I Want People To Agree With Me, Not Die

Pastor Tim has already written about this in light of another assassination attempt on either President Trump or other members of the administration.

Many people are unhealthily and dangerously angry, and it seems like it’s getting worse.

I have actual disagreements with the president, and many who advise him, or who set policy. That’s normal. Some of it is quite strong disagreement. My column about staying out of presidential elections isn’t coming from nowhere.

That said, I hope he succeeds gloriously for the next roughly two and a half years. And I hope he has many years of life afterwards, and abundant life, at that.

I am not a supporter. Not even close. But I am a Christian and an American; my truest citizenship and a natural patriotism call that forth from me. I suppose that might be overly sentimental for some critics. Here I stand; I can do no other, God help me.

If you recall the unfortunate and tragic events of January 6, 2021, the more violent protestors had broken into the Capitol, and into the offices therein. Speaker Pelosi was hiding in the dark, under a table, with the doors locked and barricaded. I knew as I watched the 60 Minutes report that politics does stop at the water’s edge of violence. It just does.

That has to be true, even knowing that if I had to convince Speaker Pelosi of my political and moral views—often intertwined—to obtain a financial reward, I would die of old age and penniless.

The secret virtue of our system is the power of persuasion. Compromise is distinct, but related. Political compromise cannot happen without some shared values. Some say that we have lost all sense of anything shared. I doubt that, but even if it’s true, we should say, “I want you to agree with me, not to die.”

The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that everything we want is beyond discussion. Violence becomes tragically palatable when the tools of nonviolent disagreement seem worthless. The father of lies must have been in this latest shooter’s actions, and in his manifesto.

Christians, if you’ve been so angry at a person or people that these spasms of violence seem acceptable to you, there’s still time to repent. Don’t let it fester. And don’t beat yourself up unnecessarily for careless words and thoughts. Renounce them for and in the love of Christ, and then let the sin go.

Prince of Peace and King of glory Jesus Christ, guard our hearts and minds in Your Name. Restore to us the joy of our salvation. Amen.

Jason Kettinger is Associate Editor of Open for Business. He writes on politics, sports, faith and more.