I've been in numerous conversations over the course of the last several months regarding the elections. I've posted only one post on it, but here are my parting words (there may be more) on whatever will happen in a few days...
Politics can only do so much. They are not our savior. Perhaps many agree with this statement but are blinded to how entrenched they have become in trusting our government to do the church's work. When we place the government or a president in the role of savior we forfeit both Christ as above all these things and we forfeit our role. Notice the tone of many conservative Christians is that if we get the right man/woman in office, then they will legislate this or that and everything will be ok. Let me ask you, when did Christ followers believe the way the Kingdom comes is through legislation?
What we have just done is forfeit our role and in a way have become Pharisees. We've just said that if there was a right law then people would follow it, because it would be the law and it would be a good law and they would have to. But when has making something a law dealt with the issues of the human heart? The one thing Scripture says that law does is point out our sin...what is meant to bring life actually brings about death. Because a law or laws are passed does not mean people's hearts will be changed. Frankly it just gives us something else to break.
Instead of hoping legislation will change hearts we have to do the hard work of the Kingdom and work to change hearts through the ways of Jesus...through grace, mercy, and love (oh, and humility). Working this way with people is much more messy and frustrating. There are no clearly defined lines. One day an individual we seek to help may be doing well, the next day they may have turned their back on any progress and fallen off the wagon. Maybe that's why we want legislation. It's clean. It's black and white. You follow it or you don't.
Did you ever notice the way of Jesus isn't that well defined? It isn't that black and white, is it? It's messy. It's frustrating. It breaks down all the walls of self-righteousness.
Wednesday, November 5th will come. It will be a day, once again, where Christ followers will be called to take up the cross and do the work...no matter who is in.
