I actually enjoy a good discussion about politics, I’m just sick and tired of talking about it at this point, particularly in this political season of 2020. But being that it is the dominant theme of the day, and being that the election is just a few days away, I will at least share these humble thoughts. This much is at least clear to me, that as a Pastor, given everything that is happening in our culture, our churches, and their given place in the context of this moment in history, I cannot in good conscience completely ignore it and say nothing. But I do look forward to being able to return to creatively writing about the things that really charge my batteries in the coming weeks.
For me, this is really more about faith than it is politics. That is because in my own personal life, my biblical convictions and my faith in Christ have always directly informed my politics. The reason for that is simply because they inform every single part of my life. That is what Jesus meant in Luke 9:23 when He said, “If anyone would come after me, they must deny themselves and follow me.” Basically, that means for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior, we’re not the center of our universe anymore, and now Jesus is at the center of it all, as we surrender all of it to Him, even the parts we’d just as soon keep to ourselves.
Before anyone uses the whole “But what about the separation of church and state” argument on me, please understand that this phrase is not actually in the Constitution. Yes, the First Amendment does state that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” which does separate the two entities. But historically speaking, that was basically meant to protect the Church or religion from being overrun by the government and to prevent the government from declaring one religion/church to be dominant over the other. But it was never meant that faith doesn’t influence government in any way, or that politics should not be a concern of the churches or any faith for that matter.
Some of the best advice my dad ever gave me was when I was 18 years old and going to register to vote for the first time. He said, “You need to learn to think on your own. Research the platforms of all the parties. Really look into it. See what they believe and how it measures up with what you believe. How does that line up with the Constitution? But most importantly, how does it line up with your values and what’s most important to you.” I had trusted Christ as my Savior, I knew what was most important to me and what would be the foundation for my life. That is what informed how I registered, and it has always informed how I vote.
Voting is a privilege that we have in America. Many citizens of other countries do not have that same privilege. Many Christians have not had that privilege throughout history. Many Christians have courageously impacted their cultures and advanced the Kingdom of God in the midst of extreme oppression and persecution, with little to no voice in governmental affairs. So yes, for believers in America, I believe we have a responsibility to vote according to our biblical convictions. If you’re not a Christian, then of course, you have your own set of convictions by which you vote.
Even when those biblical convictions do not match perfectly with any particular candidate or platform, it does not relieve us of our duty to vote accordingly. The statement throughout these last two election cycles that “we’re voting for the lesser of two evils” is quite amusing to me regarding politics. Unless Jesus is on the ballot, in my mind, we’re always voting for the “lesser of two evils,” which is why I vote according to biblical conviction across platforms and policies.
I’ve never actually voted for merely a person or personality. I’ve always voted for the policies and procedures that will do the most for the country in which God has placed me, according to the values and convictions I hold in accordance with my faith. I completely understand that not all political issues are biblical issues directly. For example, one Christian may think that the bigger the government, the smaller the individual, the less freedom, the less ability to generate true change and impact. Another may feel we need bigger government in order to do justice and mercy. But the fact remains that historically speaking, even though one may have more biblical footing than the other, the Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ have proven to thrive and move forward under either umbrella, because ultimately, God is in control.
I have never seen a more divisive climate in our country and in our churches in my lifetime than the one in which we’re currently living. The media and social media do not help the issue. Each party spews venom and comments about the other that make it difficult to know who to believe. There are many who will say, “How can you be a Christian of any kind, and support that platform?” Well meaning, respectable followers of Jesus on either side, totally view the candidates and the issues confronting this Nation and this election from two totally different perspectives. I know this because I pastor many of them and I am friends with many others. I won’t lie either, I’ve had the same thought in my own mind, “How can you legitimately say with all sincerity according to biblical faith, or even traditional American values that you’re voting this way?” But the truth is, I know many who are doing it. And guess what, to them, like me, in their mind, their voting according to their biblical convictions.
So that’s my point. I’m not here to endorse or criticize any candidate or party. I’m simply saying to fellow believers, be informed, do more than just vote according to a personality trait or a person. Research each platform clearly. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, and vote according to your biblical convictions. Because Jesus is the Lord of every compartment of your life, even your politics.
But ultimately, know this. While we all may disagree on candidates and political parties, there are some things more important than votes, and that is the unity and mission of the Church. I believe there is something more sinister at work in our day than merely politics, though it manifests this way in some cases. The Apostle Paul described it best in Ephesians 6 by saying, “…we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
To that end, we better get our act together. While I do believe there is a battle for the soul and direction of America, more than that, I believe there is a battle for the Church and its influence. Make no mistake, Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against His Church.” But those gates are fighting now more than ever, and we must be ready to stand, unite, and engage. According to Ephesians 3:10, that is the plan from the beginning, but we must stand and engage TOGETHER, and the time is now. We have our marching orders and we must go forward together. Because one day the White House will crumble like everything else on earth, and God’s House will be left standing victoriously with Jesus Christ.
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