The Frustrated Savior
The last time I was frustrated with the results of an election, I moped
for a few days until I was suddenly struck by a realization that has
buoyed me ever since - and always will.
Jesus couldn't vote. He wasn't even a citizen. The rightful ruler of the universe, the true Lord of Heaven and Earth, was merely a subject under a corrupt king and an impostor "lord" called Caesar. He had no voice. He had no Bill of Rights. The actual owner of everything paid taxes to a corrupt system which ultimately executed him.
I can imagine Jesus turning in disgust to his disciples, after yet another report of power-mad behavior from Herod, and exclaiming, " You know, where I come from, we do not do things this way!" Jesus understands political frustration - he lived with it his entire life.
In 2004, some people were so depressed over Bush's re-election that they went into counseling or on anti-depressant medication. This was rightfully mocked, but it's hard to blame those who are secular for responding in such a way. Their "higher power" is government. C.S. Lewis wryly observed that, "A man who will not believe in God will [instead] believe in anything." These days, they often believe in politicians. But when government is god, politicians are messiahs, and politics is religion, what hope is left when you lose an election?
Christians ought to know better. As Gutenberg College professor Charlie Dewberry put it, "If politics can fix a problem, then Christianity is a lie." If you know that mankind is hopelessly fallen, then you will not look to human institutions, ideas, or leaders for salvation in any sense. If you truly believe that God is sovereign, then political (or economic) events are far less frightening. If your hope "is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness," an election is unlikely to squash that hope.
No matter what happens in American (or foreign) politics, Jesus - who was rejected by the public and unjustly received the death penalty - will remain in the highest office: slowly, painfully, but surely advancing his kingdom.
Jesus couldn't vote. He wasn't even a citizen. The rightful ruler of the universe, the true Lord of Heaven and Earth, was merely a subject under a corrupt king and an impostor "lord" called Caesar. He had no voice. He had no Bill of Rights. The actual owner of everything paid taxes to a corrupt system which ultimately executed him.
I can imagine Jesus turning in disgust to his disciples, after yet another report of power-mad behavior from Herod, and exclaiming, " You know, where I come from, we do not do things this way!" Jesus understands political frustration - he lived with it his entire life.
In 2004, some people were so depressed over Bush's re-election that they went into counseling or on anti-depressant medication. This was rightfully mocked, but it's hard to blame those who are secular for responding in such a way. Their "higher power" is government. C.S. Lewis wryly observed that, "A man who will not believe in God will [instead] believe in anything." These days, they often believe in politicians. But when government is god, politicians are messiahs, and politics is religion, what hope is left when you lose an election?
Christians ought to know better. As Gutenberg College professor Charlie Dewberry put it, "If politics can fix a problem, then Christianity is a lie." If you know that mankind is hopelessly fallen, then you will not look to human institutions, ideas, or leaders for salvation in any sense. If you truly believe that God is sovereign, then political (or economic) events are far less frightening. If your hope "is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness," an election is unlikely to squash that hope.
No matter what happens in American (or foreign) politics, Jesus - who was rejected by the public and unjustly received the death penalty - will remain in the highest office: slowly, painfully, but surely advancing his kingdom.
Labels: Politics
posted by Scott M Roney | 3:18 PM
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