I’ve been really bent on defending my faith and democracy. 1 Peter 3:15: “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” And I just can’t help myself when it comes to defending democracy. It’s clearly in danger. 

But what’s the best way to make a defense? I think it’s to go on the offense. I can’t change anybody else’s mind, but I can focus on my own heart. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “The best criticism of the bad is practice of the better.” I realized this works no matter what you call bad. It shifts things from “coming against” to positive action.  

What if our whole country did that for even a day?  

Isaiah 58:6-8 comes to mind. 

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice 
and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— 
when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; 
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” 

This is an issue of where I want to spend my time…and where change really lies. There’s a season for fighting, but “loosing the chains of injustice” is always in season. And if we really did that, we wouldn’t have time for infighting anyway.