I define politics as the process by which a community of people codify their corporate concerns and values. Politics, by its nature, might include elections, legislation, coalitions, and basically all the things we so easily see accompanying the process of figuring out how a community chooses to live together. Politics is not limited to civil government. How many of us have used the term “office politics” or “church politics”? Politics, to some extent, is unavoidable. The human race is certainly not monolithic in its worldview or value system, which means there will always be some process by which communities, states, and nations determine how to get along and what is best for it’s general public. A quick look around the world to civil governments, as well as noting the variety of church governments, tells us that people see the process of governing in a variety of ways. Monarchies, oligarchies, democracies, dictatorships, and the like checker the landscape. We all have an opinion to what we believe is best.
The inherent problem with politics is that it is practiced by fallen (sinful) men and women. Politics in and of itself is not evil, but rather becomes evil as it is used by depraved and fallen people. It is analogous to the illustration I use concerning a vehicle. In the hands of the righteous it can be used to pick people up and take them to church, reach needy people, and provide untold ways of benevolence. In the hands of the unrighteous it can be used as a robbery get-away car, a rolling bomb, or a street missile to kill a crowd. The issue isn’t the vehicle, it’s who is behind the wheel? A corrupt democracy can destroy a nation as fast or faster than a benevolent dictatorship if the leaders are not righteous.
Which brings me to my point.
America as a whole and the two-party system in particular is at a fork in the road. Perhaps we have been staring at this fork for some time, but it seems particularly relevant in this election cycle like never before. The fork is really a question. Will our politics simply be about who is in power, or, will it represent important principles by which a nation and a people lives or dies? The truth of the matter is that one road leads to America being driven off a cliff while the other road provides some sense of longevity for succeeding generations. If all our politics is about is simply gaining power and the perks that come with it, then Scripture, history, and experience shows us that we will end up at the bottom of the cliff sitting on the ash heap of nations who thought similarly. It is time for America to change directions by empowering principled drivers who will turn the bus a different direction and not simply drive the bus down the same road at a slower speed. I understand that people make the case that a “slower” driver gives us time to really change drivers in the future, but when a bus is only a few feet from the cliff your miles per hour makes little difference. I would suggest a more radical approach to drivers and driving might be necessary.
Now here is the part that demands incredible discernment and wisdom. EVERY political candidate promises some kind of change. This two-party election cycle has one side shouting that it recognizes a change is needed while the other side shouts that our current change hasn’t gone far enough. Both sides promise that it’s candidate is a “principled” driver (or at least slightly more principled than the other candidate). When in fact, the “fruit” of both their driving skills tells a different story and here we are in an election cycle which will place our children and our grandchildren in that bus being driven off the cliff. Please don’t tell me to trust either driver. My confidence levels are analogous to trusting my kids with a driver who has a dozen DUI’s to one who only has eight. That’s not a valid choice. In fact, I maintain that is a false choice perpetrated by a system that wants us to believe the drunks can handle it because they are used to driving drunk. It is convoluted and sick and Christians need to be incredibly careful they are not beguiled by it.
Listen to me carefully at this point…I do not want the bus to go off the cliff. Anyone who tries to make that connection is simply being intellectually and spiritually lazy. I have tried for years to do my part to get the right driver behind the wheel because I have seen this cliff coming. I have (to my chagrin) capitulated in years past to the pressure of placing behind the wheel a “slower” driver with fewer DUI’s, but I can no longer do that. The cliff is just ahead and now I have to ponder the reality that perhaps God’s Will is for us to endure the repercussions of our folly. We have sown to the wind and the whirlwind has arrived.
So what’s the answer?
I have decided to research more carefully the driver’s manual (The Scripture) for all of life including a nation. I have discovered that God clearly outlines the characteristics of one who seeks to drive the bus. I have decided to empower those people with the keys to the driver’s seat. Are there people out there who might qualify? Yes there are. Can they win? Not unless people vote for them. Is there time to stop the crash? Ultimately, I do not know; but I do know that we have evidence that the current convoluted system is not turning the bus in the right direction. Beyond that, I would rather trust God’s sovereignty with my obedience to His template rather than trust man with his pragmatic calculations. My hope is in God, not in election year promises. I will know these candidates by their “fruit” and not their “smoke”. I believe it’s time to consider these things. I believe NOW is the moment for Christians to fearlessly obey God and let’s see what He might do.
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