Why Blue?

One of my dad’s neighbors has two “Harris Walz” signs in their front yard.  A couple of years ago their yard sign said, “Vote Democrat.”  He is a coach at the local college (why is upper ed so dominated by democrats?).  I took note that the vast majority of yard signs in North Platte are “Trump Vance”.  There are a few large “Osborn” signs, but the town seems to be mostly Red.  So, I mused on why somewhere around half of my fellow citizens are “Blue” – democrat.

I think the answer is in the power of religion – especially Christianity. I believe a majority of Americans were in church in their early days and were subjected to Bible teachings. The message they heard over and over from most pulpits was “God is love!”  It was the pulpits’ call to be like Jesus which is to love.  That is to love the rebel, sinner, homosexual, illegal, poor, criminal, foreigner, etc.  Love, love and love!

They also repeatedly heard the charge to forgive and to practice mercy. They were admonished to be like Jesus who went about doing good.  Jesus was so kind, loving, giving, forgiving, gentle and good – so be like Jesus.  As that is what they were taught, such is what they think. [I’m not arguing that those are not truths – to love, be merciful, serve, give and do good; but that there is much more!] 

Then there are those other “Christians” who are not giving, kind and forgiving – at least so perceived and charged.  There are those church people who are intolerant and judgmental – those Red people!  The Red are viewed as not like Jesus and not righteous because they want to limit or restrict kindnesses to others.  

Thus, my take is that the church is at the root of the Blue wave. 

Jesus told us to observe all that He taught (Matthew 28:20).  That is, He charged His followers to study His teachings carefully and to obey them fully.

So, let’s take a gander at some of His teachings:

1. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword”, Matt. 10:34. 
2. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matt. 7:13-14
3. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who who does the will of My Father in heaven…in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”  Matt. 7:21-23
4. “He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:36
5. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:44
6. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”  John 14:6
7. “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5
8. “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 13:41-42

Jesus taught us to love, forgive, give, go the second mile, serve, be merciful AND He taught us to fear God, fear Hell, know that the road to God is narrow and hard and there are who few find it and the rest will be sent to Hell fire.  

Thus, Jesus’ love is to ALSO warn people to stop, repent, turn, submit and follow.  

My point – there are many Blue people today because there are so many weak and wrong pulpits.