proud of your values. But that doesn't mean you should be looking for a fight. If you find you're constantly getting into arguments and feeling stressed out from the unending barrage of challenges, maybe it's time to look at the common denominator in those interactions – you.

You're never going to change someone's mind by screaming at them in a comment section or making lunch awkward. If you want to change minds, do it by setting an example. Hold yourself to a higher standard and rise above the pettiness. 

Instead, turn that energy towards God. Pray for council and guidance, pray to keep your priorities clear. Listen to Him speak in your life and be receptive to His lessons. Spend more time thinking about your values and how they align with the way God wants us to act as Christians and less time arguing that you're right.

In our heated political climate, it's all too easy to write people off. To label as part of a certain group and dump them in with a big faceless mass that can be safely ridiculed and dismissed. I've been guilty of it myself. But, even when someone is saying something that you can't remotely understand let alone agree with, you need to remember that they are still a fellow child of Christ. You need to respect that even if you can't respect their opinion and stay away from personal insults and childish pettiness.

If you want to build credibility for your views, you do it by being a good person first and foremost. You demonstrate compassion, caring, and genuine interest in your fellow man. After all, who would you listen to, someone who takes the time to listen to you and responds in a respectful manner, or someone who laughs in your face and calls you an idiot? It might seem elementary, but when it comes to personal opinions, too many people forget that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I think the biggest reason our discourse has become so toxic is because it has never been easier to impulsively dash off an opinion. The internet and social media has created an environment where anyone can chime in with a glib, snarky comment about another person's opinion or even butt into the middle of a totally separate conversation to drop their two-cents. The media is fueled by a similar "instant reaction” economy and we've adopted that impulse in our personal lives. We fling our words around willy-nilly like hand grenades and then act surprised when people explode over them. 

The truth is, you don't need to insert your own opinion or objection into every conversation. But, in those times you do feel like you have to, its better to make a measured, considered statement than a knee-jerk reaction. It might seem trite, but when it comes to our toxic discourse you need to "be the change you want to see in the world”