Spiritual truths to guide our politics
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My first column was published on April 28, 2012. I made the argument that neither of our major two modern ideological containers — conservatism and liberalism — were able to encapsulate the kind of living and thinking God wants. Instead, I argued that we should reject both labels and “look up” to Scripture as the ultimate authority for life and godliness.
As early voting closed and the big election day approached, I found myself wishing I could just reprint that article. Never have claiming the name “Christian” and jumping wholeheartedly into one of America’s political boxes been so demonstrably incompatible.
I want to be clear on a point from the very beginning here. I am not advocating anything political. Instead, I would like to encourage Christians to reconsider the relationship their political thinking has with their spiritual lives. On Wednesday, the races will be over and the results will be in. How should a Christian respond if the person they voted against wins? How should a Christian respond if the person they voted for wins?
It seems that Christians on both extremes of the current political milieu are making the same four errors. No matter who you support, please carefully consider the possibility that you have committed one or more of these errors. (And remember that the biblical word for error is “sin.”)
The first error is heresy. Yes, heresy. Charles Ryrie defines heresy as “the willful choosing for oneself which results in a party division.”
Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and professor at New York University Stern School of Business, presented an argument on edge.org that the strongest prejudice in America is ideological. He cited several studies which suggested that ideological discrimination is stronger and more dangerous than any other kind of prejudice our culture currently faces. I have watched this even infect the church. I see posts on social media in which one brother or sister proclaims they will lose all respect for anyone — ostensibly including fellow believers — who votes for a certain candidate. In doing so, they ignore the value of the people for whom Jesus died (both the voter and the candidate) and discard the most precious aspect of following Jesus for a political ideology. Jesus offered our love for and unity with each other as our only evidence of the reality of our walk with Jesus, and I have seen too many brothers and sisters willing to throw that out in favor of a political candidate who will be irrelevant and legally excluded from the political process in ten years. They willfully choose a political affiliation that results in a division in the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:3 commands us to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” Are you willing to embrace a brother or sister who votes differently than you and enjoy loving fellowship with them because you agree on Christ? If not, I suggest you repent from heresy.
The second error is idolatry. Idolatry is putting your hope in a created thing instead of in the creator.
No person running for president is able to accomplish the heart change in every American necessary to solve the problems that face us as a nation. They cannot even accomplish that heart change for themselves. Jesus said, “That which proceeds out of the person, that is what defiles the person. For from within, out of the heart of people, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the person” (Mark 7:20-23). No matter who you vote for, Jesus’ words here convict them as guilty of having a corrupt heart. Both major candidates convict themselves by their actions. Do not think that any human can establish a just society by their own strength. Only God can do that, and it seems the way he chooses to establish such societies is to reform the hearts of the individuals of a society through grace. Are you expecting your candidate to be our country’s next great hope? If so, I suggest you repent from idolatry.
The third error is hatred. Merriam-Webster describes it as “prejudiced hostility or animosity.” Remember, both sides as aggregate groups are guilty of this.
Both sides describe the opposing candidate as a “monster.” In the opposing party’s mentality, each person ceases to be a human whom God created in his own image, blessed with incredible resources and influence solely because of his loving kindness and sovereign choice, and sent his own son to bleed and die for. But Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) is the second greatest commandment ever given by God. I’m betting you don’t feel loved when your personhood is denied and you are assigned the moniker, “monster.” Are you willing to acknowledge how much God truly loves the candidate you aren’t voting for, pray for their well-being and genuinely love them as Jesus commanded? If not, I suggest you repent from your hatred.
The fourth and perhaps greatest error is unbelief. Unbelief is simply refusing to believe what God says is true in his word.
Both sides paint an apocalyptic picture of the future should their opponent be elected. If the opposing candidate is elected, they claim, the country will fall apart and America will no longer be America. Their opponent will be the worst thing that ever happened to America. But the Bible says that “there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1) and that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It commands “that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made … for all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and that we should “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). You either believe that God is in control, that he will accomplish what is good and that we should support whoever is in authority over us, or you don’t. If you don’t, that’s unbelief. Are you willing to submit to the new president and even thank God for them even if you didn’t vote for them? If not, I suggest you repent from your unbelief.
As the political situation in our country becomes more divided and desperate, followers of Jesus have a greater opportunity to be different. We can participate in politics with love and grace. As we discuss our president we can point our nation to our King. In our politics, let us join the Apostle Paul’s example, who “determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).