Antics, Promises, and Productions

I try not to write much about politics and religion, considering those are divisive topics.  However, I’m going to take a few moments to share a few thoughts; not to join in with the general rhetoric, but to encourage others to take a step back and take a good long look at what’s really happening around us.  Media coverage of events over the past 90 days alone has enough negativity to last a year.  What’s even more concerning is how jaded society is becoming, as we rehash racism, political unrest, economic instability, and a general decline in moral fortitude.

This year’s election process is perhaps the messiest that I’ve ever seen.  The political machine is pumping out antics, promises, and productions that are intended to solicit emotional response (hate, fear, frustration) and manipulate the public for its vote.  I am acquainted with many people who are reticent regarding who they will support, as there is no single candidate that is reflective of their moral standard, policy position, or personal concerns.  It seems that even the candidates secretly realize that they offer no real solutions, as the entirety of their campaigns have been communicating that he or she is the lesser of the two evils.  After all, if you’re mandated to eat from the Democrats’ kitchen floor or the Republicans’ kitchen floor; does it really matter whose floor is cleaner?  Shouldn’t the overarching question be “why do I need to eat from the floor at all???”

Honestly, I have my own opinions concerning our political candidates, and I’m yet waiting to hear something that approaches good public policy aimed at real issues and works with resources that we actually have.  The political activities of late have been geared toward making us hate the other candidate so much that it just makes sense not to vote for them.  Have you been hearing that message?  Or are you distracted by the federal investigations, rally fights, name calling, insult hurling, dirt digging and general ignorance that effectively polarizes even decent groups of people who manage to hold it together for three of the four years between presidential elections?

From a Christian perspective, if there is anywhere in the Bible wherein politics is prophesied to deliver us into the land of milk and honey, then I certainly agree with the passion that’s being invested within our relationship with partisanship—that willingness to leverage our integrity for the sake of political party affiliation.  It would seem more beneficial to invest that passion into a real relationship with God—one that informs our decisions in this very polluted political atmosphere.

Consider this, according to Romans 13:1, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (NIV). That means that all men and women who rise to power are ordained by God.  Whether good or evil, they contribute to the overall plan of God for man—each one’s brand of leadership advancing a plan that God alone controls.  Doesn’t matter if you love or hate Hitler and Napoleon.  Doesn’t matter if you love or hate Bush or Obama.  God doesn’t ask or require your feelings on his choice of leadership.  What He does require is obedience.  “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2 NIV).  Perhaps we, as believers, should begin speaking truth to our neighborhoods, cities, regions, and nation, rather than merely joining in with rhetoric that’s not purposed to benefit you in the beginning, at the end, or anytime in-between.  Perhaps, when we couple that with consistent prayer, as God has instructed, we will not have to contend with choosing which floor to eat from, but will actually have a table prepared for us.