So can Sean Gallagher say he was only a tweet away from becoming the President of Ireland? This week the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s compliance committee upheld his complaint against the programme “Frontline” which used a tweet allegedly coming from a rival candidate’s campaign team and which effectively terminated his chances.

Members of the team were in the studio and the authenticity of the tweet could have been easily verified but the allegation that Sean Gallagher was a Fianna Fail bagman was allowed to stand with disastrous results to his independent stance and his Presidential hopes.

To compound matters the author of the tweet never appeared at the press conference planned for the next day and the cheque which was the subject of the tweet had been banked the day before the fundraising event where it was supposed to have been handed to Gallagher!

And we thought that these things only happened in Russia!

What has the Bible to say to such matters?

Lying, whether by tweet or words, breaks a commandment. Stealing, in this case another’s reputation, breaks another commandment (Exodus Chapter 20 verses 15/16). But who of us are not guilty of these sins? How then can any get right with God?

There is another type of election the Bible speaks of, not where we vote but one in which God, in love, takes the initiative.

This love of God for his own explains how mankind’s rebellion against his laws and rejection of Jesus is overpowered in some people. They are those who hear God’s word and take it on board. As Jesus said in his prayer, “For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” (St John Chapter 17 verses 8/9)

These people are drawn to him by a faith which he gives. God the Father is absolutely determined that they will be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. They will one day be like Him.

Such is the irresistible electing love of our triune God. Our stubborn wills are overcome by his grace and no bogus tweet can thwart his plans.

“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

St Paul writing to the church at Rome Chapter 8 verses 33…39.