I don't see virtue signalling going on here. Just different points of view. Even within the body of Christ- Jews, Gentiles, Americans, other countries we come from many backgrounds with many different points of view...
The virtue signaling is a bore at this point and it's a shame seeing it infect Christians.
Russian Christians for example have a very different view of things than American Christians.
But both are saved.
Yet they might see their nations with very different eyes. Still saved. Very different pov.
I sometimes feel a huge cultural divide as a Christian from Canada when American Christians talk politics as part of their faith. I KNOW they don't worship Trump, but every once in a while it can feel like the best Christians in America have to be Republicans. Or have to support Trump no matter what.
It also feels sometimes that if I as a Canadian Christian was to truly live out my faith as a Christian I would leave Canada because it has evil laws like MAID. Like how on earth can I remain and support a govt as socialist as Canada is? (that could be said of a Russian in Russia under the communists or a Chinese Christian who wants to stay in China and remain Chinese). Just because the govt is evil, doesn't mean that we don't love our country and pray for it, and for our leaders (even if they are named Trudeau!!!)
I hear the criticisms of Canada- some of them are quite freely given- and when they are fair, I agree with the critics. When they aren't I either point out the truth or just hold my peace because it's not worth the argument.
I try hard to listen because there is truth in the criticism often times. This is the problem when people only listen to "their" news outlets. Fox vs MSNBC for instance. Dismissing the other side's news outlets as biased. Which they are. On both sides. There is a deep divide going on in American politics separating right and left wing ideology, and it's more than politics, it divides news sources, legal cases, social causes, families and it seems to be getting wider as time goes on. Less common ground, more division. Whose side are you on?
I like Joshua's response. He asked the Angel of the Lord, a pre incarnate Jesus whose side He was on, the answer was NEITHER and Joshua pretty quickly decided to fall down and worship the Lord. He was on the Lord's side. The Lord wasn't on Joshua's side.
That's an important distinction when we are taking sides in anything. Be on neither "side" but be on the LORD's side. Sometimes that aligns with Trump, or even Carney, sometimes it doesn't. Align with the Lord.
Don't be afraid of critics.
Sometimes the most important thing you can do is to listen to your critics. Those on the opposite side of the aisle politically, or those who aren't in the group. The outsiders. When we get to living in an echo chamber and everyone agrees with our point of view, we are in danger of not hearing warnings that we need.
I'm reading Jeremiah right now. He was sent by God to speak to a people who thought that because they had the Temple, God would automatically protect them. Jeremiah was warning them as loudly and clearly as he possibly could so they dumped him down a well to die and the king cut his scrolls up and burnt them. The people were listening to their own echo chamber.
The prophet from God was warning them but they were sure they knew that God was turning a blind eye to their sins. God would overlook it surely, He would always defend them, they had the TEMPLE in their midst. That was how they thought. God was on their side. They weren't on GOD'S SIDE! They would pay dearly for that.
Echo chambers are a real problem. That is why I try to listen to people who don't share my views to keep my views grounded in reality. It's by providing my own internal counterpoint that I strengthen my position and avoid the echo chamber trap.
I'm a Christian in Canada like German Christians are in Germany or Russian Christians are in Russia. We love our countries, but don't agree with everything our leaders do.
I think there has to be room to disagree with some of Trump's policies and decisions while upholding him in prayer, and being thankful for him as a President.