To: Christians, especially those of my own “household of God”
Ultimately, nothing will change regarding the biblical promises we all see in our Bible. The nations will continue to rage, and their rulers will continue to plot against our God and His anointed Son (Psalm 2:1–12). Si if you planted a political “flag” for any candidate, remember: they will not save you. More than likely, they will disappoint you, mislead you, and lie to your face. After all, the same Bible we all claim to read says as much: “Do not trust in princes, or in human beings, who cannot deliver!” (Psalm 146:3).
Remember this the next time you are tempted to sit at what Paul calls “the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21)—in this context, what I continue to call the political-industrial-military complex of this present evil age—because “all the gods of the nations are demons” (Psalm 95:5 LXX).
And to those who might retort, “But if we do not do this or that,” I would simply ask: Who is “we”? The church—we—are not supposed to be the governing “authorities,” and our allegiance must not be split. Romans 12 commands us, “Never pay back evil for evil,” and “Never avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath.” Romans 13 then identifies who God has placed in such a role, calling them the governing “authorities”; they bear the sword as God’s “avenger”—not you, Christian! So no, we are not called to act in that capacity for Caesar. Instead, we are called to bless those who persecute us, feed our enemy, overcome evil with good, and entrust final justice to God (Romans 12:14–21). If the State restrains evil, that is its role under God’s providence. But your role is to witness, obey, pray, become peacemakers, and suffer if necessary—even to the point of death for these beliefs. As 1 Peter 2 reminds us of why we bear the name “Christian,” i.e., a follower of Christ in the first place:
For you were called to this, since Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in his steps. “He never sinned, and no deceit was ever found in his mouth.” When he was slandered, he did not slander back. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to the One who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to uprightness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have come back to the pastor and overseer of your souls (vv. 21-25).
That said, we do thank God for the continued peaceful transfer of power, and we pray for the authorities, new or old, as Scripture commands (1 Timothy 2:1–2). But our prayer should not be, “Help us get out the vote harder next time,” but rather that those in power would leave us in peace so we may continue the work God has actually commanded the church to do, as summarized in Acts 8:12.
So, for those who may have forgotten—and for those who have not—continue in obedience to this faith, and keep your true allegiance clear. The Son of God is the true coming King of this world, but for now, “he must remain in heaven until the times of restoration of all things, about which God spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:21).
Shalom.
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