There’s an old Frank Sinatra song that goes like this,

“Love and marriage

Love and marriage

They go together like a horse and carriage

This I tell you, brother

You can’t have one without the other.”

The horse and carriage analogy is a little dated, but you get the idea. Of course, love and marriage go together, but love and politics? You might be thinking that’s a bit of a stretch.

I write a lot about love on here. You can probably go back and check every blog that I’ve ever written and it somehow ends up about love. While, I do love a good love story, I’m not really that girl that reads romance novels or watches lifetime movies.  I can’t stop talking about love though, because God is love. We were made in His image.  Humans will do anything for love and God proved to us that He will too! God sent his son to earth to die on the cross, because of love His love for us (1 John 4:7-11).

So when we are talking about anything, absolutely anything, even politics, there is nothing that doesn’t go together (like a horse and carriage, of course) with love.

In John 13:35 Jesus said to his disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

In case you might be thinking, this is talking about us loving one another, like the one another’s who think like I do, like those others who believe the same things I do. Well then, read what Jesus says here:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:43-45

And here:

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:32-36

In today’s extremely divided political climate we are quick to see the other party as the enemy.  All the more reason to show love to those on the other side. This is the radical way of Jesus.

So how do we live this practically when we’re talking politics –

-Read 1 Corinthians 13 for clear directions on what love looks like in real time:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

-Before you post online, check to see if it meets the above criteria

-Before you speak to someone who thinks differently than you check to make sure what you are about to say meets the above criteria

There is a lot at stake here. What’s at stake is whether or not the world will recognize us as Jesus’ disciples. Will they know us by our love?

“Too often, when push comes, shove follows. Too often, when the culture opposes us, we feel like equal opposition is the only answer. But the second greatest commandment reminds us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. And the parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that our neighbor is any person we come into contact with—including those who insult and threaten us. By divine decree, everyone is our neighbor. No exceptions. And we win our neighbors through the same love that won us.” – Cap Stewart

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Korie Robertson is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who is passionate about motherhood. Korie (K-Swaggy) is a mom to Sadie — and five other amazing kids. In her free time, you’ll find her playing tennis, drinking coffee and spending time with her kids and grand babies.

Follow Korie on Instagram @bosshogswife