Being Double Minded

As I drove down the road to the church down the block I looked at my watch. I was in a hurry to get to an appointment, but my best friend had convinced me that I had to vote. I had slowly come to the conclusion that voting was not only worthless, it was also against the teachings of the New Testament. But since George Bush was pro-life and Al Gore was pro-choice and since Chris had exhorted me to cast my vote, I hurriedly pulled into the church parking lot and waited in a line full of all kinds of people.

I cast my vote for George Bush and went on my way. But on that very day I was led of the Spirit to make that my last vote. That was in the year 2000 and I have never participated in the political system since. And in these last 11 years I have become completely convinced that we as believers should refrain from participating in a fallen system which elevates men above God and ignores the gospel in favor of economics and moral issues.

Back then it seemed very radical, but over the last decade I have seen many believers come to the same conclusion. I have fought to reject self righteousness and to not make not voting another gospel. But in this election season I must take this opportunity to exhort the small tribe who read this blog to reconsider how you view a system that compromises and utterly rejects the person of Jesus Christ and treats His gospel like an aside.

But the most insidious aspect of American politics is how politicians have made God an active part of their candidacy and how they portray God as supporting their side. Of course that is sacrilege. But still millions of professing believers are drawn into a false portrayal of America and the useless carnality of American politics. You desire to outlaw abortion? Pray, pray, and pray some more, and witness to lost sinners and watch God change their hearts and subsequently their convictions. The only reason I am pro-life is because the Holy Spirit lives within my being. Otherwise I would be pro-choice.

At the root of it all is idolatry. Millions of professing believers idolize this nation and actually believe it to be favored of God. And they seek to bring it back to its “former glory” and some recite the mantra “take back America”. America has always been just as fallen as any other country, in fact there are more believers in China than there are in America. It is time the church sheds its nationalistic grave clothes and allows the light of Jesus Christ to shine!

This is no trivial issue about which we can all disagree with no residual effects on our spiritual commitment and power. This issue seems to permeate all aspects of our faith. It changes how we see people. It changes how we feel about money. It changes how we feel about redemption. It changes how we feel about allegiance. It changes how we feel about war. It changes how we feel about almost everything. But that is a grievous mistake. It confuses how we feel about citizenship.

But if you pay attention and pray, the Spirit can reveal to you, especially in this election cycle, what God’s will is for we believers. The angry mob screams about the economy and much of the church joins in.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Has the church ever found itself in such discontentment? Listen as “conservative” Christians speak evil of liberals and moan about gas prices. Do we actually believe what we say we do? No wonder the world sees us as just like them only with different moral views. In fact, as the economy continues to slide downward are we able to rejoice? Wouldn’t that be remarkable! And if the world saw a contented and rejoicing congregation they just might be motivated to ask us about the hope that lies within us.

But we have become part of the American crowd. In fact, many believers actually tear up when singing patriotic songs or saluting the flag. And some of the most doctrinally orthodox people still cannot see their sin. And listen as believers are anxious about the cast of characters being presented in the party to which they identify. Again, like Israel of old, they look to the hand of man to rescue them from whatever they deem unpleasant. Is it Romney? Is it Perry? Is it Cain? Is it Obama? Is it a reincarnation of Ronald Reagan? John Kennedy?

It is none of these. It is only Jesus Christ, and in this gospel age of grace, He works through surrendered vessels. I pray God will use us all in that way. But as long as we continue to pay homage to idols we will continue to practice a religion that is void of any power and is in fact compromised in every way. Jesus does not belong to any nation, and is in reality not of this world. So then why have His followers become so much a part of this world and its systems?

There are many curious aspects of such an earthly allegiance. Not the least of which is the unholy alliances it creates. I know many believers who would never march with unbelievers about some moral or spiritual cause. But these same believers will take up a gun alongside a Christ denier and together kill other men, all in the name of the fallen concept called freedom.

Again, this issue is central to what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and we cannot remain silent any longer. I realize that patriotism is a sacred cow and any talk of abandoning that allegiance offends millions. But we must see it for what it is. The Spirit is calling believers to come out from among them and be separate. And not just be separate for separation’s sake, but so that the Holy Spirit can have our whole heart. We can say and print all the words we want, and we can shout at the darkness that grows both inside and outside of the church, but until our commitment to Christ far exceeds our commitments to earthly endeavors the church will remain a religious mausoleum. In fact, our commitment to Christ must be exclusive.

You want to carry a banner? Reject the flag and carry the name of God. You want a rallying symbol? Reject the eagle and make it a cross. You want a manual? Reject the constitution and embrace the Word of God. You want prosperity? Reject the wealth of this world and seek the eternal treasure found only in Jesus Christ. You want success? Reject the “American dream” and pursue the heart of God.

It’s all been changed and manipulated. But we must admire the fallen ingenuity of man. He has found a way to make Jesus hold hands with George Washington. But this Jesus is a pitiful facsimile who roams the earth seeking national freedom by the sword’s edge. But the real Jesus roams the earth seeking the redemption of lost sinners. His kingdom did not begin on July 4, 1776. His kingdom began before the foundation of the universe, and this kingdom will not, cannot, share anything with any other false kingdom.

Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
There can be no other.
The implications of embracing that truth are out of this world.