The GOP primary has revealed so many dynamics that psychologists, sociologists, and theologians will have plenty of fodder to complete a host of new Ph.D. dissertations in the near future. While I do not claim to be any of the above, I have been particularly interested in the theological acrobatics Christians have engaged in justifying a Trump candidacy and vote. Any one of a hundred reasons as to why Donald is God’s choice could warrant a college term paper in response, but I only want to briefly explore one that I have called, “Sloppy Sovereignty”.
Please give me some room here because most people who will read this blog are not trained theologians and are not prepared for some of the precisions that accompany the topic of sovereignty. I am not trying to write a chapter in a new systematic theology text book. I am trying to help everyday, ordinary Christian believers filter through the ambiguity, error, and at times outright heresy that is being applied to a crazy election cycle. Much of this craziness revolves around God’s sovereignty.
Generally speaking, sovereignty means that all things happen under God’s rule and control. I am going to stop at this point because the next statements I make will be those that have been debated and explored for centuries. For example… Does God make things happen or does He allow things to happen? Does His omniscience automatically imply His endorsement? Does that knowledge mean that He is obligated to intervene? While a Christian may believe in sovereignty, to what extent can we really know His sovereign ways? How does sovereignty interact with man’s freedom? Is man really free if God is sovereign? This is just the tip of the theological iceberg when it comes to trying to understand God’s sovereign ways and because I have a degree in the history of Christian thought I am all too aware that Christian people on the theological continuum of sovereignty may have some excellent points to make. Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Beza, Arminius, Wesley and the rest were incredibly smarter than I (and you). That being said, this election cycle has found some believers off the beaten path of orthodoxy. In much the same way our era has produced sloppy “agape” (love) and cheap or sloppy grace, we now have what I have labeled…sloppy sovereignty.
Is God sovereign in this election?
Of course.
Will God’s purposes be fulfilled?
You can count on it.
Does God know the end from the beginning?
Absolutely.
However, there are FIVE aspects of sovereignty that we need to be reminded of lest we drift from the path of biblical Christianity.
1. Sovereignty is best understood in the context of the “long haul”.
Sovereignty can be a winding trail at times. God has plans and purposes, but the question has to be asked in the context of what may be the immediate plan and what may be the ultimate plan? For a finite Christian to answer that question takes a ton of humility and recognizing that “we see through a glass darkly”. That is why to suggest voting for a ridiculously flawed candidate in order to cooperate with God’s sovereignty may be dangerous and in error. How do you know that God has designed that person to rule for this moment? Yes, if the candidate wins, God’s sovereignty is certainly involved at that moment, but can you ignore Biblical precepts in the certainty that you have apprehended God’s sovereign choice?
For the Christian, we walk by faith obediently applying the Scripture in every circumstance believing that in our obedience God will ultimately work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). In our current election scenario, who can say that Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, or some third party candidate is God’s immediate sovereign choice? No one can. Therefore, we apply biblical precepts to honoring God with our decisions (votes) and trust that He is working this out for good in the long haul. I do not have the luxury of ejecting from biblical principles because I feel the immediacy of the moment and want to “help” God out by voting a “less” evil candidate into office. The Christian sees things not from a panicked, short-term, “the sky is falling” perspective, but from a long term consideration that God is at work through our obedience in bringing to pass His good will and purposes.
2. Sovereignty is never an excuse for laissez-faire (passive) obedience.
Sovereignty entails participation. No matter how you unravel the mystery of how man’s will interacts with God’s sovereignty, the bottom line is that we are required to participate in life. I have a part to play in the process of the selection of rulers. God works through my obedience and my citizenship. The two are not mutually exclusive. Paul, the apostle, appealed to his citizenship in the ongoing work of the Gospel (Acts 25-28). This clearly illustrates that it is OK to practice citizenship and at the same time obey God.
3. Sovereignty never violates Scripture.
Let’s be clear…God wrote the Scriptures through human writers. We believe the Bible to be inspired and to be our authority. We believe it is the Word of God brought to us to understand and see His revealed Will.
Now get this…
God does not contradict Himself. He is not double-minded. He doesn’t amend or morph for the current cultural situations. It may be true that every situation or scenario that a Christian may face may not be found exactly in Scripture, but a consistent case of understanding what to do in every situation can be revealed through the total context of the Scriptures. The problem in 21st century American Christianity is that it has become compartmentalized in its application and interpretation. We are not being discipled in how to truly understand and apply the Scripture to our life and circumstances. Most Christians have no conception that there would be a biblical consideration in how to vote. Yet, there is a clear presentation in the totality of God’s Word as to how we ought to approach identifying our leadership.
Yes…God is Sovereign. However, His sovereignty is tied to the revelation of His Word.
4. Sovereignty never justifies disobedience.
This is a follow-up on #3. The new justification of enabling an untenable candidate is using the fallacy that God is sovereign and has used unrighteously rulers all through Scripture. Many of the references include Cyrus, Artaxerxes, Nebuchadnezzar, etc. to “prove” that God can raise up an unrighteously candidate and use him for God’s glory.
That is only Scripturally true when the whole context is applied to a democratic-republic and how leaders arise within our nation’s context. Yes, God will and does use unrighteous rulers; however, Israel was never affirmed or released by God to specifically empower an unrighteous ruler. Yes, Israel had unrighteous rulers; however, those rulers arose through the family tree and was passed on through patriarchal linage. Even when Israel cried out for a king in order to be like other nations, God “allowed” that request to take place, but He allowed it understanding that the Israelites were in disobedience and rejecting Him (see I Samuel 8). God will certainly allow unrighteous rulers to be established, but do not mistake that allowance for endorsement. God’s sovereignty is at work at all times and through all things, but it cannot be used to justify my disobedience in some convoluted rationalization that I am cooperating with the plan of God.
5. Sovereignty is never fully revealed in subjective revelation.
I am a theological continuationist. That means I believe that the Lord can give us “words” or impressions through the present activity of the Holy Spirit that provide leadership in our daily life. I believe God can “speak” to our hearts and minds through prayer, visions, and dreams. That being said, every subjective impression that I receive and believe comes from the Lord has to be in harmony with the established and authoritative place of the Scripture. God does not contradict Himself in what He asks me to do.
Many people are defaulting to voting (empowering) unrighteous candidates based on the subjective notion that “God will use them” or even “God has shown me”. It’s difficult to challenge people’s personal experiences that are attributed to God, but the test of its accuracy is whether or not it lines up with the Scripture. If an unrighteous candidate is elected to office can God use them? Of course. Is the knowledge of that truth the justification to cast my vote for that unrighteous candidate? Absolutely not. It may be a foregone conclusion that a certain candidate may win an election or for that matter it may be a forgone conclusion that one of two unacceptable candidates will win an election. That natural reality does not release a Christian to empower a ruler by their vote. God’s sovereignty is at work through all things, but my personal actions must demonstrate obedience to His precepts.
To wrap this up…Is God large and in charge?
Of course.
Is the ultimate outcome of an election in His divine orchestration?
I personally believe that.
Am I so presumptuous to believe that I can vote an egregiously flawed individual into an office and simply say…”God told me” -or- “God spoke to me” -or- “What if an even more greatly flawed person gets in?”
Nope.
That’s a sloppy view of sovereignty.
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