Dear Sister,
I love politics. The back and forth of it. The reasoning. The debates. Not the nastiness, to be sure, but honest argumentation and the pursuit and vindication of core values. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, as they say.
But politics can be an ugly business. With the onslaught of incredible and immediate technology making the world a smaller place, our politics has become ubiquitous and global. Everyplace and everywhere. It is dumped into our living rooms in great quantities if we allow it. It frustrates. It scares. It can make one feel hopeless. Everyplace we look we see lies exposed and unexposed, promises kept and not kept. Scandals. Slander. Sabotage and suspicion. Corruption abounds. Who is trustworthy? Who is faithful to their promises? Everywhere God is dishonored in word and thought and deed.
Dear Sister, this is where we must get our theology right or we will live in an incessant state of anxiety. Believe me. I know. We must pray that we, the Church, would learn to pray, as I read somewhere recently, that our hopes for political change would be outstretched by the hope of heaven. This is not our home. We are simply travelers with a true utopia in view, not the marred and unsatisfying dystopia of our earthly experience. We must believe Psalm 2, knowing that its implications reach to all ungodly governments, for “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” Men of earth grasp for power and control, but it is elusive, for only the King of Kings is Sovereign. It is He who puts these men in power and He takes them out as He wills. The Sovereign Lord gives them breath and will take it from them as He pleases. Men cannot thwart His plan for this world and for His people, His chosen ones. Though all seems in disarray to our blurry vision, His eyes are clear, with perfect purpose.
We must not fret or wring our hands in despair or frustration. We are called to trust and obey. Of course, let us be good and obedient citizens, vote, effect change where possible, but not frantic in these pursuits. We must pray Romans 13, preach the gospel to a lost and anxious world and be found faithful to our Christ even as our Savior was and is perfectly faithful on our behalf.
Pray for our leaders. Pray for their salvation. Pray they will enact laws that protect life and biblical values. Pray that corruption will be exposed and evil men intent on destroying all that is good will be brought down from arrogant perches. Pray that many will bow the knee to our great God and King, Jesus Christ. Live in such a way that the world will see we are different, we live with a sure and living hope, not of this world.
“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; And no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ ”
Daniel 4:35
“Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.”
Psalm 83:17-18
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
Don’t be afraid.
Love in His steadfast and preserving love,
Cherry