I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it up to here with politics. Any politics. I’m sick of hearing about the candidates, where they stand on the issues, what they’ve done wrong, why we should vote for this one instead of that one or not vote at all, and what celebrities (and everybody else on the planet) think about them. It’s a 24/7 barrage on TV, the radio, social media, and personal conversations. Yes, these issues are important (for the love of my sanity, y’all, please don’t write me comments and e-mails arguing for your candidate or position- I agree these things are important) but I’ve reached my saturation point. It would be great if somebody would capture the Loch Ness monster or find a cure for the common cold or something just so everybody would have something else to talk about for five minutes.
In the midst of this political fervor, pastors – from those in the national spotlight to those in rural obscurity – are applying theology to the election and current culture. Some of it has been very, very good. Encouraging. Refreshingly biblical. And some of it…well, not so much.
On the “not so much” side, one of the recurring themes I’ve heard from various pulpits is the prediction or expectation that America is going to make a comeback. Brighter days are just around the corner. The cultural morality of the 1950’s might even re-emerge, and we’ll all be able to breathe a sigh of relief that evil and debauchery have left the building.
Then some pastor, somewhere, decided to co-opt the word “revival,” paste it over this concept of America getting its moral act together, and offer the whole package to American Christians as hope.
A turnaround of American culture and morality wouldn’t be a bad thing. Personally, I think it would be great if America would start behaving itself like a courteous, rational adult instead of a pagan, hedonistic teenager. We are 240 years old, after all.
But that is not revival, and it is not where our hope lies.
Let me ask you something: What if America never turns around? What if things continue to get worse, morally, economically, militarily, and culturally until this country eventually implodes into anarchy or becomes a vassal state to a godless nation?
What if God destroys America instead of making her great again? Will your faith be destroyed, too?
Sadly, for many Americans whose faith has become a syncretistic mélange of patriotism and pseudo-Christianity, the answer is yes. How many will lose heart and walk away forever when the “revival” their pastor promised fails to materialize? Uncle Sam is a cruel master and a lousy god.
Real revival is exactly the opposite. It can take place regardless of who wins the election, whether the United States is virtuous or villainous, rich or poor, enslaved or free or wiped off the face of the earth. It can take place even if you’re the only person in the world who wants it.
Biblical revival happens when Christians – thousands or dozens or one – bow the knee to Christ in repentance over their sin, forsake their worldliness, pursue holiness, act on their new-found zeal for evangelism, and live faithfully. It’s found when we stop fretting about who’s sitting in the Oval Office and start focusing on Who’s sitting on the Throne and how we might honor and please Him, regardless of what’s going on in society.
Real revival doesn’t always change the culture. Just ask Noah. Or the righteous remnant of the Old Testament exile. Or the martyrs of the early church. That’s not what it’s for. Revival isn’t supposed to change the world. It’s supposed to change your heart. It’s supposed to change your focus from temporal, elemental things to the Christ who bled and died for your sin.
That’s where our hope is found, sisters.
Not in the White House, but in Christ, regardless of who’s in the White House. Not in a moral society, but in Christ, whether society’s morals are Victorian or heathen. Not in laws and policies and freedoms that suit us, but in Christ.
Our hope is in Christ.
If Hillary wins,
our hope is in Christ.
If Donald wins,
our hope is in Christ.
If America re-emerges as that city on a hill,
our hope is in Christ.
If America runs swiftly toward her demise,
our hope is in Christ.
Our hope is in Christ, dear sisters. Let us never forsake our First Love for something as lowly as love of country, favor of the government, or an upright populace.
Our hope is in Christ.
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Amen! I so agree. I personally just want to finish well, continuing to follow Christ ever so closely, serving and obeying Him as He directs me, and walking with a quiet, trusting heart no matter what.
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Well said, Susan :0)
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Michelle, this is positively the best commentary I’ve read on this election to date, and the most passionate post I’ve ever read on your blog! You’re 100% correct that our hope must be exclusively in the Lord, not in America or its leaders. Every American Christian needs to read this powerful piece!
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Aw, thanks, Deb. You are too kind :0)
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So well said and I couldn’t agree more!
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Maranatha!
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Maybe we could talk about the World Series instead. Go Cubs!!!
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it is VERY IMPORTANT who is in the White House! Witness Hitler, Mao, astalin. We need the freedom of democracy in order to have the freedom of the Holy Spirit . The Russian Orthodox patriarchs are afraid of Putin and he gives them money. They do what he tells them. Do we want that here? Get real!
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From the very first paragraph of the article: “Yes, these issues are important (for the love of my sanity, y’all, please don’t write me comments and e-mails arguing for your candidate or position– I agree these things are important)
“We need the freedom of democracy in order to have the freedom of the Holy Spirit.”
I’m sorry, but is it possible you just worded this poorly and you don’t really mean what these words say? Surely you’re not saying that God the Holy Spirit is in any way limited by any type of human government, right?
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i AM saying that! In order to teach the gospel, we need to have freedom of speech. I would not know about the Holy Spirit if I had not been taught. We need freedom of religion. We have to fight to keep our freedoms in every generation. Our elections are serious and important.
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Yes, but you being taught about the Holy Spirit by another person is different than the Holy Spirit Himself not having the ability to work in a particular country due to the type of government that country has. That’s what it sounded like you were saying in your original comment. I’m glad that’s not what you meant, because it’s not true. The Holy Spirit Himself is at work all over the world. Even the most oppressive government cannot stop Him.
Also, if you think about it, we do not have to have freedom of speech to teach the gospel. Christianity was born under a government (the Roman Empire) that did not offer freedom of speech, and Christians taught the gospel nonetheless. That’s been the case in most countries for the last 2000 years. Christians have always risked their lives and their freedom to share the gospel.
We can certainly be thankful for freedom of speech and freedom of worship, but we need to recognize that this country is the exception, not the rule, in guaranteeing those rights, and that we are obligated to share the gospel even if we don’t have those freedoms.
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To go back to my original point, it really matters who is in the White House. The NAR wants their theology to dominate all areas of our lives. They are aligning with Republicans and have influenced the Republican party to adopt their ideas. They do not want freedom of religion.
Yes, the Holy Spirit can work in countries that have been closed to the gospel, but only if Christians take the gospel into those countries. The American presidential candidate who promotes freedom for ALL religions is upholding our constitution and thereby protecting freedom for each American to choose what to believe.
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Molly, I don’t disagree with any of that, and neither does this article. I clearly said in the very first paragraph that I agree these things are important. You seem to be arguing with someone who agrees with you.
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I am an army brat, and I lived in Alaska, too — before it was a state! There were no quarters at the post, so we had to live in Anchorage. We lived in a rough, working class neighborhood. My sister and I had free range and made friends and visited homes of kids much different than I was used to. This experience made me much more broad-minded than I would be otherwise. So as a Christian today at age 83, I emphasize love and not the law. I think your approach is wrong because you seem to be a legalist. Concerning homosexuality, I think Jesus would accept homosexuals and not say they need to change. That is because they are bullied and commit suicide. He would also accept abortion in many cases where a pregnancy is very bad for the mother. Nature does abortions when there is something wrong by miscarriage. Medical science has now the power to do that safely. Abortion is not to be taken lightly, but it should be an option. Homosexuality can change in some situations but not where you would be ripping the soul out of a person. The loving thing to do is decide based on what is best for the person.
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Molly- I would urge you to prayerfully and carefully work through the materials and Scriptures here, and then work through my Bible study on 1 John. I am very concerned that you may be a false convert (not genuinely born again). The things you’re saying are indicative of someone who is unsaved, not someone who is a Christian. Simply calling yourself a Christian, or believing that you’re a Christian doesn’t make you one.
Jesus says in His written Word that homosexuality is a sin that must be repented of (Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, etc.). Jesus does not accept abortion in any case because it is murder. He says that murder is a sin (Exodus 20:13, Matthew 5:21-22, 1 John 3:15, etc.). Abortion is never an option. You are championing sins Christ died for.
“The loving thing to do is decide based on what is best for the person.”
Yes, and what is best for the person is to repent and believe the gospel, and live in obedience to Christ and His written Word. That is what is best for every person.
Molly, you are nearing the end of your life. Please, before you step into eternity, make sure you believe the biblical gospel (in the first link I gave you), or you will not spend eternity with Christ, but in Hell. I don’t want that for you.
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If nobody but southern baptists can get into heaven, I’d rather be in hell with all the presbyterians!
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It’s remarks like this that lead me to believe you’re not genuinely born again. No one who has genuinely been born again would say such a thing.
Only genuinely regenerated Christians will get into Heaven, regardless of denomination. Right now it seems unlikely you’re going to make it. Again, I would urge you to prayerfully consider all of the Scriptures and materials at the links I provided. This will now conclude our conversation.
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