Prophets or Patriots?
“It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” - God’s words to the prophet Samuel after Israel demanded that they have a king like all the other nations of the world.
The recent chaos and violence in Washington D.C. should concern all of us, whether we live in the United States or some other country.
Among Christians, Trump supporters and “Never Trump” advocates alike should be deeply troubled by these events. For those of us who confess Jesus as Lord, the time is ripe to seriously consider the difference between allegiance to our nation and our commitment as citizens in God’s kingdom.
Israel’s rejection of God for earthly kings led their country to ruin. And the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Romans can be traced back to the day the religious and political leaders (always a dangerous mix) of the Jews stood in the courtyard of Pilate, rejecting their true king and saying, “We have no king but Caesar.”
Interestingly enough, it was the High Priest, Caiaphas, who articulated the faulty logic leading to the crucifixion of Israel’s Messiah. “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish,” were Caiaphas’ words as he sought to convince the other leaders in Israel to rid the nation of Jesus, the Nazarene. (See John 11:50)
It is also important to note that Israel’s leaders engaged in another form of reasoning as they sought to secure their power and influence: “If we let him go on like this,” they said, “everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:48, ESV)
Notice that concern for “our place” took priority over “our nation.”
I’ll be the first to say that the choices we have for leaders in the United States are often difficult. Sometimes, we have to make a choice between two seriously flawed candidates as we make our way to the polls, hold our noses, and vote. But there are two things we need to carefully consider as we make our decision over which candidate to choose.
We need to think for ourselves and pray for God’s leadership.
It’s easy to naively agree with other politicians we have supported or celebrity Christian leaders we look up to. But the fact is, like those leaders in Israel who were blind to their Messiah because of concern for their “place,” many of these (as difficult as it is for us to recognize and acknowledge it), are also blinded by their need for political or ministry “success.”
We must reject the false logic that says the end justifies the means.
“What does it profit a person to gain the whole world and lose his soul,” Jesus asked? There are some serious issues that evangelicals should be concerned about in the United States, but the question we must ask ourselves is, “What are we willing to sacrifice to make the changes and enact the policies that we believe are best for our nation?”
When does voting for and supporting a political candidate lead to the compromise of our witness and integrity among those who need to see us as peacemakers, mercy-givers, and bearers of “Good News.”
I have many dear friends who voted for and supported Donald Trump. Statistics indicate that 80% of evangelical Christians cast their ballots for Trump in both 2016 and 2020. And the fact is, Trump promised and delivered on many policy issues dear to the hearts of evangelicals. But at what price for both our nation and the Kingdom of God?
Jesus calls us to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves. He warned his disciples to beware of the yeast of the religious leaders and politicians. And in the prophecy of Revelation, we are told that the kingdoms of this world will someday pass away, while God’s kingdom and God’s king will reign forever and ever. (See Matt. 10:16, Mk. 8:15, and Rev. 11:15)
In light of these things, I’d like to make some suggestions for followers of Christ who seek to be both patriots of our country and citizens of God’s kingdom.
Vote your conscience, but recognize there is no savior apart from Jesus.
Obey Jesus’ commandment to love your neighbor by refusing to demonize others who see things differently from you.
Remember that God’s wisdom is peaceable, gentle, and open to reason, while the wisdom of the world is characterized by selfish ambition and disorder. (See James 3:13-18)
Seek first, God’s kingdom, and recognize that ultimately, in the words of Jesus, that kingdom is not of this world.
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”
In Christ,
Dan