Not Political

 

This is not a political post. It may seem like it initially, but it will not be. I won’t name any parties, or people. 

My mother worked for our congressman for 35 years. He was considered one of the most powerful men in Washington. He treated us like family. I grew up in a political environment. We watched the evening news. Election night was one of the big events of the year. I remember one year being in a hotel suite in Little Rock with several people as the election results came in. My mother’s employer won. So did the man in the governor’s race from a different political party. I had the privilege of going with a small group of people to his suite to congratulate him. The required political science class in college was one of the easiest I took because I had lived the process. As a young adult I changed my views of the political parties because they were changing, evolving into entirely different platforms and values. My parents also saw that the political party that had been so much a part of our lives was not the same one it had been. I don’t vote based on a party or a person. I vote based on my values, specifically what scripture says. 

Our democratic republic form of government has always led to strong emotions, deeply believed convictions, and “mudslinging.” Even in my childhood I knew these things. People can be dishonest. Emotions affect reason. People will take extreme actions to accomplish their own ambitions. Political partisanship can separate families and friends. Good, decent people make bad choices. These things have not changed. I’m not naive about the sin nature of human beings, the election process or the dangers of political alignment.

I have lived through 14 presidents, 34 election cycles, the Cold War, a presidential assassination, numerous conspiracy theories, political corruption, military actions. From chalkboards outside the courthouse displaying election results as they come in, and now to news networks calling the elections almost instantly after the polls close. From the monotone boring evening news with black and white reels of events, to heated political discussions on social media. There is no such thing as unbiased reporting. Everyone has an agenda. I remember elected officials who I liked based on what I saw of their personalities, but with whom I disagreed on matters of policy, and some whose personalities grated on my nerves, but I agreed with their policies.  But it seems like people on all sides of the political debate have become toxic, angry, vindictive, given to extreme conspiracy theories, and hateful. What concerns me most is that people who claim to be Christians have put their political affiliation above their relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. And they rant on and on, using “Christianity” as the buzzword to promote their political views. (Like I said earlier, I vote based on how I understand scripture regarding the platform of the candidates, not on personalities.) What does scripture teach us about all the things I have been rambling about?

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks. 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Whoever is elected is put there for a purpose. We saw this throughout the Old Testament. Joseph was elevated to a powerful position to provide food for the Egyptians and for Israel in a terrible famine. Pharaoh hardened his heart so that God could show his power in freeing His people from the slavery in Egypt. God put King Saul over Israel to show them that their insistence for a king was a rebellion against Him. King David began the lineage from which Jesus would come.  Cyrus was in the prophetic message years before he was even born. We need to trust Him to fulfill His purposes. We may not agree with the leaders, or like them, or think they are worthy, but God put them there for a reason.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 

Philippians 1: 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

We need to pray for discernment so that we understand God’s perfect will, so that we aren’t deceived by empty arguments. We don’t need to participate in the deception. Our responsibility is to walk in the Light of Jesus, which results in goodness, righteousness and truth. We need to grow in our knowledge and discernment through Jesus and our actions and words should bring glory and praise to Him alone.

Read all of Acts 5 for the context of these verses. Acts 5: 27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

God’s Spirit leads and guides us. Our allegiance is to Him above all other things. Not political parties, not even religious organizations and denominations. We are to obey God. If we must choose between God and government, the choice is clearly God. 

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

We are to obey our rulers and be ready to do what is good. We are not to slander others. We are to avoid fighting and be kind. We are to show gentleness to all people. I’ll leave this with a question. Do we heed Paul’s words to Titus when we talk about our political views?