My Political Post: Read At Your Own Risk

Well, I certainly did not suspect that Politico.com follows the Revised Common Lectionary. But . . .

This past Sunday pastors here, there and everywhere including an old friend preaching at my church cringed as they were given this Gospel to share:

"From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

For those who may not know, the word Gospel means good news.

And this morning, a click-bait on Politico's Facebook page proclaimed:

"Trump and Clinton wreck Facebook friendships -- The social network has become the vehicle for 2016 vitriol, and is ruining relationships in the process."

I went ahead and read the article; a great deal of it made sense. And connected with Sunday's lesson from Luke (Chapter 12, in case you were wondering). This is happening to people I actually know. A father and his son argue their political positions on Facebook for all the world to see, getting more insulting with each comment. People have announced which candidate they are supporting and freely invite those on the other side to unfriend them. I've watched a long-standing friendship unravel and probably come to a permanent end over our current candidates.

I think, though, they've got the headline wrong. At the risk of sounding like a member of the "guns don't kill people; people kill people" faction, I don't think Donald and Hillary are actually wrecking Facebook friendships; it's the people writing about them, arguing about them, having to have the last word, those are the people who are wrecking their own friendships.

Two weeks ago, in celebration of the Rio 2016, I made a vow that during the Olympics I would neither post politics on FB nor would I comment on others' political postings for the duration of the games. One of the best decisions I've made in recent months!!! Most of the time, I've just scrolled past those posts, moving on to Karen's inspirational quotes, to Emily's bicycle ride to fight MS, to Julie's celebration of a new grand baby, to Bonnie's newest adventures in the kindness community. I'm a better person for making that pledge. So I'm going to extend it. I'm done posting my political viewpoint on Facebook; everyone knows who I support anyway. I'm done commenting on anyone else's political posts. If someone becomes too rabid, I'm simply going to downgrade him/her to "acquaintance" and unfollow. That way she/he won't see my posts and I won't see theirs. All of this can be revisited and readjusted after November.

Oh, and getting back to Luke: One of my seminary professors has become infamous famous for allegedly shouting, "Preach the damn Gospel!" That's what my friend did.  And she did it without mentioning either candidate.