THE POLITICS OF FAITH

   As we are in the midst of the political battle for President of the United States, the Church must not lose sight that it is changed hearts that move a society, not a political leader.  Our society has not shifted to the Left because of who our president is, our president was elected because his policies and ideas reflected what was in the hearts of the electorate.  Reading in 2 Timothy, we find this passage: 2 Timothy 3:1-7  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,   treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.   For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 

   

 

This passage seems to describe our society at large.  This is not a political issue, this is a spiritual issue.  While we are called to be in the world and to be salt and light, the message is Jesus Christ, not our candidate of choice.  No politician can save America, only God, through Christ can do that.  I see brothers in the Lord attacking one another on Facebook, actually making threats to one another over presidential candidates.  Families are being divided and relationships destroyed because believers are not keeping their eyes on the King of Kings, but instead, are looking to a man or woman to lead us to Utopia.  

     As believers, we are called to support the government set over us because it is given to us by God.  Peter wrote in his first epistle that Christ followers were to pray for and submit to the government authority set over them... NERO WAS RULING ROME AT THE TIME!  If Peter and the first century church could pray for Nero and accept that his authority was given by God, surely we can pray for and accept the authority of Obama, Clinton or Trump.  Last I checked, none of these are throwing Christians to the lions. 

Believe me, I am very critical of the current administration and have very strong feelings coming into this election.  I have prayerfully been seeking guidance on my role as a voter and am still not sure what God would have me do.  I am definitely leaning in a particular direction, but ultimately am waiting on God's direction.

    Whatever the outcome of the election, we will get a nice picture of where the hearts of most Americans lie, concerning spiritual matters.  This is our mission field, not the voting booth.  We should be involved politically, we should vote and make our voice heard and support the candidate God lays on our hearts, but we should not be turning on each other over a decision that is ultimately up to the sovereignty of God.  The souls of the lost and the hearts of the next generation, which is leaving the church in droves, is our mission field.