It’s interesting how both sides of the political aisle are completely convinced that Jesus is on their side.
Republicans are convinced President Donald Trump is the candidate of God. After all, he will appoint justices who will roll back Roe v. Wade, this removing the scourge of abortion from our nation. Oh, and he’ll also be more likely to stand up against the anti-religious liberty instincts of the far left. Obviously, that’s the guy Jesus wants in office.
Democrats are convinced that former Vice-President Biden is the man. Unlike the belligerent President Trump, former VP Biden will bring dignity and calm back to the White House, with care and compassion for the immigrant and the plight of blacks living in America. Clearly, he’s the guy Jesus is going to get behind and move to victory in November.
Try to tell follower of Jesus on either side of the aisle that maybe- just maybe- their candidate has some serious flaws in what they do or don’t support…that perhaps Jesus isn’t happy with everything on their side…and you’re almost sure to incur the wrath of those individuals as they rail against the other side, authoritatively declaring “I just don’t see how anyone could be a Christian and vote for (the person I’m not voting for)!”
Such is the America we live in.
And it utterly flies in the face of what Scripture teaches.
Jesus is on…NOBODY’S side
There’s this really fascinating incident in Joshua 5 that was recently pointed out to me that sheds some clear- and, if you’re a partisan, disturbing!- light on “who would Jesus vote for?” Here’s the background:
God has just brought the people of Israel (His chosen people. That’s important) into the Promised Land. God has commanded them to remove the wicked, idolatrous people living in the Promised Land (and these people were bad. They sacrificed their own kids by burning them alive. They weren’t peace-loving nomads), and has promised that He will give victory to Israel as the take the land.
It sounds like God is entirely on the side of Israel. After all- Israel is His chosen people, and the people of the land are utterly vile. It makes sense.
Then this happens…
“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”- Joshua 5:13-14a, emphasis mine
Did you catch that?
I had not thought about it until recently…but that statement by this angel, the commander of the Lord’s army, is shocking in light of what we’ve previously discussed.
Despite the fact that Israel is God’s chosen people…despite the fact that God has promised to give Israel the land…despite the fact that nations they are about to displace are utterly wicked and vile…the message from the commander of the Lord’s arm is that he is on neither the side of the Israelites nor the side of the nations they are about to dispossess.
Put even more clearly: despite the fact that Lord is clearly backing Israel, the commander of the Lord’s army- who would have been commanded what to say by the Lord- completely rejects the idea that God is on the Israelite’s side.
That’s because God has a much bigger plan.
It was never about Israel
What was God’s purpose in Israel- ultimately?
One reason: to bring forth the Messiah: Jesus. Why? So that through Jesus, all people groups might have their sin forgiven and the way be opened for people to come back to God.
It was never primarily about the land. It was never primarily about Israel as a nation.
What it was about was the promise God had made in Genesis 3 in the immediate aftermath of sin: to bring forth Someone who would crush the head of the servant. It was about bringing to pass the plan God had made before the foundation of the world to save humanity. It was about bringing into existence the beautiful family of God called “the Church” through Christ.
And anything God did in the process- whether for or against Israel- was all ultimately for the purpose of bringing His plan to pass.
Whose side is God on? Well…His. And make no mistake- whatever happens, His plan will be advanced- regardless of who occupies the White House come January.
God never stops being in charge
Psalm 22:28 says this:
“…for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.” (emphasis mine)
Regardless of who wins in November, this simple fact is this: God never stops being in charge. And in fact, whoever wins, they only win because the Most High allows them to.
Jesus reinforces this idea when He speaks to Pilate:
“Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.“- John 19:9b-11a, emphasis mine
If you are a Democrat, here’s the uncomfortable truth: If President Trump wins re-election in November…it’s because the Lord allowed it to happen.
If you’re a Republican, here’s the uncomfortable truth: If former VP Biden wins election in November…it’s because the Lord allowed it to happen.
Whoever wins…they will not have stolen the election. They will not have cheated their way in. No…the only reason whoever wins will win is because the Lord permits it to be so.
That idea can be mind-boggling if you’re a pretty partisan person…because it begs the question: “Why in the world would God EVER allow (candidate I’m not voting for) to win??? It’s utterly inconceivable!”
But is it?
Jesus doesn’t need the Presidency
Hidden underneath our political talk is a pretty unbiblical assumption: that, if the “right candidate” doesn’t win the White House, Christianity will be stomped out and destroyed and the nation irredeemable.
The only problem with that line of thinking is it’s just not true.
Don’t get me wrong: I’d far prefer devoted followers of Christ to occupy the seats of power on our nation. But God’s plan doesn’t require that at all.
Think about this: the places where Christianity is growing the fastest are actually places where Christians occupy the least power in society.
As of April 2019, the two places Christianity was growing the most- at a rate of 19.6% and 16.7% of the evangelical population in those countries…was Iran and Afghanistan. (source)
In the United States, on the other hand…where we have exponentially more religious freedom…the growth rate is a paltry .08%. (source)
Even more disturbing…for both sides? In the last decade, which include the Obama and Trump presidencies…the percentage of Americans identifying as Christians has declined by 12% (source).
Clearly, the “best candidate” isn’t the key to the advance of Christianity.
It seems, interestingly enough, that Christianity does it’s best work the more marginalized it becomes- not the more culturally acceptable it becomes.
Think back to the early church: Christianity spread like wildfire when it was illegal in the Roman Empire!
The truth is Jesus doesn’t need the perfect person in the White House. He doesn’t need Congress. He doesn’t need the Supreme Court. His plan is going to be accomplished- period.
And there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it!
So…the election doesn’t matter?
I’m not saying that. I think elections are important. I think we have to use wisdom as we vote- and I think we should vote. For me, that’s just a matter of good stewardship and being a responsible citizen, and leveraging whatever rights we have to make a difference.
But…I don’t think there’s a perfect candidate. And I certainly don’t believe that the person who wins- whoever that is- is the answer to what ails our nation.
What I do believe is this:
Regardless of who wins, it will only be the person God allows to do so…and God will only have allowed it because, in some way, the winner will serve to advance God’s purposes and plan- willingly or not.
Regardless of who wins, the trajectory of our nation will depend not on what happens in the White House or the halls of Congress. It will depend what happens in and through the Church.
That’s why we’re starting a brand new series called “A More Perfect Union” on September 13. We’ll spend four weeks talking about what it looks like to do politics in a polarized climate, in a way that serves to be life-giving to others…instead of divisive and life-draining. Along the way, what I believe we’ll discover is that the key to a more perfect union is not who we vote for…but rather how we treat each other…especially those on the other side. It would mean a lot to me if you’d join us, because what our nation needs more than ever is for Christians to be a light in this very dark place.
And that doesn’t mean claiming Jesus for our side. It means showing Jesus to all sides. Because at the end of the day, Jesus isn’t about a candidate or a party. He’s about His plan to save souls through His Church.
He’s on His side and His side alone- and the best we’ll ever experience, in our lives or in our nation, is when we line up with Him.