The Government Won't Save Us

In recent days, the conversation around President Trump and his "Christianity" has been re-kindled, mostly in light of Christianity Today publicly calling for his removal. If you're not familiar with the story, the president of CT issued an editorial calling for the removal of President Trump from office. You can read the editorial for yourself here.

As I have listened to the thoughts of friends and family in recent days, I would like to suggest the story many of us are telling ourselves, is wrong. Let me break that down:

First, to say that President Trump is immoral and therefore anyone who votes for him is casting their lot with him is, at best, logically false. As anyone who has spent any time following politics knows, our options are not always very good. In fact, most of the time, they are downright cringe-worthy. To paint the picture more specifically - our up-coming choice in 2020 will likely be Trump vs. a very progressive Liberal agenda, both economically and socially. On the social-side of that aisle is a very anti-Christian set of ethics and morals and on the economic side of that aisle is a land of much higher taxes and a boatload of 'free' stuff. To speak for myself, the social stuff doesn't bother me much - this is not a Christian country, and the laws of our land should reflect that, to a point (I will always fight against abortion). With that being said, the economic agenda is truly concerning. When the government puts it's hand in something, that hand never leaves. At the end of the day, voting for Trump may be unpalatable, but the alternative is equally unpalatable and voting for a 3rd party in this country is perhaps noble, but largely unproductive.

Second, there seems to be an illusion that there is some kind of functional difference between Democrats and Republicans. Politicians in Federal office exist, on balance, to a) further their own careers and b) build their own base of power. Few and far between is the congressman or congresswoman who is there to actually represent their constituency or stand on some moral ground. As an example, lost in all of the Trump impeachment stuff was a large spending bill passed by our U.S. Federal Government that was co-signed by many Republicans, and which will be signed by President Trump. In general, I do think Democrats are more likely to raise taxes and increase government spending, but Republicans in recent years seem to be all too eager to do the same. One difference I do see though, is in the future economic plans trumpeted by each party. The 'free stuff' in particular, is of concern.

Back to this underlying story - when I see fellow Christians getting all wrapped up in and bent out of shape by politics I find myself asking, "what are you putting your hope in?" Wanting to affect national policy on issues like abortion or marriage is a worthy pursuit, but Christians should not be surprised when things don't go the way we would like them to. In fact, we should be surprised if they do because folks, this isn't going to get any better. The world we live in will continue to become more and more anti-Christian until the Day that Jesus returns. Over the last 100+ years, we have been very lucky to live in America where Christian values were held up and where we have been free to exercise our faith - both those are quickly coming to an end. You see the evidence all around you - right now it is in legislation, but eventually, the World will not tolerate a Biblical set of values. As we have seen with the gay-rights movement, being apathetic towards homosexuality is not enough, it must be celebrated and affirmed in order to satisfy the people in that movement. Climate Change is another area where I see this; no longer are dissenting voices tolerated, there are now calls to jail people who would cast doubt on anthropogenic global warming. The truth of Scripture is already being bent and altered within certain denominations in order to soothe the "itching ears" of it's hearers (2 Timothy 4:3) and eventually, the World is not going to tolerate a Biblical worldview.

So, to the question "what are you putting your hope in?" - Jesus tells us that in this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33), that we should expect persecution (Matthew 5:11) and that we need to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Paul says that the trials and suffering in this life are light and momentary affliction when compared to the Eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). We, as Christians, are primarily pursuing righteousness in light of the coming Judgement, not a better life here and now. Does that mean we are totally un-engaged with life in this world? No, definitely not, but it also means we are not putting our hope in the things of this World, or in it's leaders.

So, to the Evangelical who would vote for Trump, I say to you, "I understand that this is not a simple issue. There is a lot of complexity here and I don't believe that just because you would vote for him, that you are co-signing on everything he personally represents." To the Evangelical who is against Trump I would say to you, "I completely understand! Mr. Trump doesn't appear to be a very good person and many of his views, values and morals are not in keeping with Christianity." But to all of us, I would say, "Fix your eyes on Jesus and His return! Focus on living your life in a way that is righteous and pleasing to Him - do what you can within your own sphere of influence to help and care for others. Do not put your hope in government or in the person who is President."

In Mark 12, Jesus says, "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto God what it God's." Jesus knows that we have earthly responsibilities - paying taxes, voting, etc - and that those things affect our life and the lives of many others, but what Jesus is saying here is 'those things that you do should not define you - your things, your money - those are used for Worldly pursuits, but your life, devote your life to God and to pursuing righteousness.'

Just my thoughts - I will not judge my fellow man for their voting choices because these issues are complex and multi-faceted. I will also continue to pray for our President as Paul instructs in 1 Timothy 2. But most of all, I want to live a life in pursuit of righteousness, as a result of faith, and unto the Day of Jesus' return so that I might hear from Him, "well done, good and faithful servant."

Quick Thoughts on "The First Fruits"

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power." (1 Corinthians 15:20-24)

I was thinking of these verses last night and a simple, yet profound, question came to my mind. "Why did Jesus heal people, feed people and drive out demons?" Why do those types of miracles make up the predominance of the stories we read about Jesus in the Gospels? If Jesus is God, as we believe He is, why these types of miracles? He is God, he can do anything - he could manifest lots of money or he could fly around or whatever - the options are limitless, and yet Jesus chose to display God's power through healing, feeding and deliverance.

And then it hit me - Jesus was giving us a foretaste, or firstfruits, of what he is going to do on a Worldwide scale when He returns on The Last Day. First, Jesus has a resurrected body - and that is SUPER significant because if Christ is not raised, then we have no hope. Paul says this, explicitly, in 1 Corinthians 15:14 "And if Christ is not raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith!" and then in verse 19, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." But it doesn't stop there - Jesus was also the first to receive the Holy Spirit, which came upon him at his Baptism in the Jordan River with John the Baptist. Immediately after that Baptism by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. In other words, Jesus is showing us (firstfruits) that through the Holy Spirit, sin and temptation no longer have any hold on us. He then releases the Holy Spirit upon his people at the Ascension, given to us to help us persevere and run the race set before us, TO THE END (Hebrews 12, 2 Timothy 4:7)

Next, the miracles that Jesus performed (and also his Apostles) are giving us a firstfruits look at what Heaven will be like. No more sickness/death (healing), no more hunger/thirst (food miracles) and no more sin/evil (deliverance from demons and spirits). When Jesus returns on The Day of the Lord, he will wipe away all sickness and death and we will be given new bodies that no longer hunger and thirst and will no longer be subject to decay and death. And maybe best of all, we will no longer have the demonic whispering in our ears, tempting us - no longer will be subject to our bodies of death and our sinful nature (Romans 7:24).

This is what we can put our hope in! Jesus' life itself is a testimony of what is to come for those who walk on the narrow road, for those who run the race set before them until the end.