Christians Attacking Each Other in U.S. Election Debate Grieves the Holy Spirit, Says Author J. Lee Grady

A demonstrator wears a Donald Trump costume as people gather to protest against the Republican U.S. presidential nominee on the sidewalk outside his new Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C. on Oct. 26, 2016.Reuters

The Holy Spirit is grieving over America as the clock ticks closer to Tuesday, Nov. 8.

This was the sentiment expressed by Christian author and ordained minister J. Lee Grady as he aired his sadness over the rancour that has divided the Christian community on what to do or who to vote as president on Election Day.

Although he supports "legitimate political debate," Grady, who is also an award-winning journalist and the former editor of Charisma, said he's concerned that Christians have been attacking each other since the political campaign started.

"I've heard Christians swear at each other, verbally assault each other and dissect each other in self-righteous Facebook posts," Grady wrote on Charisma News.

"I've watched one Christian demonise another Christian simply because they have different views on a public policy issue. And I've seen how the racial divisions in the church grew deeper when a pastor decided to politicise a sermon or tell people they had to vote a certain way to please God," he continued.

Grady said he believes Christians are confused on what they really ought to do.

"We have the idea that standing for truth requires us to blast our opponents out of the water. We wield our verbal swords and skewer our enemies like Roman gladiators in the Coliseum," he said.

He reminded his readers on what apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:31-32: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you."

Grady urged them to "go on a fast from ranting and raving. Stop being outraged and encourage somebody."

He said one thing is for sure after the election: "About half of our population will be celebrating the winner ... while the other half will be licking their wounds."

Grady believes that the Holy Spirit is not taking sides in the election. "I believe He is grieved by the way the church behaved," he said.