Wake up – A Political Rant
I have to say that as an American – I hate being on Facebook around the months of September to December every four years. It is a time when many rant and rave about elections – stating their opinions and calling anyone that doesn’t stand with them an imbecile or an idiot. I’ve watched as apocalypses and martial law have been predicted due to Donald Trump losing the election. I’ve watched as friends call President Trump a bigot and enemy of America. I’ve shaken my head as I’ve seen other friends say the same regarding President Elect Biden. And I’ve come to realize this year just how much politics divides us – how it causes us as the Christian church to ostracize certain people that would otherwise come to know Christ as their LORD.
And I’ve followed my former ministers – some that are now liberal and bash conservatives – stating that modern evangelicals have lost touch with the poor and needy. I’ve seen other mentors bash the left – stating that if you vote Democrat you basically can’t believe in God. And I think in the end of this I’ve watched something much greater take place than politics. Indeed, I’ve watched something much more important than a presidential election take place. I have now seen a Christian church that is asleep to a very real spiritual war that it taking place.
For you see, while we moan and complain about each other – another very real enemy is attacking our world and specifically our country. And I am here to tell you that while I also have political leanings like everybody else in this country – I am being convicted daily to not forget that something else is going on beneath the surface. Ephesians 6:12 states: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Friends, while we fight each other, this cunning enemy continues to build a kingdom that is bringing about death and devastation to many.
Yet, we as Christians sleep while the giant taunts us. We sleep in the boat while our friends and coworkers drown in the sea. What have we become? I ask you honestly, what have you become? Do you still care about the Kingdom of God? Because you see – we have made politics our God and have forgotten that our Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Wake up sleepers – wake up and fight in a war that you are in the middle of.
Oh, but don’t make the mistake that so many do. Don’t fight this war by your flesh. Instead we are to fight as Christ fought. We will surrender everything to God. We will turn the other cheek when slapped. We will give away our shirt when our jacket is stolen. We will live so differently than the world around us that Christ will shine as a spot light in a very dark world. But don’t let your political stance ruin that light. Don’t let that be the bushel that burns out your wick. Don’t forget the real enemy you fight (and let me give you a hint – it isn’t Donald Trump or Joe Biden). And don’t you dare forget the One that you not only fight for but also fights with you.
Christians, countless souls are lost to hell because we have forgotten the true fight we are in. Christians, we live in a world wrecked and loss – stung by racial tension, disease, and political hatred. And worse of all, Christians, we are part of the problem. Wake up and pray – knowing that every prayer is heard by an All Powerful God. Wake up and love – showing a broken world that God does care for them. Wake up and live – not in the sins of this world but set apart as a pleasing, holy, sacrifice to our God. Wake up – I beg of you. Only then can we truly become the difference that we are meant to be.
“This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians 5:14
