“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Politics has become a game of political extremes. America seems to want a candidate on either the far left or far right, and those of us in between – the vast voting majority – do not seem to matter.
This sense of being voiceless is the very reason candidates like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have emerged. Sanders, who is not even a Democrat, continues to snap at the heels of Hillary Clinton. His ideas have gotten traction with millennials, who want everything now, and he’s promising them “a revolution” that will deliver. And Trump? He’s changed party affiliations five times over his life and has been an off-and-on Republican, most recently since April of 2012. He may be a Republican, but he is no conservative. He is, however, smart, and like Sanders, he’s given largely every day working white Americans – who are fed up with Washington politics – the sense that they can have a voice through him. And they are listening, and registering to vote.
So here we are, much like the title of the 1972 hit, Stuck in the Middle with You.
Sadly, this election is about voting for the candidate the American voter thinks is the “lesser of two evils”. How do you like that choice?
So what does this have to do with Christianity? Everything. The America we love is deeply divided and the chasm is wide. It is a very real threat to our country. If you disagree, watch the riots that will emerge this summer at the Democrat and Republican party conventions.
We’re no longer in a cultural war. That war has already been lost. Think about the words of Isaiah and ask yourself if this applies to the America we now see: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness. Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine. Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink. Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!” (Isaiah 5:20-23)
The truth is our country in such an unrighteous state that Jesus couldn’t win the presidency if he ran. In fact, I doubt if his ministry today would last the three years it lasted when he was here. And truth be told, the ones who would take him down would be those who profess to be his followers, just like then.
So what do we do? First, guard your homes! This is really where the war has moved. Teach your children about Jesus, and the values they should show in their lives. Don’t leave it solely up to your church. It’s in the home where America will be changed next. As the late Muhammad Ali once said, “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses -behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
Secondly, as the Apostle Paul told us, “Do not be ashamed of the Gospel”. (Romans 1:16) We need to stand up and be counted. Our country is where it is because too many of us have been voiceless. But when you speak, act like you’re a Christian! Show that the presence of Jesus in your life breeds hope and not contempt; love and not hate. Remember, the fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”. (1 Thessalonians 5:22-23)
Finally, pray incessantly for God to intervene. Scripture teaches us, “The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.” (James 5:16)
Things may look bleak, but nothing is impossible with God.
1 Comment
I do agree Mike thank you for your insight!!!