On the Eve of Our Election
While all elections are clothed in hyperbole–this is the most important election of our lifetime–it’s hard to disagree that this election is one we won't forget. We may not know who our next president is by this evening. While this is nothing new, I remember the first election I could vote in, Bush vs. Gore in 2000, when it took almost six weeks for the election results to be finalized, and that process took place in the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court. This time the process may play out on our streets.
This election matters, and yet one thing that helped me in our Kingdom Citizenship study was to remember the proper place of government. God ordains government, he gives it authority, it’s good, but it’s not our savior. It's more a babysitter than a parent; it’s here to keep things from getting too bad on this earth, allowing the church to do its work of spiritual healing until Jesus returns. At that point earthly governments will be rolled up like an old play mat, while angels roll out the white tablecloths for the wedding supper of the Lamb. Yes elections matter, but not as much as many want you to think.
A constant tendency is for government (and its leaders) to act like a god. In Psalm 2 the nations are warring against God’s rule. In ancient times rulers often demanded worship. Today this worship takes subler forms–thus far we haven’t had presidents making statues of themselves and demanding people pay homage to it. But worship of government and presidents is no less tempting.
It’s easy for us to see that worship when others appropriate religious language for their candidate. But be aware of how you may be doing that as well. For instance, if faced with the defeat of your candidate, do your emotions betray that you were trusting in them more as a savior than a public servant? Examine your heart tomorrow when there is some sense of how the votes played out. Do you find yourself rejoicing more than when singing praises to God with God’s people? Do you find yourself drained of all hope and excessively worried about the future? If so, perhaps you've been placing your trust in a god that is bound to fail.
My dad shared with me his theme verse for this week, Psalm 146:3, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” I’d encourage you to spend some time reading the entire Psalm this week. It’s a much needed reminder to put our trust in the God who actually saves. As you work your way through Psalm 146 it could read like a list of failed campaign promises. It’s like Psalm 146 knows governments will always be a disappointment, often failing at some of the basic tasks God’s given them, so don’t be seduced by the latest rhetoric of politicians. This Psalm points us to something more sure: God is faithful forever, he upholds the cause of the oppressed, he feeds the hungry, he sets prisoners free, he gives sight to the blind, he lifts those who are bowed down, he watches over the foreigner, sustains the fatherless and the widow, and he frustrates the ways of the wicked. God alone reigns forever.
Whenever you put your trust in princes or presidents you will be disappointed. They will fail you, but more worrisome, they will capture parts of your heart that are reserved for God alone. So perhaps one of the best things to do after you drop your ballot off is to pray through Psalm 146 and remind yourself of this: even if we don’t know who will win this election, God is still in control, and he will care for his people.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon