Famous actress and outspoken Christian Candace Cameron Bure recently reminded Christians to be Christ-like when engaging with others who hold differing viewpoints. With the election less than a month away, tensions are high in America amid the intense political polarization between Republicans and Democrats.
During a recent discussion with her brother Kirk Cameron, Bure highlighted the fruits of the Spirit that followers of Jesus are called to embody after receiving the Holy Spirit upon putting their faith in Christ. “I know that the Holy Spirit gives us the fruit of the Spirit when we’re in Christ: joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,” she said. “And so, I feel as..because God gives each and every one of us self-control, that’s something we need to have when we’re in those hot topics and divisive conversations.”
Bure added that all too often, we jump into issues headfirst, letting our emotions lead the way instead of reason. However, she maintained that it is important to “represent Christ well” when confronting different values. “A lot of times, I know our emotions can want to jump out first, but it’s so important to represent Christ well, and I think that means taking a pause, taking a breath, take a beat, consider the other perspective, where they’re coming from. Take a second to pray and then speak your voice, speak your opinion.”
“But I think just that calmness in the very beginning really helps when you take that, that, that beat, and that breath because I don’t think that anyone’s ever going to change their opinion, when you yell at them or bark at them and tell them how awful they are for how they’re thinking,” she continued.
The Christian Tribune recently reported on a critical message that Kirk Cameron shared with Christians ahead of the election. The actor urged Americans to get out and exercise their civic duties, highlighting the consequences of remaining silent.
“[If] the family of faith does not show up and vote their values, well, that just leaves a great big vacuum, and others will gladly rush in to fill the void, and then you end up burning the whole thing down from the inside,” Cameron said. “I believe with all my heart that it is and that God did not create us and rescue us through the Gospel to be cowards,” Cameron added. “And that we have a birthright of courage, and if we will lean into that courage as people of faith and live out our values and put feet to our faith in love, we can and will realign the nation with Heaven’s values.”
Cameron also emphasized that Christian is embedded in the very fabric of the United States. “I’m amazed at how many people don’t understand the fundamental principles of how nations and governments are run,” he said. “Every nation is built on some set of presuppositions; a worldview, a philosophy of life, a value set, a religion.”
Watch Candace Cameron Bure below: