Dare I Have an Opinion?

The political and theological worlds are so intertwined these days that I am almost scared to have an opinion. For too long, those who disagree have decided it is a basis to hate someone with a differing opinion. How foolish. I find it funny that those who claim to be the most open-minded are often the most closed. Though I have strong opinions, if my politics get in the way of my ability to be a witness of Christ, I’ve missed something.

My mom was very politically active. She always took me to the polls when she voted. Yes, I was raised in the conservative tradition, both politically and theologically. Both of which I still hold. Those two things often go hand in hand. My mom adored Ronald Reagan and tolerated George H.W. Bush. Let’s be honest, I would not want to follow Reagan. Those were big shoes.

In our current culture, we are expected to take an extreme position, whether on the right or the left. My purpose in writing this blog is not to express my disagreement with liberal ideology. I’ll save that for a day if I’m bored or want to stir up trouble. My purpose here is to speak to those who, like me, are conservative, but perhaps unlike me, are overly vocal about every political topic. A wise man once quipped, “You can have an opinion about everything, but you don’t always have to share it.” (source unknown)

I have not yet touched on a specific topic; however, I’m sure some are already upset with my assertion. Stay with me. Within the Christian conservative tradition, I often hear that we need to stand up politically because if we don’t, we will lose our nation. I get that to a point, but I am reminded that Jesus never instructed me to stand up politically, but He did call me to pick up my cross and follow Him. He did tell me I would be persecuted and hated for the sake of His name.

We live in an upside-down world. Those who hold to the idea of traditional marriage, as outlined in Scripture, or hold to the concept of two genders, also outlined in Scripture, are the outsiders. Scripture tells us that right will become wrong and wrong will become right. (2 Tim 3) None of this should surprise us. However, we are told there has never been a time like this. That is a false assertion. Scripture refers to the end times by saying, “as in the day of Noah.” (Matt 24) Meaning, it will look like those days. I also point to Judges 17:6 “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” That sounds familiar.

When we read the account of Lot and the visitors to his city or the accounts of child sacrifice both in and around Israel, we recognize that sin has been present since the fall, and it always will be until Jesus returns and eradicates it. Please understand, I am not saying that Christians should not be politically active or even run for office, I am saying that we need to be careful how we present our opinions as believers.

No politician is our great savior, even if we appreciate his/her policies and accomplishments. Ultimately, it does not matter who is in the White House; every president moves us closer to Christ’s return. That, above all, should be our focus and motivation. I touched on a few things from the Old Testament. Let’s look at the culture of Jesus’ day.

Roman culture was about as ungodly as any. Abuse, divorce, homosexuality, child trafficking, prostitution, and idolatry were rampant. Paul even uses a word for homosexuality in his letter to Timothy that denotes an underage boy with an adult male. As a side note, many liberal theologians have attempted to reinterpret this and other words to prove that homosexuality is not a sin, but pedophilia is. In all actuality, both are sinful, as are affairs, sex outside of the confines of marriage, and sex with animals. (1 Cor 6)

The point is that Roman culture was depraved and overtly sinful. For further study, I encourage you to read the histories of the emperors Nero and Caligula. Again, my purpose here is not to give a list of sinful acts, but to show that Jesus lived and ministered at a time of deep sinfulness, both in Jewish and Roman cultures. Yet, Christ’s focus was the House of Israel, not the Roman government. In several places, the crowds around Jesus, even his disciples, hoped that Jesus had come to overthrow Rome. He did not. He came to overthrow sin.

Dare I have an opinion? The Church cannot legislate righteousness. Yes, I said it. Oh, I get it. We want our government to reflect Christian values. While that is all well and good, what we need is a revival that shakes the very core of our national spiritually. Christianity is currently on a downswing in America, yet it is exploding in communist China. Historically speaking, great revivals often come in moments of high persecution and turmoil, such as during and following WWI (Pentecostal Revival), WWII (Healing Evangelists), and Vietnam (Charismatic Renewal).

Ultimately, every Christian should vote based on Biblical principles, but we must preach Jesus more than politics. We’ve missed the point if every post we make is about the glories of a politician or a party. Paul reminds us that he will preach nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:22). No politician can save us. No political party will usher in spiritual revival. That can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit and a praying Church (sorry, Kingdom Now people). Christ will return at the appointed time. Not to throw in a new topic, but look at Jesus’s words, Matt 24:22 “In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.” That does not sound like a happy time on earth, but it will be for us.

Dare I have an opinion? Yes, yes, I do. Stop posting so much and start praying more. Trust God with your today and your future. Seek to live out Micah 6:8 “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Believers worldwide are willing and called to give their lives for Christ. Why should the West be any different? The current administration will quickly end, and another will rise. All the while, the return of Jesus is nearer. I want to be a voice of hope. Jesus is coming, not to save us from our government, but because He loves us and wants to spend eternity with us. Let’s preach that!