No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
(2 Timothy 2:4)
As a general rule, I despise politics. They seem to bring out the ugly in otherwise decent people. This is not to say that I don't enjoy having spirited political discussions with people who actually think for themselves and expend energy researching and analyzing a topic and then espousing an informed opinion. However, most Americans tend to be rather lazy, and simply spout off whatever rhetoric or sound bites their particular political party or biased news source has fed them.
I don't intend for this blog to be a political one, so don't get all excited thinking I'm about to launch some great debate or controversy over who should be the next President of the United States. Frankly, it really doesn't matter to me who wins the election in November. In fact, I just wish it would all be over already and we can all get back to our so-called normal lives.
In case you think that I am some sort of disinterested unpatriotic heretic for what I just said, let me clarify. In some sense, I do actually care about the outcome of the November election. I care about it in the same way that I care about whether it is going to rain tomorrow (a rare occasion here in the desert, and thus requiring a fair amount of attention). The fact of the matter is, I have no control over who will ultimately serve in the White House for the next four years any more than I can control whether it will rain tomorrow. Yes, I do vote faithfully in every election, and yes, I do believe every person's vote counts (in spite of the antiquated electoral college, which is a rant I will save for another day).
However, I will not expend ridiculous amounts of effort and energy trying to make sure that everyone I know votes the way that I think they should vote. I will not spend countless hours watching speeches and debates and news commentaries on the candidates, and then filling my facebook news feed with the latest "proof" that my candidate is most fit to serve in this nation's highest office, and the other candidate is Satan incarnate. Most of my facebook friends are Christians, but they also cover the spectrum of political convictions, from the very liberal to the very conservative. What amazes me is that many of them pour themselves into the political process as if their very lives depend on who is in the Oval Office for the next four years.
The above verse from Paul's letter to Timothy reminds me that we are soldiers in the army of Christ. Thus, we have a responsibility to maintain our allegiance to Christ first and foremost. When we get so caught up in the affairs of this world that we can no longer carry out our duties as Christian ambassadors, then we are getting tangled up in "civilian affairs". When my Christian friends become nasty, rude and downright ugly during election season, they are in effect abandoning their posts and going AWOL. They are definitely not acting in a way that pleases their commanding officer, Jesus.
Paul gives us clear direction on how we should view our government leaders:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
If we we truly believe that God is still in control of His creation, and that He really does establish the governing authorities, then we have to accept that, no matter who is elected as the next President, it is part of His divine plan for this country. Our responsibility is to pray for whoever our next President is, so that he will make right and sound decisions and lead this great nation in a direction that will be beneficial to all Americans.
I do not place my faith in the President of the United States, or my congressional leaders, or anyone else in public office. My faith is in Jesus Christ alone. Everything else is temporary anyway. I have lived through (and survived) ten presidential administrations so far. I've seen good presidents do bad, and bad presidents do good. We are electing a government leader, not a Messiah. I do not lose sleep at night because of who is in the White House, or who might move in next January. My rest comes from knowing that I belong to Jesus, and nothing can ever change that.
My prayer is that we Americans can find our civility once again, set aside our political differences, and move forward as a great nation. May God bless the President and the United States of America.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
