Elections

Life is About Choices…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

Sometimes a guy just has to choose. No, I’m not talking about this past week’s election, though I certainly could. It is time to move on from that. It’s over and it was somewhat decisive, which are the two things I prayed for. If Donald Trump won, I wanted it to be a clear victory. If Kamala Harris won, likewise I wanted it to be a clear victory. We didn’t need four years of “Russian interference,” or four years of “stolen” elections.

A lot of folks I know gave a big thumbs-up to the election results on Wednesday morning, and an almost equal number of folks I know gave it the thumbs-down. Such is the nature of our divided nation these days, but here is what we followers of Jesus need to remember–we’re not working for a temporal kingdom.

Yes, politics is important and we need to pay attention to it and participate in the process (thankful we live in a country where we can), but it is time for the disciples of Jesus Christ to get down to the real business to which we’re called–building an eternal Kingdom.

Just as a reminder, I recall these words from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain” in Luke’s gospel:

27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Luke 6: 27 – 38 (NLT)

Friends, it is time for us to choose to be different from the world because this old world is passing away. It is time for us to choose to live by different standards than power, utility and equal exchange. It is time for us to choose to follow Jesus in building an eternal Kingdom and to live the primary Kingdom principle of love. It is time for us to choose to tell the world about Jesus Christ.

This short video demonstrates why it matters:

@1littlerebel4.0

♬ Love of God – MercyMe

Let’s choose not to be Democrat or Republican. Let’s choose to be Christians. After all, life is about choices.

Speaking of choices, I’m making the choice to step away from blogging for a while. I may return to it someday, but right now, I simply have too many other responsibilities that are demanding my attention, not the least of which is spending my early Sunday mornings preparing to lead worship at Haughton Methodist Church.

So, thanks to all of you who have read my blog over the past many years. It has brought joy to my heart and been a great encouragement when someone would respond to a blog I had written. I hope they have been an encouragement to those who read them.

All I can say now is “I’ll see ya’ on the flip-side!”

Until next time (whenever that might be), keep looking up…

Grace and the Government…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

I just can’t seem to get politics off my mind (I can’t imagine why!). Perhaps writing about it will help to clear the many cobwebs that appear to be clouding my judgement these days. If I were exercising good judgment, I’d stay as far away from politics as I can, but I’m not exercising good judgment, so…

I am thinking primarily of the Apostle Paul’s instructions to the Roman Church in Romans 13. It gives me no small amount of heartburn to read his words, especially as I contemplate the future of this nation called the United States of America. Our choices for leadership aren’t stellar, but choose we must. Here is Paul’s counsel to the early church:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans 13: 1 – 7 (NIV)

I read Paul’s words and I think, “Yeah, right! I’m not submitting to that!” There is so much our government does that I don’t agree with…that seems down-right un-Christian. Why would I submit to that?

Pres. Ronald Reagan

I’m also reminded of President Ronald Reagan (the first President I had the pleasure of voting for, by the way–I also want to see the new movie). President Reagan once quipped, “I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help’.” His cynicism reflects my own.

The Roman Example

How can I read Paul’s words in light of my cynicism? First, I have to take off my American glasses. I think about government and my mind focuses (quite naturally) upon our federal government, our state government, or our local community governmental structures. The Apostle Paul didn’t have any of these in mind when he penned his counsel to the Roman church. Paul was living in a vastly different culture than our own, yet even then he could council disciples that the government was there to help.

Paul was living in a world dominated by the Roman Empire, and his council was somewhat shocking to the Christians living in Rome. The Roman Empire was one of the most evil and cruel empires to ever rule a larger part of the world.

The emperor at that time was Nero. He took pleasure in killing Christians. In fact, historians say that he burned many Christians as torches to light up his garden parties. Yet, in spite of its cruelty, immorality, and persecution of Christians, Paul said to submit to the government in Rome.

His instruction to submit is front and center in this passage. In his instruction to submit, Paul gives us insight into God’s vision and role of government, and his words still speak to those of us who seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

God and the Government

Paul can’t help but remind the Roman Christians that God is the one who establishes governments. Three times Paul states that God has established all government authority. A quick reflection of biblical history confirms the fact.

When God wanted to take his people out of Egypt he broke the will of Pharaoh with ten plagues. In God’s dealings with his people he used the governments of the world to bring blessing or punishment as needed. God used the Assyrians to destroy Israel. God used Nebuchadnezzar to take his people into captivity in Babylon as punishment for their disobedience. There they repented and returned to the Lord. Then God brought in Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians, to set his people free and place them back in the Promised Land. The Old Testament indicates that the Lord blessed all people through Cyrus.

In the New Testament, God continues pulling the strings of kings and governments. God’s timing is always right! Luke’s gospel (Luke 2) tells us “At that time the Roman emperor Augustus…” God’s Son was to enter the world just as the emperor issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. It was a time when the world had the best roads, an efficient postal service, safe travel, and some semblance of law and order. Paul’s appeal was based on the ultimate idea of the sovereign nature of God, and if we believe nothing else, don’t we believe ultimately, God is in control?

But, I ask myself, what about the evil governments? Is God responsible for the power of the communists who tried to stamp out the gospel? What about Adolf Hitler? Or, how about those immoral, corrupt, and crooked politicians that are found in our own government? Is God responsible for their power?

The Power of Sin

Here I see the power of sin at work in God’s creation. The fact that any leader, as sinful humans, take authority and abuse it is not God’s fault. The problem (it seems to me) with a theocracy is not with God, but with those who represent God when they begin to think they ARE God. This holds, too, for our own government. We must be careful that those in our own government don’t assume that they have taken God’s place.

Government is not God. Government is a tool given that God uses for His purposes. When Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate he corrected Pilate’s false understanding of government authority. Remember that Pilate said, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus responded, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11).

Sin is a powerful thing, and the same sin that touches the depth of our hearts can touch the depth of even the best human government. One of the biggest hurdles for us to cross in order to have the attitude that Paul described in these verses from Romans chapter 13 is to see the governing authorities as being established by God. When the Holy Spirit works that conviction in us, then we will want to submit to the governing authorities. A glance at history, and a look at God’s Word, will convince us that God establishes all authority.

I think Benjamin Franklin would agree. Franklin said, “I’ve lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it.’ I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

The Purpose of Government

God’s establishing government is not without purpose, and Paul discloses at least two tasks of government. First, he indicates that government’s responsibility is to order society. Think about what the government does for us. We have state and federal highways. It is the government that provides libraries, schools, and universities.

Those in authority provide law and order through police departments and the justice system. We have fire protection. We have freedom to worship and practice our religion. The government ensures free trade and fair business practices. Those in authority maintain an army to protect our borders from invasion.

William Barclay says it this way: “To the state ordinary people owe a wide range of services which individually they could not enjoy. It would be impossible for every man to have his own water, light, sewage, transport system. These things are obtainable only when men agree to live together. And it would be quite wrong for a man to enjoy everything the state provides and to refuse all responsibility to it. That is one compelling reason why the Christian is bound in honour to be a good citizen and to take his part in all the duties of citizenship.”

Government (or should I say good government?) is nothing more than a body of people who have covenanted together to maintain certain relationships between each other by the observance of certain laws. Without these laws and the mutual agreement to observe them, evil and selfishness would win the day. Each of us owe our security to the government, and are therefore under a responsibility to it. 

As Paul notes, part of that ordering of society is the idea of the government’s responsibility to execute justice. Justice is a delicate issue. It always raises the question of whose justice are we talking about.

Justice is often about perspective, I suppose. The government was greatly used, I believe, by God through the 1960’s and the civil rights movement. There were many injustices that were corrected through government action. Thanks be to God!

And, the 1860’s, too. Again, in the U.S., and prior in England, government was a tool of God used to abolish the institution of slavery. In all those instances, there were those who debated, argued and fought and even died for justice sake. As we reflect back on those times in history, dare any of us say that justice did not prevail? The church’s voice was integral in all of those struggles. No matter the political climate, we must never let the voice of the church be silenced in the fight for justice.

The struggle for justice continues even today, as well it ought. Survey the twenty-four hour news cycle and we can hear the cries of those who plead for justice. The church must hear their cries, and must be ready to respond in the name of justice.

I remind us all, though, that what the people of God seek is righteousness…that is how justice is defined. Just because something can be justified does not make it right. God seeks righteousness, from his people and in his creation. Justice and justification are not necessarily the same thing. 

Some have suggested that Paul was writing these words concerning justice and aiming them at the Jewish people. You might recall the Jewish people were quite the rebellious bunch in the first century near east. Insurrections were not uncommon, especially in Galilee.

The Zealots give us an example (among which one of Jesus’ own disciples is numbered). The Zealots were convinced that there was no king for the Jews but God; and that no tribute must be paid to anyone except to God. They were not content with simple passive resistance. Their aim was to make any civil government impossible. They were known as the dagger-bearers. They were nationalists who employed terrorist methods that were not only directed towards the Roman government, but they also wrecked the houses and burned the crops and assassinated the families of their own fellow-Jews who paid tribute to the Roman government. Paul is saying, “No way! That’s not the action of a disciple.” It was Paul’s way of saying, “You reap what you sow.”

The Need for Grace

What is true for nations is also true for individuals. We think little of violating the speed limit until we are the one stopped for speeding. H. L. Menken said, “Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.”

It is here that I see the power of sin in my life. It is here that I see my need for grace. The source of all grace is our God, who ultimately showed us grace through His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Even there, it was the Roman government used as God’s instrument to get us to grace, as atrocious as it was, for, you see, grace is a messy thing. We try to sanitize it, in our lives, in our culture and even in our churches, but no matter, grace is messy (see the Parable of the Prodigal Son). But, the Good News is God’s got a handle on all of it.

So, what are we to do? Paul says submit. Our submission is not really to the government, though. Rather, our submission is to the sovereignty of God.

God has got this thing…at least that’s what I keep reminding myself. The election will come. Someone will win it. I’ll like it or I won’t. Either way, my prayer is that I will be found faithful, and I’ll look for grace…even in the government. Maybe you will, too.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Perhaps the Problem is Us…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

Sometimes, I struggle on these Sunday mornings to find something to write. Other times, I have too much that I want to write and have a hard time knowing what to cull. Today is one of the latter times.

There is an abundance of subjects that I have decided opinions on, but I know I can’t write something on all of them. Based on the stats of these blogs, I can discern that most people want short, quick reads. Sorry. Today probably won’t accommodate you. You are forewarned!

Facebook Jail

I’ll begin by saying that Facebook let my wife out of Facebook jail, so I’ll probably remain on the platform. For those of you who may not know, Facebook put my pretty wife in Facebook jail for a second time.

Seriously, she only posts Bible verses, pics of grandchildren and household projects, but some of the Facebook arbiters found them to be against community standards, so they suspended her. After an appeal, she was reinstated. Guess I’ll stay on a while longer.

That’s probably a good thing. Most folks find the blog through Facebook, although a good number do get email alerts when I publish. I suppose I should try to build my subscriber base by encouraging folks to sign up with email, but I’m not trying to “monetize” the blog so it doesn’t much matter.

However, should you want to receive a notification when I publish, you can like and subscribe below and you’ll be able to find me apart from Facebook.

Now, on to other things on my mind…

Politics is Life

Politics is “top of mind” (as the en vogue saying goes) for almost everyone these days, and so it is for me. This year’s election is seventy-one days away and there is both anticipation and anxiety as that day approaches. We go to the polls seeking to change the direction of the nation, or to stay the course because the circumstances of the nation are such that the majority is pleased with the direction the leadership has set.

This year, we will not “stay the course” necessarily, for we will elect a new president. Some people believe electing one particular candidate will, in essence, be staying the course, though that candidate is doing much to draw distinctions between herself and her predecessor. Others believe electing the other candidate will lead the nation in a new, more prosperous direction.

I’m a bit of a political junkie myself. I don’t try to hide that fact. I don’t (well, not often anyways) make my political views known. You won’t see me (often) posting political articles on social media, promoting particular candidates or particular parties. We’re all in this together and part of our problem is not being able, or willing, to put aside our differences in order to overcome the divisiveness our system finds itself in.

This election cycle is an historic time for our nation. As in the election cycle of 2008 when we elected our nation’s first African-American president, we may this cycle, elect our nation’s first female president. Some say, “It’s been a long time coming,” while others say, “This is not the woman we need to elect.”

The anxiety of the moment is heightened by the cultural circumstances we are experiencing as a nation. Consider these circumstances—a stock market, that while reaching new heights, its volatility is shown by the constant swings from one day to the next, a world economy that still languishes mostly in recession, job market volatility and when we factor in the shifts in cultural values over the past few years, there’s no wonder anxiety is up.

My generation is concerned whether Social Security will be around for our retirement. Healthcare costs, in spite of an overhaul of the system, continue to rise. We have 35 trillion dollars of debt as of this past Friday morning. The Middle East is on fire, there is a war in Ukraine and China is threatening Taiwan. Do we believe a new president will change any of these circumstances?

Perhaps that’s not the appropriate question. Perhaps the appropriate question is “Whom or what do we trust?” Is our trust in a political party? Is our trust in a candidate for president or the government? I am reminded of the words of King David (that’s right KING David) writing in Psalm 20:7—

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Ps. 20:7 NIV).

As those who are called to follow Jesus Christ, our hope is in Him and in Him alone. We are citizens of the United States, but we are disciples of Jesus Christ, and if our hope is in the government or a political candidate, it is a misdirected hope.

A Biblical Example

When the nation of Israel left Egyptian bondage and became a nation, Moses and then Joshua was their national leader. They weren’t elected, but rather chosen by God for leadership of the nation. Afterward, God led with a group of judges over the people. There were twelve tribes with different leaders yet they were not united. They had problems working together.

The leadership they did have was corrupt and made poor choices, so the people demanded that God give them a new leader. They wanted a king like all the other nations around them. When things were not going well, the people thought what they needed most was a change in leadership, a new administration, a new structure of government. The people thought: 

“If we just get this new leader everything will be okay. He’ll solve all of our problems. He will protect us from our enemies, he will bring a sense of unity among our divided people (bipartisanship?), he will stabilize our economy, he will provide a new direction, he will provide the change we need.”

Sound familiar? Certainly! Every presidential candidate promises it.

God had a response to the nation in those days. Listen to what God told the prophet Samuel, who was the judge of the nation at the time:

7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights. (1 Samuel 8: 7 – 9 NLT)

God said the reason people put their hope in new leadership to solve their problems is because they rejected God as their leader. They no longer looked to God as their hope. Sounds a lot like us…

I feel relatively certain Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, believe they will do their best to lead our nation through these challenging times. But, both candidates are human beings and that means they’re flawed…just like the rest of us. God told Samuel to make sure the people knew any leader they chose would have flaws. Did they ever!

The Problem as I See It

The problem wasn’t with the leaders. The problem was with the people. As we survey the landscape of our nation, the problem is not the economy or the culture. The problem is not with terrorism or health care, with crime or poverty. The problem is sin.

We can’t lay the problem at the door of the White House, or the state house. We can’t lay the problem at the door of the courthouse or the school house. We must lay the problem at the door of the church house, and at the door of our house. Simply put, the government can’t fix that problem.

Sin works itself out in many ways. Pride comes to mind. The government can’t fix pride.

Self-centeredness comes to mind. The government can’t fix self-centeredness. Almost no one votes against self-interest. We elect representatives to represent OUR interests. We want representatives who will bring home the bacon to our district, never mind that the interests of our district may stand in direct opposition to the interests of a neighboring district. If they don’t bring home the bacon, we get new representatives. 

The government can’t fix greed. We want more and bigger stuff. We mortgage the future to have stuff we want now. As one cliché states it, “We buy stuff we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” The government can’t fix that! Oh, the government can (apparently?) forgive student loan debt, but it can’t change the inner desire for more and bigger and better stuff.

The government can’t fix gluttony. We’re concerned about the escalating costs of health care, yet we continue to overindulge in every guilty pleasure. I’m preaching to myself now. We make poor health choices, fail to exercise and live healthy lives and then want the government to deal with the obesity problem, and heart problems and circulation problems. Don’t shout me down, please! I’m simply pointing out the obvious. 

I love you, but the problem is not with the government. The problem is with us. Our problem is a spiritual problem. Sin comes when we reject God, when we do what is right in our own eyes.

Hope in the Darkness

Perhaps I’ve painted a dark picture with a broad brush, but there is hope. There is a prescription for what ails us. Both political parties talks about the need for change, and promises change, but real change won’t happen with a new leader or new legislation. Real, lasting change will occur when God’s people choose to trust God and turn to Him.

I’m reminded of a most famous Old Testament passage from 2 Chronicles this morning. At the time the passage was written Israel was at its zenith. They had just finished all of King Solomon’s building projects with the high point being the Temple in Jerusalem.

It was a time of great prosperity and peace, and national pride was running high. It was during the dedication of the temple that God gives a warning. God said when the rain doesn’t fall and the locusts eat your crops—in other words—when the nation does into a downturn, this is what needs to happen:

14  “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

The prescription for us and our nation is prayer.

The Temple was to be a reminder of God’s sacred presence among the people.

Were we to read all of King Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple, we would discover the importance of the practice of prayer in maintaining the nation’s covenant relationship with God. Solomon, and later Isaiah, understood the Temple was “a house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7), and Jesus, himself echoed that sentiment when he drove the moneychangers from the Temple upon his entry into Jerusalem.

Right relationship with God, whether in the Old or New Testament, is rooted in prayer. Understand though, that prayer is not effective because of our righteousness, but because of the power possessed by the One to whom prayer is offered.

What was once true of a building in Jerusalem is now true of a body…the body of Christ, the Church. The Apostle Paul states it this way: 

19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20 NLT)

We bring glory to God when we pray. We cannot pray without humility. Humility is nothing more than acknowledging our dependence upon God.

F.B. Meyer said, “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller, but of stooping down, to get His best gifts.”

Humility brings us to God, and our coming gives Him glory.

There is no effective prayer without devotion. That’s what it means to “seek” God’s face. Worship, generosity and service are tangible ways we show our devotion. It also means seeking God’s will for every area of our lives, and passing the faith to our families and communities.

There also is no effective prayer without repentance. Both the Old and New Testament words for repentance mean “to turn.” It means a change of direction from sin and toward God—an about-face, if you will.

Repentance is a faith response to God’s offer of forgiveness. We believe God will forgive, therefore we turn to him. When we repent of our sin—our pride, our self-centeredness, our greed, our gluttony and our idolatry—then, we’ll see the power of God revealed in Jesus Christ. We’ll find the help for which we search.

Prayer has the power to fix our problems because prayer brings us into the sacred presence of God Almighty, and it is God’s power in Jesus Christ that heals and forgives and reconciles all that is broken…in this nation…in every nation…     

Here’s our challenge: to humble ourselves before God, seek His face and repent of all that separates us from Him and from each other.

Join me as I pray for our nation, for the election and those leaders who have offered themselves to lead us.

That’s as neutral as I can be these days, though I believe the cultural moment demands that the disciple of Jesus Christ be something other than Switzerland.

This post is already too long and I’ve still got too many things I want to write. I’ll just stop now by reiterating: Pray, pray, pray!

The problem really is with us.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Draining…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Draining. That’s the only word I can think of to describe the year 2020. Between the election, the Coronavirus, the racial discord and hurricanes (oh, and let’s not forget forest fires, floods and rioting and looting), I find myself drained and wanting desperately for this year to be over.

We might say that today (November 3, 2020) is the day many have been waiting for (not me, I’m waiting for January 1, 2021). Many feel that as soon as the election is over things will be different. I’m not one of those persons. Oh, I think there will be different reactions to the outcome today brings. I’m probably going to get myself in trouble here, but I feel compelled to share what’s on my mind.

No matter what the outcome of today’s election, half the people in the nation will be overjoyed and the other half will believe the world is coming to an end (it is, by the way, probably just not tomorrow). Preparations are being made for any eventuality (see here).

My prediction? If Donald Trump loses the election, I suspect everyone will get up Wednesday morning and go to work and carry on with their lives anticipating a new administration (for better or worse). If Joe Biden loses the election, I suspect there will be many cities in our nation that will burn and many businesses will be looted and destroyed.

I’m not saying Biden supporters will be the ones doing the rioting. I am saying “antifa” or other nefarious anarchist groups may seize the opportunity to sow further division in the nation. I also know that half reading this will disagree, and half will agree. That fact is another evidence of the divided nature of our nation.

I’ve also been drained as I’ve watched the same divisions play themselves out in the church of Jesus Christ. As I wrote in a previous blog, we seem to forget that Jesus has torn down the “dividing wall” that separates us. We are no longer divided, but united through the blood of Jesus Christ. We sure haven’t been treating one another that way. No doubt, 2020 has been a stain on the witness of the Church in the world, and it’s just been draining.

I was challenged by John Piper’s assessment of the situation in our nation as he anticipates the election. The question on the lips of many believers is “How could a Christian vote for Trump?” The question on the lips of equally as many Christians is “How could a Christian vote for Biden?” To vote for the one is to vote for arrogance and boastfulness and pride and hatred. To vote for the other is to vote against life and truth.

Don’t ask an evangelical Christian from Louisiana how he/she could vote for Donald Trump. There was a time when Louisianians had to vote for a man who famously (or infamously) said, “The only way I could lose this election is if I get caught in bed with a dead woman or a live boy.” Of course, that was back in the day when you could actually say such a thing and not get canceled. 

That man was Edwin Edwards, a popular womanizer, gambler and extortionist who served a sentence in federal prison for his often unhidden corruption. But, evangelical Christians were basically left with no choice because his competitor in the race for governor was David Duke, a former grand wizard of the KKK, who cleaned up nicely and said things many folks wanted to hear. He garnered just enough support to slip into a runoff with the former governor, leaving Christians with a terrible dilemma. 

Most in Louisiana did with Edwin Edwards what they will do with Donald Trump—hold their nose and cast their ballot, not because Donald Trump is a man of pristine character, but because the Democrat Party has chosen a candidate and established a platform that opposes so much of what evangelical Christians value most. 

They will hold their nose and cast their ballots in Louisiana because they’ve been down this road before. They will vote, not on personality, but on what they believe to be the best policy to lead this nation forward. I would caution against questioning their virtue as evangelical Christians (though many will). When the choice is between two evils, one needs be picked. It is the nature of the two-party beast.

I suppose one could choose not to vote, or vote for a third-party candidate. I think we’re all struggling to do our best, and the reality is we don’t always do our best when we’re drained. I also know that God has enough grace to go around for all of us.

I also know that whatever happens today (and in the days ahead as results unfold), Jesus is still on the throne and He calls me to a higher obedience than does this or any nation. If freedom continues to ring throughout the land, I will celebrate and worship Jesus Christ. If tyranny for the believer comes, I will celebrate and worship Jesus Christ, and I will pray that my faith will sustain me (and that the Church’s faith will sustain her) through any fiery trials that come, and that she (and I) will be a better witness of the grace of God than perhaps we have been in the past. Either way, we (the Church) are safe in the shadow of the Cross.

So, as drained as I am, I will seek desperately to be filled–to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only as we are filled that we will find strength to live through every time and age and circumstance that life brings. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s prayer to the Ephesian church:

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1: 15 – 23 NLT)

I’ll desire to be filled by Him. May you be, as well.

Until next time, keep looking up…