My Plea to Christians Leading Up to the Election

As an American I’m incredibly grateful for the blessing of freedom that we experience in the United States. I’ve traveled to many, many nations, and there is no place like America. At the same time, I’m convinced that America, specifically the church in America, must turn to God with her whole heart or she will face judgment. God’s judgment begins in His own house. I’m deeply concerned that instead of humbling ourselves in repentance, many have become emboldened around political parties and political arguments. Oh that we would mourn over the transgressions of America instead of placing our hopes in human solutions, especially American politics.

Consider Jeremiah’s words:

Jeremiah 17:5  Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.

but also

Jeremiah 17:7  "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.

Regarding American politics, if we whitewash the transgressions of either party, while vilifying the other, we’ve missed the point. The point isn’t which party is closer to the values of the kingdom, but rather that neither party is God’s party. And the Lord isn’t ok with His people believing so.

If we believe that God is an American, a Republican, a Democrat or any identifier of this sort we are in idolatry. I believe the Lord is calling us to repent of the idolatry of Americanism, Conservatism, Progressivism, Capitalism, Socialism, and every other -Ism. Are we able to hear this? If something is not for the glory of His Son, God isn’t interested in promoting it.

Somehow many in the church have conflated the progress of the kingdom of God with the progress and blessing of America. The two are not the same, nor will they ever be. This may sound completely heretical to some, but the truth is God does not need America to prosper in order to bring about the fullness of His Kingdom and the manifestation of His Son’s glory.

If our allegiance to God is based on American prosperity, we have believed a different gospel. Every nation is but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales before our God (Isa 40:15). This includes our dear America.

In Jeremiah’s day Israel came under the judgment of God for their sins even while they were convinced that God would not judge them because they were “God’s people”.  God’s answer was to raise up the Babylonians as a judgment in order to bring them to their knees, so that He could ultimately bless them. I’m concerned that many in the church in America have bought into the same kind of religious nationalism as Israel of old. Help us God!

We may already be moving toward an outcome that regardless of who is elected it is a judgment to us. I’m asking the Lord for mercy in the midst of all of it. I’m also absolutely convinced that Jesus will still be on His throne(infinitely above any earthly throne) on November 4th causing all things to work together for good for those who love Him. 

But the fact remains that we’re all guilty - the church and the nation as a whole, before our God. Oh that we would see that our answers are not found in a political party or candidate but in a required response of humility and repentance. I tremble when I think about all that we have been through this year and still we haven’t bowed low before Him. What will it take for the people of God to get on our knees, repent of our sin, and ask for mercy for our nation? If we will turn, He is merciful and gracious and will pour out His Spirit. Will we turn to Him? 

I believe there is something much bigger going on in America than this election. The Lord is beginning to hold us accountable for the unrepented sins of many generations. Many of which the church has been complicit and in some cases the leader. Abortion, Racism, Idolatry, Perversion, and Greed top the list. 

Please consider this: what if God isn’t interested in making America great? What if He’s interested in making America decrease so that Jesus may increase? Scripture is clear that the Father is jealous for the glory of His Son. And He is willing to use dramatic measures to exalt His glory. In the process of exalting His Son, He is going to cause the church to look like Jesus - even if it means He has to strip us of our strength to show His power in and through us. 

My humble admonition, offered in brokenness and weeping, is that we quit believing that either presidential candidate is going to bring the answers to the questions that God is asking right now. I hear Him saying to us , “Will you humble yourself? Will you take responsibility for your sins? Will you love others without condition? Will you look to Me and not to any human institution for your salvation and safety? Will you love Me? Will you love Me? Will you love Me?”