There is a kind of politics that makes me hate my brothers and sisters. It isn’t conservative or liberal. It doesn’t belong to one political party or the other. But it is entirely incompatible with authentic Christianity. In this culture, it’s nearly impossible to keep your focus on the goal we’re supposed to be focused on. Do you remember the goal of real Christianity? Let’s think… is it to create a nation ruled by one religious viewpoint? Nope. Theocracy was an Old Testament thing. Ummm… Maybe the goal is to win the God argument! Nope. I like reading apologetics, but publicly outthinking and calling out evil-doers and atheists doesn’t seem to be doing much for Christianity in America today. Maybe Paul was on to something when he said even if you win the debate but don’t authentically love, then you’re like an incessant gong or clanging cymbal. (See 1 Corinthians 13) Those Christians are like the kid on the church drum set who keeps banging the cymbal while you’re trying to have a conversation after church! It sure gets your attention, but it makes dialogue impossible and it’s just annoying. I feel like I’ve been listening to the kid banging on the cymbals for months now!The goal of authentic Christianity… the focus of the life of a Christ-follower… it to become Christlike. He is not changing the world through politics. He is changing the world by loving people through you and me. Accepting, caring, serving communities of people who love God and love people is what God’s grace and Presence produces. It’s time to get back to what we are supposed to be about. Love you guys! Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. – 1 John 4:20 (NIV)

There is a kind of praying that God answers with peace that is beyond our understanding. I don’t know about you, but that sounds really good right now! Then that peace “guards” our hearts and minds in Jesus. And our hearts and minds need guarding!

What does it mean to have peace “guarding” your heart and mind? (Clue: It has something to do with grace and presence.)God doesn’t answer this prayer because we “name it and claim it” with a certain amount or level of faith. There is a place for prayer requests, but what God most wants to provide is far better than the external answers to prayer we think we need from him today.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)