One thing has been made abundantly clear throughout the last few years. It’s not that Jesus is returning soon (though I don’t doubt that He is), or that everyone’s doomed and life is over, or that we need to be trying to change the inevitable outcome of our actions.
It’s that our hope has been misplaced. Life has become a constant conversation of who needs to be in office, or what legislation needs to be passed. Our emotional state is often dictated by the political landscape, or what someone on Twitter has said in an attempt to convince or inflame. Our prayers drift towards asking for better politicians, or towards our situations to change. This isn’t to say that prayers for those things are bad, in fact, we should be praying fervently as the apostle Paul encourages us. What can become an issue is when our happiness, our peace, and our contentedness, are based on politics. When politics begin to dictate our moods, our daily activities, our spending habits, and what we fill our minds with, it becomes an idol.
Our hope is not found in this world. Our lives are not dictated by what does or doesn’t get said at the State of the Union. Our hope is not found in what laws get passed or not. Our hope is found in Christ. Even if we’re all murdered tomorrow, or every right gets stripped away, we have hope and faith that this is not the end. This is as bad as it gets for the believer. Our destination isn’t having a republican majority, or outlawing abortions in every state, our destination is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, where we will glorify Him forever.
Remember there have been Christians in much worse situations than we are in now. Does this mean we stop fighting for what we know is right? In the words of the apostle Paul, by no means! Stand for what is right, but remember that we need to submit to the earthly governors that the Lord has put ahead of us, whether they are ‘right’ or not (as long as they don’t demand for us to go against God). Don’t go against what the Lord has called us to, which is to love people and spread the Gospel.
Allow me to reiterate that I don’t think having an interest or being educated about political events is a bad thing, the Bible calls us to be wise and discerning in all things (Ephesians 5:15-16), however, too much of a good thing is always bad. Be discerning not only in our political landscape but in how your time is spent. Be wise in what you worship, careful to not make an idol out of things that easily overtake our affections.
I recently listened to a sermon in which the pastor asked three questions to see if something is becoming an idol. Something worshipped over God, something that takes hold of our affections and takes root in our lives. These questions aren’t guaranteed to highlight an idol, but it’s a good start to looking inside the heart and discerning what sin has taken hold.
What do you think about when you lie awake at night?
Chances are, whatever is important enough to lull you to sleep (or keep you from sleep) is what your mind most often wants to gravitate toward as opposed to what is true and noble (Philippians 4:8)
2) If God were to appear before you right now and take something away, informing you that you’d never have it again, what would you be the most disappointed about?
This is pretty self-explanatory. Oftentimes, our bad behaviors, or sins, are the direct result of not getting the things we want. What is the thing you are the most afraid of losing? Friends, family, rights, security? Dwell on these things. As mentioned before, most things are good in moderation, it's when they overtake our lives that they become the issue.
3) What does your heart (not your theology) fill in the blank to the hymn: When _____ it is well with my soul.
My siblings and I used to fill in the lines with “The Trump [the president] shall resign, and Clinton shall ascend, even so, it is well with my soul” and then crack up laughing because it was the peak of comedy in 2015. Filling in the lines can help expose what is causing the most stress or distraction in your life, and can help lead to repentance.
Lastly, here are some passages to dwell on for encouragement and righting our view of the Lord.
Psalm 115 (ESV)
1
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
9
O Israel,[a] trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
10
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
11
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
12
The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13
he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
14
May the Lord give you increase,
you and your children!
15
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
16
The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17
The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
18
But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
Additionally, there’s a pretty fun song by Shai Linne that uses the first verse as its chorus: https://open.spotify.com/track/5LvGiLmEzImg9UmJP6w6TB?si=377147a672f94a65 It’s a nice workout song.
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