Like a lot of us, I can get caught up in politics. The arguments, the debate, the contest, the horserace can all be a little energizing for me. And in the middle of it, I can lose sight of what I know to be true.
I don’t take joy in the state of our national affairs, but neither do I fear them. My joy and my purpose are rooted in Jesus Christ the Lord… my Lord.
Here are some important reminders for me – and maybe you too.
We are forever strangers and aliens.
We are in exile, while we await a better City. This doesn’t mean that we don’t care. It means our identity is not found in this world. A better life here and now is not our mission (Read 1 Peter 1:1-2).
The world and its systems are Babylon.
God does use governments, and he holds them accountable. He used Babylon and judged Babylon. God will use ungodly governments for his purposes. And God will judge them for not humbling themselves to Him as ruler of all (Read Isaiah 47, Revelation 18).
We owe governments what we owe them and no more.
We render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but we render to God what is God’s. We pay our taxes. We do our duty, but we never surrender our hearts and loyalty. And we must never be seduced to believe they have anything to offer Christ except the bowed knee (Read Matthew 22:18-22).
When we interpret the Old Testament Scriptures, the U.S. isn’t the new Israel.
This is where some of our founders and presidents have gotten it wrong. This nation is not God’s promised shining city on a hill. Since the cross and resurrection, the people of God has expanded to the church. Ours is a borderless people. If we want to apply OT passages to today, we should see how they apply to the church, who Peter called, “a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (Read 1 Peter 2:9-10).”
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).”
We should hear this verse as a call to God’s people – the church – to repent and find healing, restorative love in a gracious God. In my opinion this is needed more than ever in the church. We are falling prey to the seduction of worldly power. Our leaders are jumping into lives of moral depravity. Our congregations are embracing lifestyles which mock the Creator. And our worship shallow, or dead.
The church’s impact has always been rooted in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
No political power, or movement can or will hinder the gospel. We need to be clear. This world is in rebellion to God and by virtue of our part in the world, we are part of that rebellion. We need to repent and believe in a Savior who stands above the world and will one day judge the world. The power of the cross is that Jesus made reconciliation with God available.
And people who have humbled themselves before Christ will live as salt and light, whether the powers of the world respect it, desire it, or fight against it (Read Matthew 5).
But what about…?
Should we care about how nations are governed? Yes. Are there polices that better help people, protect life, and offer more hope than others? Yes. Should we promote them? Yes. Doing so is part of loving our neighbor. Do I think implementing those policies will change hearts? No. On the other hand, changing hearts through the proclamation of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, may just bring better policies.
Lastly, what about our children and grandchildren? As Christians, our job is to disciple them in the ways of the gospel and Christ’s Kingdom. They need to see Babylon for what it is. They need know that we must all trade in our friendship with the world, for our friendship with Christ. Because the two can’t coexist (Read James 4:4).