What Now?
We have a new president and many of the Whos in Whoville are very happy, and many very upset. A lot of Pastors like to sound impartial when it comes to this sort of thing, but I will lay my cards on the table and admit that this, in my opinion, is the most immoral President we have ever elected into office. Not only that, but his very first plan is to spend 1.8 Trillion dollars, that we do not have, he puts people in his administration that are apparently most qualified because of their sexual orientation or skin color, and has already said that he wants to pay off everyone’s college tuition (meaning, we pay off everyone’s tuition), and begin the process of a type of “green new deal” that will cost trillions more that we do not have.
To put it simply, I’m annoyed at America’s choice.
Now I don’t think I am alone. No one likes to see a child ruin a great painting any more than they like to see policies that will cost their countrymen more money than they have, but being annoyed is not a good place to stay.
I also don’t think that disassociating from the situation is helpful either. Christians caring about their country is not unspiritual, and Christians putting on an attitude that they don’t care is unspiritual. God has expectations for Nations. He calls them to repent in the Old Testament. Daniel addressed Nebuchadnezzar with “O King live forever”, and as Christians, we are told to pray for our leaders and to care for our respective Nation. Here are a few verses to scroll over: 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Peter 2:17, Romans 13:1, Jeremiah 29:7.
So how do Christians both care for their country and not be upset by the decisions of their leaders?
First, it’s important that we take our own thoughts captive and make that thought obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5), so when I am feeling upset, I should ask myself “self, why are you upset?” and if the reason I am upset about the direction of our country is because our leaders profane God and the wicked prevail, I can endorse that negative feeling as being justifiable. If the reason I am upset is because my 401K is going to dissolve or I’m angry that I’m probably going to have to pay more taxes, that’s probably not a justifiable reason for my anger.
But in either case, something has to be done.
First, we need to pray. Either we should pray for the Lord to give us wisdom for what to do to turn people toward Christ, or we pray for God to give us peace in trusting him with our provision. Either way, Christians cannot remain in a state of anger because if we do, we will be saying something about our God that is not true. As believers our life should be defined by our love for God and our love for people. Living in a constant state of gratefulness is what spoiled children do, not children of God.
If bad politicians and evil people can dissuade you from the well-being you have in Christ, it’s time to remember the purpose that you are here. You are here to show the world how much God matters.
You’re not here to get a retirement. You’re not here to take your Family on vacations twice a year, you’re not here to make sure your kids get a top education, you are here to show the world who is God.
That’s what Joseph did, that’s what Moses did, that's what Israel did, that’s what the prophets did, and then something amazing happened! God himself came and revealed himself by his Son. He then sent us out into the world to make more people that show who is God.
So we’re here to show people who God is and the means to that end is in sharing the Gospel and living the life God intends us to live.
Brethren, if you are as annoyed as I am, let’s do something about it!
Let’s ask God for the wisdom and the peace, let’s share the Gospel, and let’s live in such a way that exemplifies the God we worship.
If we do that, we won’t have time to be upset because we’ll be too busy enjoying our God and watching people change as a result of knowing him too!
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. -Philippians 3:8