It is the middle of August, and as I sit at Starbucks, I can see a board counting down to the release of Pumpkin Spice Latte, which apparently turns 20 this year. Who knew fancy drinks had birthdays? If you go to Target today, you’ll find all the summer clothes and toys on clearance. And if you live in a state other than Florida, it is only a matter of weeks before the leaves start changing colors. All these are signs that fall is coming. Fall is definitely in the air!
Unfortunately, Fall is not the only season that’s around the corner. Election season is coming, and the signs are becoming impossible to ignore. Campaigns have now been going on for a little while. Polls are dropping every few days. And the Republican Presidential debate is tonight. All this to say things that are ramping up for the upcoming election season and many of us are bracing ourselves for what promises to be an intense few months and find ourselves still reeling from the last 2 presidential elections.
As Christians, we would do well to reflect on the truths and promises found in Scripture as we prepare ourselves to endure this Groundhog Day-like season. Below are a few Biblical principles that will help us anchor our hearts, souls, and affections as we navigate a season that is undoubtedly going to become increasingly chaotic and unstable in the days to come.
We Become What We Behold
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul tells us that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into the same image from one degree to another. And this is the first biblical principle that is worth reminding ourselves of during this season. John Owen put it well when he said:
“It is by beholding the glory of Christ by faith that we are spiritually edified and built up in this world, for as we behold his glory, the life and power of faith grow stronger and stronger. It is by faith that we grow to love Christ. So if we desire strong faith and powerful love, which give us rest, peace and satisfaction, we must seek them by diligently beholding the glory of Christ by faith.”
One of the implications of this beautiful truth is that we are shaped by the things that we feed our eyes and ears. When that is Christ, the Gospel, and the Word, this is of great benefit for the believer. This implication however cuts both ways, meaning that when we set our eyes, our ears, and our hearts on things other than Christ, that is what shapes our loves, desires, and imaginations.
During this season, we might be tempted to run to our preferred form or media to keep up with the never-ending cycle of news, polls, and punditry, which is well and good as long as we don’t surrender our hearts and minds to them. I genuinely worry that a big portion of our nation is currently discipled not in the pews of the church, but in their couches by pundits and news anchors who benefit from seasons of chaos and upheaval.
As followers of Christ, we would do well to ask ourselves ‘Who is discipling my heart? Who am I allowing to shape my imagination? Where do I run to when I need to find assurance and hope? Is it information, the experts’ opinions, or is it the authoritative Word of God?
To borrow Jeremiah’s language (Jer 2:9), are we hewing broken cisterns and trying to draw meaning, hope, and satisfaction from them? Or are we running to the fountain of living water that satisfies our souls?
Our Sense of Control is only an illusion
Living in a democratic republic is certainly a blessing. It affords us, as citizens, opportunities to actively participate in how our nation is governed. Not only do we have the right to vote, but we also have a myriad of ways in which we can get directly involved in the government of our nation. This is certainly a benefit we enjoy as Americans that not everyone around the world can boast of, and it should not be taken for granted. The problem is that if we are not careful, it can deceive us into thinking that we can be in control.
This illusion of control is dangerous because while it is a privilege to serve our country, thinking we are in the driver’s seat is detrimental to our souls. This illusion of control leads some to despair because it is too big a burden to carry. It leads others to self-righteousness because they see themselves as being part of the good guys, which then leads to looking down on those they disagree with.
As children of God, we should often remind ourselves of our limitations. Even if we were in a position of becoming the next president, we remain incredibly limited in our control of things. It is God alone who, in the words of Daniel, "changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings".
And while we ultimately have no control over who governs us, we can rest assured that God remains in control. It doesn’t matter who gets elected as our president next year, God will not be surprised by the results of the election. He does however call us to trust him. This call to trust should also soothe our souls and quiet our anxiety. “God’s sovereignty”, Spurgeon said, “ is the pillow on which the Christian rests his head at night, giving perfect peace."
Trust in God Demands Submission to Authorities
As mentioned above, rulers and authorities are placed by God himself (Daniel 2, Romans 13). This has implications for our relationship with our authorities and government officials. Because it was God that placed them where they are, it follows that we should submit to them as Paul tells Titus in his letter:
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:1–2(ESV)
Paul clearly instructs Titus to remind the church in Crete to submit to their rulers and authorities. This type of instruction is not only counterintuitive but also countercultural in our current society. So if we are not watchful, our deceitful hearts will convince us that this instruction is to be ignored if we don’t like our authorities or if we judge them to be unfit or morally bankrupt. When tempted to think this way, it might be to our benefit to remember who the ruler was at the time of Paul–it was Nero. Nero and his policies were not only detrimental to the nation, but he was also morally bankrupt in ways that would not fly even in our post-sexual revolution era.
And still, the Bible calls us to submit to them, and our submission shows whether we really trust God. Notice that Paul’s instruction to Titus, and elsewhere to the Romans, makes demands of our wills, our minds, our mouths, and our hearts. It is a call to be obedient in our works and in our words. It is worth clarifying that submission is not blind compliance. There are times when disobedience to our rulers is the appropriate response if they are leading us to sin or to act in ways that would oppose God’s will as revealed by Scripture. A biblical example of this would be the midwives in Exodus 1 who honored God by disobeying the unjust instructions coming from Pharaoh. This however should be an exception and not the default disposition of our hearts.
Their failures and shortcomings don’t justify our disobedience
After calling us to submission, Paul calls us to obedience. It seems to me that Paul knows the human heart enough to know that we often use the failures of others to justify our own disobedience and sin. I often find myself reminding my children that when the other’s sin against them does not justify a sinful response. If I ask my son ‘Why did you push your sister?’, he knows the excuse ‘She pushed me first’ won’t fly at home. One’s sin doesn’t justify the other’s sinful response. This is so easy to see in children, and yet it seems our governing authorities struggle with the same temptation. This then trickles down to the rest of our society, where we see people justifying their harshness, hostility, and animosity when referring to ‘the other side’.
When it comes to sin, “they did it first” doesn’t hold up as an excuse. As believers, we ought to remember that when we encounter sin from our neighbor, it is appropriate to confront it but not to use it as an excuse for our own sin. This culture of “they did it first” is not only anti-Christian but also unsustainable in a functioning society.
Our Faith seasons our Speech
In Paul’s instructions to Titus, we find that part of submitting to our authorities is guarding our mouths. Paul tells us not to speak evil of anyone and not to quarrel, both of which are everpresent in the world we inhabit today. As we navigate this political atmosphere, let us remember that our neighbor’s sin doesn’t justify sinful speech.
It is disturbing that vitriol has found its way into the mouths of American Christians. The tone in our media is ever-escalating to extreme levels of unhealthy rhetoric. This might be expected from secular news sources, but it is a far cry from the way Scripture calls the believer to behave. It is as if instead of letting our speech be seasoned by the salt of the Gospel (Col. 4:6), our speech has been seasoned with the spices of the World. Harshness, abrasiveness, insult, and mockery are the spices of the flesh that set our mouths on fire and ravage our souls.
Standing for what is true and right is appropriate and it is something every Christian should strive for, especially in the hostile society we live in. With that said, unleashing our tongues against those who disagree with us is radically unbiblical. A spicy tongue reveals a hardened heart that has no category for love, kindness, patience, and the rest of the gifts of the spirit.
The speech of the Christian ought to be marked by love, kindness, and gentleness. A hardened heart forgets that we too “were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Titus 3:3 (ESV)
Quarreling, in the life of a believer, is a mark of immaturity, enough to disqualify us from leadership in the church. So as the world is getting ready for battle, let us resolve to be peacemakers and not culture warriors. In a time where the illusion of a moral majority vanishes, let us aim to be a prophetic minority that speaks truth but never divorces it from love and the gifts of the Spirit.
There is no room in the Church For Division
During the next year or so, we would do well to behold Christ as revealed in God’s Word, and let us resolve to starve division in the church. Near the end of his letter to Titus, Paul says:
[8] The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. [9] But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Titus 3:8–9(ESV)
Division is the antithesis of the church, and Jesus knew this. In his High Priestly Prayer, he prayed to the Father to make us one, as he and the Father are one. This unity is essential for the church to be effective in its mission. When we are divided, we are weak and vulnerable. But when we are united, we are strong and powerful. Jesus prayed for unity so that the world would know that he was sent by the Father. When we are united, we are a powerful witness to the world of the love of God.
As the world around us becomes increasingly divided and hostile, let us, the church of Christ, be a beacon of hope and unity. Let us devote ourselves to good works and obedience to God, and let our love, kindness, and gentleness be a witness to the world. May we fix our eyes on Christ, and as we do so, may our witness point many to Him. May Christ be glorified in us as we seek to find our joy in Him through the next electoral season.
Finally, let us preach the Gospel to ourselves daily, anchoring our hearts in God’s Word, and reminding ourselves of the truths and promises found in it so that we may stand fast for his glory.