My Hope Is Not In The Ballot Box

I voted today.  It wasn’t a passionate process like some times in the past.  In fact, there was only one candidate that I really wanted to vote for, and ironically, that was in a non-contested race for a local position.  Most of the people I voted for were either based on best guess or while holding my nose because the other candidate seemed to be a worse option.

Regardless of who wins and who loses, not much will really change.  The economy will continue to have bull and bear markets.  The politicians will throw money at their causes, or really to whatever they think will get them re-elected.  The weather will still be controlled by God.  Life will continue.

Politics

Maybe it is just me, but I’m having a hard time with the state of our politics.  We have billions of dollars being spent on campaigns that are going to happen again in two, four, or six years.  Most of the campaigning is about what’s wrong with the opposition instead about what any individual candidate wants to see happen.  Most of the promises are empty and void of any real expectation of accomplishment.  There is little good that comes out of the spin cycle of politics.

Meanwhile, my fellow Christians are espousing statements about issues that don’t align with the Bible that I’ve been reading for the past 50 years.  I agree that abortion is a Biblical issue but can’t see how gun rights fit that criteria.  There are Biblical instructions about those who bless Israel but how is the US / Mexico border a matter of Scripture?  In my view, gun rights and border security are Constitutional rather than Christian or moral issues.

To make matters worse, I see politics dividing our country, churches, and families.  Strong opinions based on partial information are literally splitting us apart.  I even know that by writing this post I am potentially alienating myself from people that I care about deeply.  That is by no means my desire.

I hear about how our culture is going down the drain with immorality and rampant sin.  The church people are pointing fingers at the government or non-church people.  Rarely, do I hear the church take responsibility for any part of the current state of our country.

The Church

We all like to blame others for the problems that we see.  Instead, I think we need to have some honest self-reflection and take responsibility for our part.  When I step back and take a look at the history of the last hundred or so years, I see a real possibility that it is not culture that is at fault as much as it is the Church who is responsible for the state of affairs.  

At some point, the Church abdicated its God given instruction to care for the widows and orphans to the government.  As the social welfare programs shifted from Christian care for fellow men and women to a process of non-emotional programs to take care of physical needs, we have left the people lacking in care for their emotional and spiritual needs.  

Parents, within a context of the local community, are instructed to educate their children in the ways of the Lord.  More than just a religious education, I believe that God meant for parents to be involved in teaching their kids about all of life, including reading, writing, science, and arithmetic.  However, money began to speak more than parents, and the instruction of our kids has been shifted from local, to state, to federal influence and control.  

In times past, the church was the central gathering place in a community and a primary influence in the culture.  There are hundreds of thousands of churches still in existence, but the reality is that it has little influence for the vast majority of people.  Why?  I think it is because we have forgotten Who we are supposed to be promoting.

We, the Church, have programs and invite people to come join us.  I hear great motivational speeches, called sermons, that have Scripture verses sprinkled throughout, but are they challenging me to live a life fully surrendered to Christ?  The sound and light shows are impressive, but is it worship or a performance?  The programs are designed to draw people in and make them feel like they got something, but is what we’re giving them going to last?  I’ve seen some great marketing, as well as some pathetic examples, of churches promoting themselves.  “Come to our church, and you’ll experience a new life.”

My Hope

The reality is that no church, politician, or program will ever provide people with a new life that is lasting and worthwhile.  There may be some positive progress, but everything of man will fall short.  At some point, every program, politician, and church based on man’s thoughts and ways will fail.

I regularly have to deal with the fact that I am not able to be holy in my own strength.  I can’t do enough good to overcome my failures.  Left to my own, I may do a few things right, but ultimately I will mess it up, somehow.

So, what do I do with this reality?  One option is to succumb to depression and just live life as a burden to bear until I get to go home to Heaven.  Alternatively, I could try to influence the culture through activism for my causes, but these will leave me lacking.

Instead, I have chosen to surrender myself and rely upon the One Who is able.  When my understanding fails, I look to the One who says, “My ways are higher than your ways.”  When my will is not strong enough, the One who says, “My strength is sufficient” will make up for my weakness.  No longer do I depend on me.  I’m now a slave to righteousness because of the One who died in my place to free me from my past slavery to sin.

No politician can help me with the really important things in life.  Religion is insufficient for my struggles.  My only Hope is Jesus Christ.  

In the coming days, we will hear the news of who won and who lost the election.  There will be the opportunities to moan and groan or celebrate.  We can have our hopes lifted or dashed depending on the results.  I encourage you to instead look to Jesus for hope.  Regardless of the outcome of any election, or other event, Christ is a solid foundation that we can build a life worth living upon.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 NIV