Election Day Wisdom for a Redeemed People

“When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?””
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The bigger agenda is not a call to politicize the body of Christ but to faithfully reflect Christ and his concerns for the whole world in all of our public engagement”
— Richard Cizik in New evangelical manifesto

Yesterday, I was watching the Cleveland Browns lose with a bunch of Die hard Browns fans in Naples Florida when one of my newly found comrades in the 100 year war (slogan adopted by Browns fans to deal with the misery of losing for soooo long) said "Everytime a political commercial comes on, I turn away as it literally turns my stomach.  It feels so hopeless".

It was there.  He gave voice to what so many others have felt: hopelessness.  Elections, in our democracy, are supposed to be reasons for hope.  In fact, regardless if you supported President Obama or not, his election was one of hope.  The idea that America had made enough social progress that it could elect an African American President, or the President's vision of making the American dream more inclusive to those who had been marginalized essentially seized upon our need for hope. We need hope. We need to understand that things can get better.

In the Book of Joshua, the Israelites who spent 40 years wandering around in a Dessert after being dramatically liberated from 400 years of slavery, were approaching Jericho.  Jericho was a walled fort-city that stood in their way in getting to their promised lands.  Reasons for pessimism and negativity abounded.  The Israelites had no weapons or training to fight.  They were relatively impoverished.  Previous attempts to seize the promise land ended in failure.  God however, is a God of hope.  God of  the "way out of no way".  The God who intervenes.

What is amazing in the story of Joshua is that he meeets an angel or the lead of God's armies (many suggest that this may have been a pre-incarnate Christ) who is going to give him instructions.  Notice that Joshua plainly asks him who is he for: Is the angel for Israel or Jericho.  The messenger of God simply says a startling word: Neither.  Neither!

If Israel was the covenant people of God, how could his Angel not be for them?  Did the Israelites come this far to be destroyed?  The Answer lies that no people, no person, no factions, and no parties can co-opt God.  God would say through his prophet Ezekiel that he "has no pleasure in the death of the wicked".  He is "for" everyone and no one gets the title that God is simply for you or me.  Jesus came so that all would be blessed and saved (I Tim 2:4).  (That is not saying that everyone will be saved or that everyone is saved, but thats a different theological discussion)

In light of God's love for everyone, lets draw out a couple pearls of wisdom as you exercise your right to vote:

1. United States is not a theocracy so stop treating it that way:  United States is not the Israel of the Bible, nor are American Churches facing a new promise land.  These metaphors were adopted by early colonial Christians and led to some of the most devastating and dehumanizing activities, particularly against peoples of color.  The United States is a secular government created by the people  and for the people.  It is a democracy because people may choose not to adopt a faith and and have the freedoms to adopt values that may or may not be in line with traditional Judeo Christian values.  United States is their country too.  God is for "them" as well.  Interestingly, the trick that God pulls on us is that "we" used to be "them" until the grace of God poured out on us.  Lets not demonize others, but understand that this is an opportunity for ministry but that begins with respect for others.

2. The President of the United States or any office of the Federal government, is not a sacred position.    Neither Donald Trump or HIlliary Clinton are God's anointed.  That does not mean that God can not use them dramatically, as the Bible is full of secular leaders who were used greatly by God.  But there is a huge difference between being used "By God" and being used "Of God".  Again, God is not co-opted!  Neither of these candidates can claim that God is "for them" but only can seek to demonstrate that they are "For God".  Consider what was Jesus' agenda and evaluate which candidate's positions are closely aligned or separated.  However, it is ridiculous to consider either candidate anointed.

3. You can choose any candidate you wish but do not blame "Jesus" for your choice.  I know Godly conservative, libertarian, progressive and even neo-marxists.  All of those ideologies have significant truths and attractions but none of those are kingdom platforms.  The Church is unable to express a Kingdom platform because we are too beholden to your pasts, cultures, bias, and fears.  So, we default to the culturally accepted baseline.  Recognize that your choice is your best choice but may not be the candidate that is most closely aligned with Jesus' agenda.

4. There are a lot of things that God has expressed disgust with in the Bible, recognize that often our culture amplifies one.  Interestingly, abortion has been the conservative plumbline for anything political for the last 40 years but it is not mentioned in Scripture specifically. (There are plenty of scriptures that suggest life begins in utero, but no specific scripture speaking out against abortion).  There are plenty of direct scripture speaking against greed, cruelty, allowing poverty, etc.  My point is that we must recognize that there is no specific sin that "takes the cake".  For me, racism is my pet peeve, but I realize that other Christians not only diminish this as a sin, but often partake in it.  We have to recognize that thee is no anointed candidate and that all their "sins" will be seen differently depending on your experience and community.

Its my hope that you will prayerfully vote for the candidate that will lead our nation to elevate our common good and world wide will be a blessing.  That candidate, is yours to choose.  God is not for either of them.  OUr job is to choose the best, and then cover them with prayer as they enter into the most difficult job in the world.

God bless

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