Photo Credit: Darron Birgenheier
Those who know me personally know that I speak openly about political issues while remaining largely silent about my preferred political candidates. Of late, I have become more open about certain candidates who espouse policies and behaviors which I do not support. As campaign season continues, my frustration grows and I speak more boldly in opposition to political behaviors that are sinful.
The time has come and now remains when God's people must forsake their political idolatry and turn to the Kingship of Jesus over the rule of men.
Note: A day may come when this post is used against me in court of law. May the evidence that Jesus is my King be so overwhelming that my conviction come quickly. No matter who is president, Jesus will be my King. I will obey him over and against all other authorities.
Before you label me a rabble-rouser, please finish reading. It's much worse than you think.
This week, This American Life Podcast spent Act One of their show on the story of a Trump supporter named "Alex." He is from a conservative, church-going family and is an African-American, gay teen who seems to refer to himself as an "evangelical". The interviews with him and his family were intriguing. Perhaps most interesting was his take on why he and so many other Republicans support Donald Trump despite the fact that his policies and behavior run contrary to both conservative and evangelical values (He's anti-gun, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, denies the need to repent for his sin, advocates for religious discrimination, the list goes on...).
Alex's dad made this comment:"The reason Alex likes Trump is because Trump shows power, and Alex is about power because he was so impotent as a child. There is something powerful about Trump and that appeals to Alex. When he pictures [his future], he pictures himself like Donald Trump." Alex seemed to concur with his father's assessment. "I don't focus on wealth; I focus on power," he specified. He then went on to quote Frank Underwood, the fictional villain/protagonist from Netflix' House of Cards, "A fool goes after money, but someone who really seeks to control goes after power."
The "power vote." That is the category Alex and so many other Trump voters fit into. They feel that our country has become weak and needs power.
Take some time to consider to ruminate on this oxymoronic reality. Evangelicals are supposed to be the people who really believe in Jesus. We are theologically conservative, believing that Jesus really did raise from the dead, that He really did tell us to forsake all and follow Him, that He really is returning to restore all things, that the Kingdom of God described in Matthew 5-7 means forgiving those who sin against us and caring for orphans and widows, that our strength is in Him rather than ourselves. Ultimately, evangelicalism is supposed to mean that we cease grasping for power in favor of honoring the Kingship of Jesus. Yet, this massive conservative voting base has rallied around a candidate (Donald Trump) who grasps after power more than anything.
They exchanged the Kingdom of God for the kingdoms of man. They grasped after power, safety, and security. They rejected Jesus' call to take up the cross and follow. They quote power-hungry, political villains rather than the Word of God.
It is not the rise of Trump that discourages me; it is the painful revelation that people who should be my brothers and sister in Christ have made an idol of power and left the Kingdom of God for the kingdom of man.
Lest you who find Trump appalling would use this to rally your support for some other candidate, let me be very clear. All men will fail. Trump's power thirst is easy to condemn due to it's caricature qualities. Other candidates find more palatable means at grasping for power, but they do it nonetheless. Don't put your hope in candidates. Don't assume that his/her policies will heal our country. They will all fail. It will all crumble.
Hope in the Lord.
The election season has reminded me of the need for teaching on the Kingdom of God. Few American Christians have a sound understanding of what it means to honor Jesus as King. Look for more posts to come soon.
