In ____ We Trust
It is presidential election time once again. Groups of delegates from each political party have gathered together to select their presidential candidates and confirm the guiding principles of their respective party—their agenda. Though couched in terms of ‘joyful this’ or ‘greater that’, the ultimate goal of each political party is power—the ability to control. Winning the White House is a necessary step. Implicit in this victory is the opportunity to advance the party’s agenda—their view of what is best for ‘we the people’—imposing it upon the entire country by the power of the state or courts.
The interesting feature of this election is that the objective for each party has become:
More to not lose than to win.
More about preventing the other side from exercising power and shaping the future than winning the opportunity to do so themselves.
The underlying whisper of these efforts is ‘at any cost’.
And cost is something we Christians should seriously consider.
This cost is not the tilting of the Supreme Court one way or another. Nor is it the erosion of personal freedom or liberty. It does not concern immigration or terrorism or national standing in the world. Nor is it about economics or national debt or trade agreements.
The cost I’m talking about is the spiritual health of the Church in America.
The Church has been a factor in American politics for ages. There is nothing wrong with our participation in the electoral process. As citizens, we have a right to an equal say in things. But in the last 40 years or so, the motivation behind ‘our say in things’ has changed subtly. And this change has serious ramifications:
Many Christians have come to rely more on the outcome of an election for their hope in this life than on Jesus who rules over everything.
Many have come to view the power of the state as the only means of safeguarding their futures instead of looking to Jesus who holds every atom together by His power.
Many have become so consumed by their ‘responsibility’ in choosing the next President in the intoxicating world of power politics that they have not stopped to consider what the true King is doing or what He wants them to do—or not—with this election.
Many have become more focused on trying to dominate the culture through political means than changing it one heart at a time by being Jesus to the world around them.
Many are so intent on gaining (or keeping) the opportunity to wield power in this country that they have decided that the end justifies the means.
Each of these views exposes faulty thinking and a trust in a worldly system for our wellbeing and destiny. And trust is the issue.
We say that we trust in God. We proclaim He is sovereign over all things. Our money confirms our words by reminding all that ‘In God We Trust’. We pledge that we are ‘(one nation) under God’, which implies we do not usurp His authority in anything.
But do our actions reflect our words?
Have we allowed fear to replace faith?
Have we misplaced our trust?
As we enter the final stretch of this election year, there are several very important things to remember:
Jesus is not the mascot of our favorite political party. He doesn’t take sides, as Joshua found out before the battle of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-14). He has His own agenda—to make sure that the Father’s plan for this world is executed on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
Jesus is in control. This fact supersedes any agenda we may have. It is Jesus, and He alone, who sets up leaders and tears them down (Daniel 2:21). He pays no attention to party affiliation as He does so.
Jesus is the King of all kings (Revelation 19:16). It is His power we are to rely on for daily living, not the power of the state or the power of a man or woman (Psalm 20:7, 146:3).
As Christians, we have been born into a new kingdom—the Kingdom of God (John 3:5). We are citizens of this Kingdom—one not made by human hands using human effort and human logic (John 18:36a; Philippians 3:20). Its purpose is far above our own.
Before we blame others for the decline of our culture, we should look inwardly and recognize that the core issue of cultural decay begins with sinfulness in the Church (1 Corinthians 5:12-13; 1 Peter 4:17).
These facts and their ramifications for our lives should cause each of us to take pause. The Church should carefully consider the cost of jumping on the political bandwagon of power-mongering...Of explaining away the inconsistencies of our professed beliefs with the words, actions, and plans of our favorite candidate...Of choosing the lesser of two evils to justify the choice we want to make.
Fear of what might or might not be is not a valid excuse for hypocrisy. Either we trust Jesus, or we do not. If we do not trust Him, why should the world listen to us? There is no power in being double-minded. And the Church in America is powerless enough.
Our allegiance should be to Jesus, our King. We are to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but we shouldn’t confuse the things of this world with the things of the Kingdom (Mark 12:17). Our true hope isn’t found within the shifting sands of a political party, the outcome of an election, or even the state. It abides in the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus.
Our great responsibility this election season is not found in choosing who will be the next President. It is found in doing what our King directs us to do, while placing our wellbeing in His hands.
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(Joshua 5:13-14) When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
(Matthew 6:10) “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
(Daniel 2:21) He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
(Revelation 19:16) On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
(Psalm 20:7) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
(Psalm 146:3) Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
(John 3:5) Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
(John 18:36a) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
(Philippians 3:20) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 5:12-13) For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
(1 Peter 4:17) For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
(Mark 12:17) Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.