In 79 days, Americans will go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. Unless the pandemic runs amuck and it’s too dangerous, or the post office completely shuts down and there is no way to mail in an absentee ballot, or the Russians tamper with the voting machines so Trump will win, or the Chinese create an algorithm for Biden to win, or both candidates die before November 3 because they are so old, or alien DNA infiltrates our brains rendering us incapable of mindful choices.
This election cycle is filled with conspiracy theories, hyperbole, and fearful predictions of apocalyptic doom. Scrolling through my Facebook and Twitter feeds this morning, I saw lots of posts that screamed BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!! and demanded READ THIS NOW TO SAVE AMERICA!!!!!!!
Competing messages duked it out all over social media. (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) has just been caught (in current scandalous situation). This shocking revelation totally ends the political hopes of (Donald Trump, Joe Biden). Our country is in huge trouble because now (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) will be elected instead of (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) If you are a Christian you better vote for (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) because if you vote for (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) instead of (Donald Trump, Joe Biden), Satan wins!!!!
Here's the thing. If Christians believe that the outcome of an election has more power than God our Father and Creator, Jesus our Redeemer and Hope, the Holy Spirit our Guide and Strength, then Satan has already won.
This election cycle is filled with conspiracy theories, hyperbole, and fearful predictions of apocalyptic doom. Scrolling through my Facebook and Twitter feeds this morning, I saw lots of posts that screamed BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!! and demanded READ THIS NOW TO SAVE AMERICA!!!!!!!
Competing messages duked it out all over social media. (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) has just been caught (in current scandalous situation). This shocking revelation totally ends the political hopes of (Donald Trump, Joe Biden). Our country is in huge trouble because now (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) will be elected instead of (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) If you are a Christian you better vote for (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) because if you vote for (Donald Trump, Joe Biden) instead of (Donald Trump, Joe Biden), Satan wins!!!!
Here's the thing. If Christians believe that the outcome of an election has more power than God our Father and Creator, Jesus our Redeemer and Hope, the Holy Spirit our Guide and Strength, then Satan has already won.
I understand that folks have strong feelings about both of the candidates and their running mates. But we have lost our way if we place politics above our faith in God. When we wake up on November 4, 2020, one of the candidates will be our president. Some people will be thrilled with the result and others will be devastated. Whatever happens, the Kingdom of God cannot by shaken by the kingdoms of this world.
A hundred years from now when historians analyze this period in our history, what will they report about the people who claimed to be Christians during our time? Will they say followers of Christ replaced Jesus with a politician? Will they remember our churches as places of worship focused on the love of Christ or as institutions of civil religion focused on gaining political power? Will they describe our generation as one that steadfastly followed Jesus or one that framed our salvation in terms of who won an election?
A hundred years from now when historians analyze this period in our history, what will they report about the people who claimed to be Christians during our time? Will they say followers of Christ replaced Jesus with a politician? Will they remember our churches as places of worship focused on the love of Christ or as institutions of civil religion focused on gaining political power? Will they describe our generation as one that steadfastly followed Jesus or one that framed our salvation in terms of who won an election?
Neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden is our Lord and Savior. Support the candidate of your choice. Vote for whoever you want to be the next president of our country. But, please stop equating politics with faith in God. Please stop saying your side is the Christian side, your way is the Christian way. Please stop saying that anyone who votes differently than you is not a Christian.
Jesus said, “I am the Way. I am the Truth. I am the Life.” Politics is not the path to redemption. When we wake up the morning after the election, whoever is president will be a man in need of our prayers. He will not be the savior of the world. Jesus, only Jesus, is worthy of that title.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution of famine or danger? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39 NIV)
Remembering that absolutely nothing, not even a fractious political season, can separate us from the love of Christ is one way to bloom where we are planted, living a faith of hope and joy.
Jesus said, “I am the Way. I am the Truth. I am the Life.” Politics is not the path to redemption. When we wake up the morning after the election, whoever is president will be a man in need of our prayers. He will not be the savior of the world. Jesus, only Jesus, is worthy of that title.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution of famine or danger? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39 NIV)
Remembering that absolutely nothing, not even a fractious political season, can separate us from the love of Christ is one way to bloom where we are planted, living a faith of hope and joy.
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