Election Blues

Well, we are two weeks away from a national election.  It is one that I am following closely and care about deeply. But who I support , I am not saying. 

Let me explain why.

The last few months, I've been following my friends on Facebook. Is it my imagination, or are people taking this election more seriously than most?  It may be the nature of social media, but a lot of political stuff gets spread across the web.  As we get close to the election, some people are getting angry--some of them are angry enough to break friendships and relationships.

Most of us get over it after the election, when tempers cool, at least before the next election. But some of us don't.  That is because both sides feed us a line that goes something like this.

1.       Our country is going to hell in a hand basket.

2.       The reason we are going to hell in a hand basket is because of Proposition A, Party B, or Candidate C. 

3.       The only hope for our country is turn it around by voting for Candidate D , Party E, or Proposition F.

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I reject this premise for religious reasons. 

Firstl,  the world is not going to hell in a hand basket. If it is, then God is not in charge.  Sure the situation may be bad, but it always has been and it always will be as long as Jesus tarries.

Politics has one purpose, to get one group of people out of power and  put another group in  power.  But when we think these times are the worst ever,  we should study history.  How about the Dark Ages, the Black Plague, the Native American Exterminations, the Civil War, the Great Depression,  Hitler,  Stalin, and the Cold War, etc, etc, etc,?  Things have always been worse.  I realize that this does not fit either common political narrative  and some readers will disagree, but remember, two political parties  spending millions on propaganda only agree on this premise.  They are spending vast sums to convince us that this election is more important than the Battle of Armageddon.   We can't accept either side's propaganda at face value, when they have ability to spend  the annual budget of a third world country just to get elected.

Second,  our current trouble is not simply the result of one candidate or a party. As a Christian, the reason for the problem of the world is sin. We know the enemy, and he is us. 

If the problems with the world could be reduced to a candidate or a legal proposition, how do we explain the stubbornness of villainy?  We get rid of one tyrant and replace him with another.  We voted out alcohol, and got organized crime.  We  got rid of slavery and replaced it with Jim Crow.  We got rid of the Great Communist conspiracy and got Al Quaeda.  The real problem with our world is our mad individual impulse to sacrifice anything for personal status, sexual gratification,  and momentary safety.  Humanity is dying from the slow poison of selfishness; no one seems to be immune. 

Third,  the real secret of happiness is personal, not corporate.  Whether Republicans or Democrats win in two weeks,  the  world will not turn to God.  If we as individuals turn to God,   person turns to God, even though we may vote for the wrong party, we can be considerably happier  and personally better  Political decisions are important but spiritual renewal is much more important.

I won't be endorsing any candidate--not because I don't have a preference, but because  I do not wish to put a barrier between me and somebody I love, or may hope one day to love.   No person, party, or proposition Is going to magically contain the real problem with the world.  To think that either side will fix what is wrong with our country is to practice political idolatry.   Salvation does not come from the ballot box. But from God.

The only thing that Satan fears in an election year is that people will forget their political divisions.  It is human and healthy to have differences of opinions, but in the end, we need to keep our values straight.  We should love our country, party, race, football team or whatever, but God must come first.  All other loves should be under that love.   Anything that gets us off track, away from personal love of others and love for God,  is just fine with the devil.

I don't say you shouldn't make political statements.  Go ahead, if you wish.  But please remember that political statements put out on the internet are like artillery barrages..  We  send our insults out, but we do not see the damage they do when they hit their mark.  

Neither do I mean that one view is as good as another.  I have my own political views and I plan to express them by voting.  But as a pastor,  I 'm not interested in making the world a little better, but in seeing it transformed by the grace of Christ.

If you feel differently, fine. Just remember that your political enemies are also God's friends, and we have an obligation to treat them with respect and honor.