Bipartisanship

I think that the arguments over balancing the budget, raising the national debt ceiling, and calling for bipartisanship over the last few months has moved a lot of people from being concerned, to worried, frustrated, and now outraged.

When the debate first began, I don’t think I could have defined bipartisanship, but listening to the President, the Republicans, and the Democrats, I think I know what it means. It seems to me that it means, “I have come up with a plan and now you should agree with me.” When I was a kid, the term was called, “bullying.”

The Bible has a similar term. It’s called “confession.” The Bible asks us to confess, agree, or admit: we sin or we are sinners (I John 1:8-9). Jesus is Lord and He comes from God (Acts 10:9-10, I John 4:3). Only by our admission that Jesus comes from God, that we can know God (I John 2:23, 4:15). When we confess Jesus’ Name, it is a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15). And finally, we confess that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13).

These are some of the things that the Bible calls us to confess, agree, and come to terms with. While there is some similarity between “bipartisanship” in the world and “confession” in Scripture, there is at least one huge difference. God’s not a bully, as some may think He is. God is looking out for everyone’s welfare and He has our very best interest at heart. We know this because He sacrificially gave up His very own Son as the condition of the agreement between Him and us. This is the concession that God brings to the bargaining table. If we do not agree to His terms, there is no other deal in the works.