The Lure of the Golden Delicious Fruit of Politics and Government

The current American political landscape--what emotions does that phrase evoke? If you're like most who have tried to stay informed and voted in at least the last three or four presidential elections, it's likely a combination of frustration and anger. But for many others, it has also led to moments of fear, confusion, or even feelings of hopelessness. In an age of social media and the smartphone, we have unprecedented access to instant news coverage followed by everyone's opinion. That sounds great, but like a hungry child in a candy shop with only $3 to spend, it can also be overwhelming. Of course, the stakes are much higher than that, democracy and the future of America weigh in the balance. Or does it?

How much time and energy should Christians invest in making their political voice heard through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter? Is that where and what God has called us for such a time as this? What are the unintended consequences as more and more Christians raise the banner of politics all in the name of God?

When Trump lost, did it grip your heart with despair? Or when Biden won, did it fill you with a peace you hadn't felt in four years? Then may you be reminded, Jesus didn't come to establish His Kingdom on earth through democracy, or by politics and human government. That's called humanism. That's how people think and what they do to make changes in society when they ignore or reject God. Humanistic ways have crept into modern Christian thinking. The lure of the golden delicious fruit of politics and government has been bitten and because we've all been hanging too close to the tree, it's being offered to us.

Humanism replaces GOD with GOV. Press releases and podiums replace the Gospel and the pulpit. It's not new, man has been doing it since the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. Jesus faced it too. The Zealots of His day wanted to overthrow the Romans by the sword and establish Israel and the Kingdom by sheer force. That kind of thinking influenced even His own disciples. After following Him for three years and witnessing His death and resurrection, they still asked Him,   "...they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1:6 NLT)

Evidently, people, Christian or not, are very suspectable to wanting to do things our way rather than God's. We easily get frustrated and impatient with God's plan and timeline. What do we do with all this pent-up frustration? Let's pick up the sword of Facebook and start slashing political memes and posts! Who's going to protect the unborn if we don't demonize the left? Who's going to protect the voiceless and vulnerable if we don't attack the right? Peter was angry and well-intended too when he slashed off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus had to rebuke him and fix his mess. The Kingdom of God was not going to be advanced through war and politics, but through service and suffering-even unto death. There's a lot of unsheathed swords these days. And a lot of bloody ears on the ground. And when you don't have ears you stop hearing. Could you be swinging a sword God never intended for you? Could you be "cutting off ears" and keeping people from hearing the truth? Your goal may be godly, your heart may mean well, but many are swinging a sword in a fight God never intended for them.

How can we know if we've allowed humanism and the sword of politics to infiltrate our thinking? How can we know if our actions are hurting rather than helping Christ? Honestly examine your heart by the following symptoms of "Christian humanism". Of course, there's no such thing. They are opposites. "Christian humanism" is an oxymoron. To be more clear, Christian humanism is humanism in disguise. It's fighting and ruling by man's ways, rather than God's.

Some tell-tale signs of Christians who are on the slippery slope of replacing GOD with GOV.

• Our faith in what a president can do for us overshadows our faith in what God can do.
• We work harder at advancing our political views than articulating the Gospel.
• We pray more for this administration than the last one, or vice-versa.
• Our theology is so intertwined with our politics we are unable to tell the difference. And for the unsaved in earshot of us, there is no difference.
• You spent more time checking your bank balance and waiting for that stimulus check to drop than you did reading your Bible and waiting for a word from the Lord.
• We see people as Republican or Democrat before we see them as saved or unsaved.
• You were quick to participate in a Trump rally, or boycott it, but MIA when the church called a prayer meeting.
• You eagerly sent money to an election or re-election campaign but let the offering plate pass you by.
• You get more upset by fake news than crimes against humanity.
• Christian Republicans doubt the salvation of Democrats. Christian Democrats believe Republicans have sold their soul to the devil.
• We spend more time and thought defending what's wrong or right with the current administration than we do demonstrating what it means to live a godly life.
• We're more friendly with neighbors who stuck the same political sign in their front yard. All the others we piously think, "I'll pray for them and their salvation."
• We did our civic duty and represented our candidate for months with signs and banners in our front yard and bumper stickers on our cars but it never crossed our mind to put a "Jesus Is Alive" Easter sign up for a couple weeks. Let alone invite a neighbor to church.

How many scenarios in the list hit a little too close to home? It's easy to get wrapped up in the ways of the world and not even realize it. The biggest threat to American Christianity today is humanistic thinking in the ranks. We see it most evident in the amount of time and energy many Christians are spending advancing their political ideologies through social media. Have there been times lately you've been swinging a sword in the name of Jesus and causing more harm than good?