The Sovereignty of God and the Politics of Men

[ First few sentences omitted for relevancy to WriteInJesus.org. ]

During this past midterm election, an estimated 3 billion dollars was spent by political candidates on television ads to discredit the opposing candidate while attempting to convince voters to vote for them. It seems as though our mantra in the United States is everything rises or fall on politics.

Dr. King once said, “We have allowed the means by which we live to outdistance the ends for which we live”. It seems to me that Americans are viewing politics as if it is an end, but we must remember that it is only a means to a desired end. Whether your political conviction is that of a republican or a democrat, liberal or conservative, remember that politics is nothing more, nothing less than a system to accomplish a desired end.

As I watched the midterm election results unfold on Tuesday, and began to contemplate the impact these results would have on the presidency of Barack Obama as well as the future of this Country, the Holy Spirit directed me to Proverbs 21:1. It reads: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” From a human standpoint, we espouse the idea, not to mix religion with politics. In our society, there is the general understanding of a separation of church and state. However, from God’s perspective, there is no such dichotomy between these two entities. You may ask why this is the case. The writer of proverbs tells us “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord”. In other words, no political leader or political party is beyond the divine scope of God’s sovereignty. Those who serve in any political office, from the President all the way down to the House of Representatives are subject to the divine scrutiny of God. The second part of proverbs 21:1 tells us that God directs the heart of the king “like a watercourse wherever he pleases”. It is in the heart where man’s will and God’s will meet. It is in the heart where man’s agenda collides with God’s agenda. Nevertheless, man’s agenda is subject to God’s agenda. Politicians often make promises and devise plans to go in one direction, but God has the last word on their finite agendas. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. Unlike man and his political systems by which he makes promises that he cannot keep, God in his sovereignty always keeps His promises. According to Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? As Christians, we can rest and rejoice in the fact that God is still on the throne and that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Amen.

As far as I know, Jesus was not elected Mayor, Governor, Senator, or anything else on November 2nd. I’m not actually sure anyone voted for him at all. But that doesn’t make him a loser and it doesn’t make this site meaningless (a little silly, maybe). The point was never for Jesus to actually be elected. I’m not sure he wants to be the ruler of any man-made position in our governments.

But can you imagine it? Imagine a little town with two corrupt politicians running for Mayor. Out of their wits and out of their options, the people write in Jesus of Nazareth and he wins. What would they do? Would they go on about their way, acting as though he were as tangible as our wives or husbands or parents or friends? Can you imagine the swearing-in ceremony? I picture a silly situation where a Judge, the Honerable, holding a Bible, asks Jesus to put his right hand on it and swear to tell the truth and uphold justice. How can we ask the definition of truth and justice to swear by them? Can we swear by ourselves?

But I digress and start to daydream.

The position Jesus is to have in our lives as Christians is greater than the position held by our Judges, Mayors, Governors, Senators, and even Presidents. His Kingship is more intimate than all these and more supreme. If we cannot imagine him as our President, how can we imagine him as our Lord?

When I next go to vote, I will cast two votes. One ethereal from my heart and the other tangible with my hand. Both will be the write-in candidate Jesus of Nazareth.

Statue of Justice.

]]> http://www.writeinjesus.org/index.php/2010/11/09/jesus-wins/feed/ 0 http://www.writeinjesus.org/index.php/2010/11/01/spin-round-and-round/ http://www.writeinjesus.org/index.php/2010/11/01/spin-round-and-round/#respond Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:03:27 +0000 http://www.writeinjesus.org/?p=22 I often feel spun ’round and ’round in politics. People are always taking different views and then adjusting them slightly. They adjust their views again and again until they aren’t really saying anything at all. I’ve heard this called spin in the world of Public Relations.

More often, I think we identify spin when we know something to be a bigger deal than it is actually presented as. This is a common technique employed by “spin doctors”. Spin doctors are those that are so good at this manipulation that they are hired precisely for it. I don’t know anyone who puts “spin doctor” on their resume, no more so than a writer might put down “hack,” but I think we know them when we see them.

A lot of tales have been spun over the years about every leader that has ever had a follower; none so, perhaps, as much as Jesus of Nazareth. Who exactly this man is boggles the minds of some and is a curse for others. Unfortunately, spin rarely gives us the impression that someone is squeaky clean. We can assume the worst when legends are made out of people.

Unfortunately, we can never fully trust history when we receive it second-hand (we may not even trust it first-hand if we don’t believe in ourselves). If you go to vote and feel you can’t trust any of the options presented, then I’d suggest you write in Jesus. A lot of people have found him worthy of their faith.

When you go to vote, consider a write-in: Jesus of Nazareth.

Being a foremost learned man on Abraham Lincoln (I’ve read one biography), I can safely say he was a wise man. Last night, I was watching videos on Ted and found this fabulous one on reforming the education system. Sir Ken Robinson quotes Lincoln saying:

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves and then we shall save our country.

Wow. Truly, Abraham Lincoln had a way with words. (Ironic that Robinson would quote him given his lack of a rigorous formal eduction.) I love what Robinson loves about Lincoln’s statement: we do not rise “to” the occasion but “with” it. In the same way, Robinson points out that we cannot solve the problems of today or tomorrow with the solutions of yesterday.

As much as it is true in education, I believe it is likewise true in our government. If you are apathetic about the current political system, good. You are already disenthralled with it. Be principled and vote along those principles.

The next time I go to vote along my principles, I just might have to write in Jesus.

I hope I’m paranoid when I hear, “write in Jesus? No, that’s a waste of a vote.” Some who read this may be thinking that. Well, you’re wrong. You’re wrong and I don’t think you get it.

The principle of voting is to express yourself. It is not about “winning” or “losing” or “victory” or “defeat”. Rationalizing a vote so that it elects a given candidate while ignoring your true beliefs is a defeatist mentality that disrespects yourself. Since when did your ideas need to go along with the majority or else they were a waste?

Others I’ve heard are concerned of votes that will be lost to a terrible candidate like Jesus of Nazareth. “Don’t vote for him, he’ll never win. Vote for this other guy that’s kinda like the one you wanted.” There’s a time and place for compromise. Fortunately our democratic system doesn’t have to be one where you do so with your vote.

To those who have gone before us, it has already occurred that there must be a place on your ballot for your vote to be written in. If you don’t see the name you want leading you on the list with little empty bubbles then pick up the pen and write it in. Nobody is there to judge you. The ballot booth is private for that very reason. You’re vote is anonymous and equal to every other vote.

Rich or poor, Black or White, Smart or Dumb, Strong or Weak, Male or Female, your vote is equal. That is fundamental. That is inalienable. That we submit ourselves to. We bond ourselves by it. My say in things is equal to your say in things: we will have to work together. I love this. I am proud of this.

To those of us who have let themselves be lead by Jesus, what do you think? Are you prepared to write his name in for Mayor? for Governor? for Senator? for Congressman? for President? Why not? Do you compromise when you check a box? The next time you’re in the booth, write in Jesus of Nazareth.

“The eyes of the Fair are on the future – not in the sense of peering toward the unknown nor attempting to foretell the events of tomorrow and the shape of things to come, but in the sense of presenting a new and clearer view of today in preparation for tomorrow; a view of the forces and ideas that prevail as well as the machines. To its visitors the Fair will say: “Here are the materials, ideas, and forces at work in our world. These are the tools with which the World of Tomorrow must be made. They are all interesting and much effort has been expended to lay them before you in an interesting way. Familiarity with today is the best preparation for the future.'”

Are you inspired? Are you motivated? Do you feel a sense of conviction and empowerment about the Fair? Well, you should. Language such as what’s used here was specifically created to lift a nation out of a decade of economic depression.

Whether used to empower or mislead, language like this is full of glittering generalities. You’re told what will happen, how to think, and what it says. You can’t contend with the statement because it makes no decisive point (that is, contend in a way where you’re anything but the bad-guy). When used for the World’s Fair, there probably isn’t much wrong with language like this. But then the politicians learn it and the propagandists learn it and suddenly we hear a speech but no point. I’m thinking of a handful of pastors too.

I know you’ve had this experience. The end of a talk arrives and you “feel” rather than “think” about what was said. Dialogues like this happen over and over again:

“What did you think of what he said today?”

“Oh, I loved it.”

“Really, what was your favorite part?”

“I don’t know exactly. It was just so right-on.”

Passion and motivation are critical. Choosing words carefully and tailoring them to your audience is wise. But I’d rather hear it more from the mouths of teachers and coaches than politicians.

When I go to vote, I like to put the onerous of change on someone else. But Jesus constantly reminds me to pray and in that discipline I am changed as much as I see change occur. I need a leader that’s not afraid to point out my faults. The next time I go to vote, I’ll write in Jesus.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I know there are a lot of ways to read that, some much more accurate than others. I don’t believe this means the government as we know it today: two-parties, three-houses, democracy, should be “upon the shoulder” of Jesus. Nor that we should stick Jesus into that system. Admittedly, this passage says nothing explicitly about Jesus and depending on where you come from, the Kingdom of God seems more like a monarchy or dictatorship. But I’m still encouraged by it. God has lead people throughout history to govern us. And, as always, we are in need of leaders of great moral character and mental clarity. So I am reminded of the God of Moses who was the original King of Israel. Remember that when you next go to vote, you can write in Jesus.

Wikipedia disambiguates the term “between a rock and a hard place” as a dilemma. The word “dilemma” has its roots in Greek, literally translated as “double proposition,” meaning a problem offering two solutions, neither of which is practically acceptable. Personally, I feel that way a lot when voting. Do you often dislike the dilemmas you face in voting?

When facing a dilemma, the greatest challenge can be a positive attitude. I chose the picture to the right because I felt it symbolized hope. This little sapling has taken root in the crevice between two boulders. How extraordinary that under the harshest conditions, life can still take root.

If you’re struggling to decide who to vote for in the upcoming elections, consider Jesus. Honestly, you can write in Jesus of Nazareth.

Growing up, I had always heard the term “lesser of two evils” with respect to politics. How demoralizing that neither of our choices are what we want! Well this website exists to remind us that we can always choose the “good” when the checkboxes just list “evils”. The next time you go to vote remember that you can write in Jesus.