I became irritated with how slowly the car ahead of me was driving. Then I saw the sign “Student Driver: Be Patient with Me”.

I calmed myself and slowed down, resigned to crawling behind this student driver. To be fair, they were driving at the speed limit. It just seemed slow compared to how everyone else—including me—was used to driving!

It occurred to me that I need to be patient with those who are learning to drive—and with those who are learning to drive the Way of Jesus.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:3, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

I realize that I need to be humble, gentle and patient with those who in the United States who are supporting Trump, MAGA, and Christian Nationalism.

I need to be humble because I proudly supported Nixon for President.

I need to be gentle and patient as I restore followers of Jesus who have been deceived by Trump, MAGA, and Christian Nationalism.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-16, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” each of us needs to win the prize for which God calls us heavenward.

These prizes vary. There are many different ways that God calls us to love the LORD with all our heart and soul and mind, and to love others as we love ourselves.(Matthew 22:37-40).

As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12, God has called some of us to be apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, guiders, speakers of different tongues, and interpreters.

For me, and for many others who follow the Way of Jesus in the Twenty-First Century (regardless of their nationality or citizenship):

—this means forgetting how and when politicians, political movements, and ideologies (including Trump, MAGA, and Christian Nationalism) have deceived us in the past to increase the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World;

—-this means straining to overcome the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World;

—this means straining to establish governments of the people, by the people, and for the people that secure Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness;

—this means straining to establish the ideal America (the civilization first discovered by the hearts and wisdom of Abraham, Moses and Jesus) where:

—ALL people are blessed (Abraham; Genesis 12:3);

—ALL pharaohs are challenged to set ALL people free (Moses; Exodus 8:1);

—ALL hurting people are healed (Jesus; Luke 10:25-37); and

—ALL means ALL (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 28:18-20).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

In what ways is God calling you heavenward?

Have politicians, political parties, or ideologies (for example, Capitalism, Socialism, Nationalism, Secular Humanism, or Globalism) ever deceived you? For example, have they deceived you into increasing the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, or the Power of the Kingdoms of the World? How? How not? Why? Why not?

Do you strain to overcome the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World? How? How not? Why? Why not?

Do you strain to establish governments of the people, by the people, and for the people that secure Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness? How? How not? Why? Why not?

Do you strain to establish the ideal America (the civilization first discovered by the hearts and wisdom of Abraham, Moses and Jesus) where:

—ALL people are blessed (Abraham; Genesis 12:3);

—ALL pharaohs are challenged to set ALL people free (Moses; Exodus 8:1);

—ALL hurting people are healed (Jesus; Luke 10:25-37); and

—ALL means ALL (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 28:18-20).

How? How not? Why? Why not?

READ MORE

For related ideas, please read my blogs “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”, “Civilizations and Governments: An Independent Path”, “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”, and “Racism Is America Gone Astray”.

For additional blogs in this series, please read “Driving Lessons: Slow To Anger” and “Driving Lessons: Kindness”.