I can’t stand election season. The smear campaigns. The empty promises. The arguments that erupt on social media. The politicians that quote scripture for their own gain. It all rubs me the wrong way.
What saddens me the most is the church’s involvement in it all. Remember that passage where Jesus said, “The world will know you are my disciples by how you vote?” Yeah neither do I. What he actually said went a little more like this, “The world will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.” (John 13:35)
I think we have it backwards today. Christians are often known more for their political affiliation and not their love for one another. I see a lot of Christians worrying way too much about the future of this country and not enough about the Kingdom of God. Christians often spend more time trying to convince others of their political views and next to no time telling them about Jesus. Something is wrong with that.
Now hear me on this, I don’t think voting is bad. I don’t think doing your research to make an informed decision is bad (in fact that’s good!). But as a follower of Christ this election will have no ultimate or lasting impact on me. Catch this. As a Christian my hope is not found in the next president. The next social program. The next law. Or anything else the government can do. My hope is found is Christ alone. Period.
“As a Christian my hope is not found in the next president. The next social program. The next law. Or anything else the government can do. My hope is found is Christ alone. Period.”
It worries me to see people put so much hope in the next president because I know they will ultimately be let down. In 4 years we will be having the same conversations. It’s a lie that politics alone can make a lasting impact. How do I know that? Because at the root of all our problems is a heart issue. Our problems in this country aren’t money, or equality, or race, or immigration, or even abortion. Our problem is our heart. The rest are just symptoms.
Maybe if we get a really good president they could fix one of the many issues facing this country. Maybe. But something just as bad would pop up. Why? Because that issue is only a surface level problem. Our heart and sin are the real problem plaguing this country and the rest of the world. And no politician, no law, no government can ever fix that.
It’s not wrong to desire change for this country. It’s not wrong to vote for the person you feel is best for our country. However I believe we are putting to much hope in social change and not enough hope in Jesus. Real change, life change, comes from Jesus alone.
Don’t miss this. The president will never change the follower of Jesus’ mission. Our role on this earth stays the same, regardless of what the government does. How we live might change. Consequences for following Jesus could stack up. But at the end of the day no one but Jesus has the power to make any impactful change on our lives. No one.
So stop crying that the sky is falling. It’s not. God is still on the throne and all his promises are true. Could this country go down the drain? Maybe, I don’t know. But I do know that God’s Kingdom will remain.
“God is still on the throne and all his promises are true. Could this country go down the drain? Maybe, I don’t know. But I do know that God’s Kingdom will remain.”
Here are 3 things we can(should) do this election season:
- Pray for our current leaders. Yes that includes the one you hate.
- Don’t slander those you disagree with, love them.
- Keep your hope in Jesus alone.
Politics will never save the world; that’s what Jesus did on the cross. We have the privilege to vote for our convictions in this country. But we shouldn’t let that deter our hope in Jesus.
This might rub some of you the wrong way. And that’s fine. But ask yourself this. Where do your true priorities lie? God or country? Where does your hope come from? God or the next president? We all need to wrestle with those questions. We all need to check our hearts regularly to see where our hope is coming from. Because I know one thing, hope placed in anything or anyone on this earth will only let us down.
BA in Biblical Studies - Ozark Christian College (2012)
MA in Theology - Regent University (2019)
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