Philippians 4:7-9

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” vs. 8

As the election season stumbles into its final week in the midst of a remarkable run of slanderous, misleading, and lying campaign commercials and mailings, the anonymous billionaire influencers are getting ready to double and triple their contributions. That additional money will allow candidates to pull out all the stops as they increase their mindnumbing ads. All this nonsense only fuels the division that is growing and even threatening to tear us apart.

In the midst of all the turmoil some believers have discovered that this spirit of acrimony is even affecting their families and friendships. Even congregations have been divided by friction among their members. Many have decided that the words of Paul to the Philippians give them direction in their conversation and reflections. Read them again, “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Those who take those words seriously, and who have maybe even made them their mantra in these troubled times have discovered that they are a way to preserve precious relationships. This doesn’t mean abandoning principles or positions, it simply means that there are more important things in life than being right in a political argument.

Thought for the Day:  How have political divisions affected me?