A Dangerous Election

 

As a follower of Christ, I don’t proclaim faith in policies, politicians, or the promises offered by such. These are not worthy of my faith. Only One is worthy. Yet, with discernment and the understanding that I’m not voting for a savior, I will vote. If there is danger in my decision, so be it. Danger is inevitable, and perhaps more so if my decision is to offer no vote at all. I’ve heard that 40% of evangelical Christians will not vote in the presidential election. That is dangerous.

Here are some dangerous provocations about, let’s say, the super-rich champion of patriotism:

…the twice-impeached former president, now also a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist, demonstrated that, since leaving office, he has become only more vindictive and deranged.     

           from Commonwealth Newsletter

Donald Trump is spreading a dangerous mental illness to his supporters.                                

           from Raw Story Newsletter

…are ready to declare that President Trump, whose actions are often described with neutral terms like “unprecedented,” is in fact dangerously ill.    

            from a bunch of Yale psychiatrists

I could go on—there is no end to it.

But danger crosses party lines. Here are a few statements about, let’s say, the middle-class champion of the future:

Far from improving outcomes by “reimagining” public safety, Harris’ approach to law enforcement would endanger our communities, continue to imperil the law enforcement profession, and place the interests of law-abiding Americans squarely behind those of the criminally convicted.    

            from America First Policy Institute

…Harris was a dangerous authoritarian with an unlimited appetite for power who displayed contempt for the Constituton and no regard for the rights, dignity, faith, or reputations of anyone in her way.  

             from National Review

[Senator] Cotton added: “Kamala Harris is a dangerous liberal. She makes Joe Biden look competent and moderate by contrast.”    

              from The Guardian

Again, there is no end to the reproach. But opinions are just that, facts are facts, and the slant is obvious. As for the VP’s, let’s say, the backwoods boy and the old mega liberal: Not that Vance and Walz run in the danger-free lane, but considering their recent debate, maybe the presidential candidates should just stop talking and let their VPs address the public. Seriously, enough with the superfluous quips and the word salad.

Does this election matter? The whole world is in a heap, and the President of the United States can’t fix it. That’s no excuse to skip the vote. Maybe somebody can uphold the Constitution, for the present. Maybe life (all of it), liberty (without fear of oppression), and the pursuit of happiness (not to be denied or taken away) will stir another generation. Maybe there is someone who could preserve America’s standing in the world a little longer—one who might suppress the rousing of WWIII. Maybe economic disaster can be avoided. Maybe we can mend the slippery grasp on our property, our profit, our rights, and our freedom. Maybe. But I’m not putting my faith in it.

Nevertheless, my faith tells me to pray for our leaders, and, if possible, to live at peace with all people. That may, in dangerous times, become very difficult, but I choose to trust and obey. No matter the outcome.

Three Ways to Maneuver a Cultural Shift

 

Those of us who follow Christ are not traversing unaware into the post-Christian world. We’re only human, so at times we tend to recoil when suffering the in-your-face demands of those at the forefront of our changing society. My own views filter through the lens of the Western Church. As an American Christian, I grew up during the era when all the world believed this was the greatest country on earth. Or at least, we assumed they believed it. Now, people around the world, as well as those from among our own citizenship, no longer believe in America, or God. At times we feel they’ve shoved their rights, their goals, and their philosophies ahead of ours. So, how do we navigate the turmoil? Here are three ways to maneuver through the muck, rather than sink into it.

1     Remember who you are.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19

Yes, we are a part of the family of humanity. We’re earth dwellers, but this is not our home and we can’t expect everyone to like us, support our cause, or follow our rules. Before we were redeemed, we were just as lost as the angry, depraved people who’ve managed to frustrate us with their unrelenting demands. It doesn’t matter if we weren’t as bad, we were absolutely as lost. They can’t help but hate us, but we don’t have to return hatred to them. Let go of the frustration and show a little kindness. We might not stop a cultural shift, but we can still shine a light in the darkness.

2      Remember where your loyalty lies.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 
1 John 2:15-17

Okay, I’m proud to be an American. But it’s not my doing, so I don’t boast in it. God gave me life at a certain point in history, in a specific place. I’m not ungrateful. I simply don’t own it. The will of the people has at times throughout our history become ungodly, and yet God has blessed us. He chose to build this nation to increase His Kingdom, and from our shores the gospel has gone out across the world. For that reason, my pride rests more in Christ, and less in patriotism. That’s not to say I won’t stand up for what is right. For the time being, we still live in the Republic of the United States of America. I’ll still vote, pray for our leaders, and hope for our survival as a nation. But the things of this world will pass away.

3     Remember your destination.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 
Revelation 7: 9,10

The ultimate culture shifter is God. No matter how hard we fight for our rights, we will live or die by His sovereignty. He has determined right from wrong, and no amount of raging over the face of the earth will alter His opinion. The core of humanity is in a battle to create a new world for itself. But this is His world, past, present, and future. The world to come will be filled with a great number from all kinds of people whom He chose to redeem. They will come from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Every political affiliation? Every boundary-pushing movement? Will God redeem souls from among those who hate us? Who distort morality? From the loud, contemptuous public voices that cry out against Him? The shifters are in God’s hands, and He will do with them as He will. Does that mean He might use those of us who are redeemed to draw His adversaries to Himself? Of course, it does. Pray for your enemies. They could become your brothers and sisters.

Maneuvering the cultural shifts of this world might seem overwhelming, but if we’re standing on the right foundation, we will not be shaken. We are His. We’re loyal to His Kingdom. And we’ll soon be going home. Perhaps we need a shift in focus. The outlook of the Western Christian sometimes becomes “me” centered rather than Christ centered. But it isn’t our story. It’s His story. And this isn’t our battle. The battle is the Lord’s, our redeemer and refuge.

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31