Ok, so welcome to my shameless moment of click bait! You didn’t really think I would blog who I will be voting for, did you? Truly, I believe I have something more important to offer you today. As Election Day draws near, I want to blog a few thoughts to root you not in red or blue, not in a Donkey or Elephant, but in some bedrock truths that will serve you no matter what happens this November. (By the way, what is up with the history of the donkey and the elephant? Couldn’t they have come up with something a little more compelling than the donkey and the elephant? I can think of a few other animals that exude a bit more strength and nobility! But, a donkey, an elephant…? Really…?)
I Am… A Christian
First and foremost, I am a Christian. That is my identity, it is who I am. Which means the leading thing about my identity is not my particular political party. Yes, I belong to one at the moment, but that isn’t who I am.
WHO am I? I am a sinner saved by grace. I am among the redeemed people of God. I am a follower of Christ, adopted by the Father and filled with the Spirit… I am a Christian! The benefit of stating this from the outset is that I can listen to others who disagree with me without getting angry, growing bitter, or throwing a tantrum stating that my party has it all figured out.
Furthermore, I will be a Christian no matter who sits in the White House. Gladly, I will be a Christian no matter what policies come our way. What’s more, I will be a Christian if America slips into socialism, oppresses the church, or takes away my religious freedoms. It’s not that I don’t care… of course I do… but… I don’t care, in that I will serve my God no matter what comes our way. It’s who I am, it’s who I will be, I can’t help it, I am a Christian. Jesus is my only hope!
The Gospel Is NOT Americanism
Please don’t misunderstand me. I love America! What a gift it is to be born and raised in this wonderful country. I have traveled to some amazing countries outside of the USA. They are beautiful and I love to see other places around the world. However, I most admire America, I fly the flag, I love this country and am grateful for the many who have made the ultimate sacrifice for my freedoms!
That said, America is not the gospel. And, I am so glad that it isn’t. If it was, then the Christian in the underground church in China would be without hope. The believer in Cuba would be without joy and the Iranian convert would be devastated and inconsolable. No, my friends, the gospel of Jesus Christ is so much bigger than America, greater than a Constitution, and more glorious than our political freedoms!
Praise be to God; the Gospel transcends all these petty things. Isn’t that why we mission? We travel over the oceans and we travel across the street, not to offer people a lesser savior of Americanism. We mission to offer a Savior who will be the Savior whether one lives in the land of the free or in a land of great oppression and tyranny! Jesus Christ and Him crucified… this is the good news the world needs to hear. Jesus is my only hope!
Government Will Fail You
Pick your government, pick your political party, pick your candidate and one thing is certain, it will fail you! We are silly in the way in which we continue to hang our hopes on a person or on a party. They are not the Savior. Jesus is my only hope!
Christian, You Are Just Passing Through…
Yes, I am just like you. I grow irritated at the current state of things and I too easily forget that this is not my home. I begin to think that this life is all that we are living for. That is why I must keep reminding myself that I am just passing through. Turn on the news, be it CNN, Fox, or whatever you might prefer, the news exists to be profitable. Profit, rather than news is its greatest agenda. That is the challenge in our day. No longer is it about news. I am sure you have noticed, news is no longer…news. It is driven by the dollar. It’s ok, it has to be. But, when we don’t recognize that, we forget why we are getting a certain news slant. In all of that, I must continually remind myself, this is not my home!
Scripture regularly reminds us that we are travelers, sojourners, exiles making our way to our eternal and final home. The apostle Paul had such a grand view of eternity that he spoke of the struggles of this life as a light and momentary affliction that is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:17.
Wait, doesn’t Paul understand what a challenge this election year has already been? Yes, that is why his perspective is so helpful. When we think of Paul, we are talking about the man who was whipped, beaten, shipwrecked, and imprisoned for following Christ. I think he understands suffering for Christ quite a bit more than I do! The reason Paul could say that it’s a “light and momentary affliction” is because he had a grasp on eternity. You see, when we keep eternity in view, all the suffering of this life is light and momentary. Imagine with me after 10,000 years in eternity, will any of us consider the year 2020 to be weighty and unbearable? I think not! Jesus is my only Hope!
I Am A Monarchist
Yes, you read that correctly. I believe in a monarchy. While I am happy to place my vote and participate in democracy, I do so with a greater passion for a monarchy not only in America but around the world. You see, King Jesus is who I serve and live for! I pray, His Kingdom come, His will be done.
Dictators, democracy, and all the rest will soon fade away, but King Jesus will rule and reign forever. November 3rd will come and go and I imagine there will be cries for a recount from either the donkeys or the elephants depending on who lost. I could imagine a scenario of recounts, increased riots and further political divisions post November 3rd. And, if and when that happens, I will be calling for a recount too. Let us recount that we serve the King of kings. King Jesus is on the throne – He is my King! Jesus is my only hope!
I Will Be Voting For…
Now, I realize that some of you are disappointed in this post. You came here hoping I would sling some mud at the so called, “ignorant people out there who need to be told by me how to vote.” Instead, I leave you with grace rather than malice. I offer you hope rather than fear and I bring you to His Words rather than my words.
Let’s seek to “live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” and “strive side by side…for the faith in the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents…” Philippians 1:27-28.
I don’t think you really need to know who I will be voting for as much as we all need to be reminded that we are to “count others to be more significant than ourselves” and to “have this mind among ourselves which is ours in Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:3-5.
If you are anything like me, you don’t need me to add to the long list of grievances of 2020. Instead I offer you this truth from God’s Word. “do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” Philippians 2:14-15
No my Christian friends, “…our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” Philippians 3:20. Furthermore, I passionately agree with Paul, even in the year 2020, let us, “rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice…” Philippians 4:4.
Christian, we are not without hope! Instead we are called to know that, “…the Lord is at hand; do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7.
I close with a far more worthwhile reminder than who I will be voting for, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things…” Philippians 4:8.
Oh, in case I forgot to mention it… Jesus is my only hope!
Visit: Trinity Community Church
A blog I posted in the last election year: Gospel, Politics, and My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less! (Or… Vote For Pedro!)
Thanks Tim! This dovetails so nicely with what I was reading in Jeremiah 17 last night. I don’t believe application of this scripture to the subject at hand is out of context; it is God talking about who he is, and the results of where we put our trust.
Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord . He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , whose trust is the Lord . He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Jeremiah 17:5-10 ESV
Let ALL our trust be in him!
Thanks for reading and commenting David. I love this Scripture – so much truth packed into a paragraph. Trust you and family are all doing well!
Um…..yes I needed that smack aside the head. Great context and perspective. I’ve been drawn into too many rabbit trails during this political climate. Thankfully I didn’t follow too far down any of them paths. I’ve tried to include my faith and point others to Christ whenever I get into a political discussion. Not always successful at that but this is a great reminder of our only hope. Thank you Tom.
Thanks for the thoughts Joe. I need the smack in the head too… daily truth to settle down my soul. Much love to you and Tammy!
Oops * Thank you *Tim.
Well written Tim!
Thank you Vicki – Grace to you.
This is so what I hold fast to. I rejoice in that this is not my home. Hallelujah I am just passing through on the way to my forever home with King Jesus!
Exactly, just passing through to a better home…!
Outstanding , well put, and something I needed to hear.
Thanks Keith – love to you and Barbara!
Hey Tim,
Well put, my friend. You remind me of my favorite Psalm, which we ‘performed’ many years ago in Titusville:
Psalm 146
1. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
***3 Do not put your trust in princes, nor in mortal man, who cannot save.***
4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.
5 Happy (rather) is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Hallelujah!