Americans tend to think of themselves as independent, being free thinkers who choose to exercise their own political decisions.

When we side with one political view over the other we generally find ourselves accused of not being independent and not thinking for ourselves. It’s an argument that is not easily confronted because political views are often emotionally held.

Unless, one applies the test of Scripture…

The test of Scripture that I’m referring to is John 10:10 which states, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

It is not complicated. When we find ourselves trying to decipher political contentions, deciding who is telling the truth, we only need to consider that there are usually two political lines in these very public accusations: one that promotes “life,” and one that promotes to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

When it comes to considering the political contentious issues that dominate the headlines of the day, apply the test of John 10:10. Ask yourself, which side of the issue best advances the promotion of “life,” and which side of the argument best advances the promotion to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy”?

Anyone of us can glance across social media or community or friends or family and see that some are taking a hard stance in what might be to us an obvious promotion to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

It is not easy to argue with accusations and lies because they are emotionally driven. Logic and reason have no place in plans meant only to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

If you remember the Crucifixion account, we read in Luke 23:34 that when Jesus hung on the cross he said of those who mocked Him, who tortured Him, and who killed Him, “they know not what they are doing.”

Even more shocking is in the very next verse of Luke 23:35, it said “And the people stood beholding” yet some continued to mock Him while some stood in recognition of injustice forced upon the sinless Son of God. They all beheld the same scene but walked away with different decisions about it.

Without an ability for biblical discernment, an honest judgement based on the realty of the scene, and without the test of Scripture those who opposed the Crucified Messiah did to their own ruin — though they were certain they were correct in that decision.

Feeling certain is not a very accurate test of right or wrong. Proverbs 14:12 explains that “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” and that means one can feel certain about their decision as being right, though it is wrong.

We can’t even rely on our heart, as in the often repeated advice to “trust your heart.” But Jeremiah 17:9 states “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The standard of truth and error, right and wrong, is not our feelings but the test of God’s Word.

This is fallen human nature. Many may think they are right, they may assume they are right, they may even boldly declare to the public that they are right but they are actually relying on their own emotional selfishness. Without the standard of Scripture they are left to be their own standard.

Satan likes bringing these political contentious issues into the public eye because it compels our selfish humanity in strengthening our cords of decision making based on feelings. Without the standard of Scripture they are free to declare their ignorance as a fool distancing themselves from reality.

I suspect that these political contentious issues are only going to increase as we get closer to the 2020 presidential elections because in case you’ve forgotten, Revelation 12:10 and John 8:44 remind us that Satan’s strategies are accusations and lies.

The president’s opposition party has already been consistent in saying that he is just a symptom and the real problem is the American people who voted for him. Which means the political contentious issues of accusations and lies are likely going to be targeted against the ordinary citizenry, too.

Whatever political contentious issues are thrown into the public arena next, just remember to filter it through the John 10:10 test. Until then, let’s just choose to not stand with those that promote to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” but let’s stand with those who promote “life.”