There is Only One True Savior, Even in #Election Years

It happens every four years.  And no matter what we told ourselves after the last election, we all fall for the lie again and add at least one “Savior” to our list-at least until the election.  They say history repeats itself, and elections are a vivid example of this.  We all saw it four years ago, conservatives and liberals alike, the absurd way we let the election run our lives, strain (or ruin) our relationships, overrun us spiritually.  We worshipped an idol-some politician who God definitely wanted, maybe even had “ordained”. 

And many of us vowed, to ourselves or others, that we wouldn’t do it again.  “Next time I won’t get so involved, allow my perspective to be so skewed by the hype and abandon what I know to be true:  I already have a savior, and he is more than enough”, we told ourselves. 

Then, six months ago, COVID showed up with its shutdowns and quarantines, accompanied by police brutality, protests turned to riots, and cities were burned (not to mention the entire West coast). And here we are again, four years later. Sadly, we haven’t learned.  We see the unrest, the violence, the continual destruction, and we can’t help ourselves.  We know that we promised ourselves the last time, but the draw is too tempting, too seductive, and we just have to partake.  Because how could God allow all of this to happen?  Could his plans still prevail with “so-and-so” in office?  Surely, he needs our help convincing those around us to see it our way. Heaven must be a twitter with concern, dreading the outcome of this ever-important election.  Not to mention, the election scandals already taking place.   Then, what will God do if “His man or woman” doesn’t win? And the gospel goes out the window again, at least until November 5^th, or 6^th.

While New Testament is filled with reminders to the church to return to Christ, its “first love”, admonitions against getting caught up in “civilian affairs”, much of the church in America justifies complete idolatry in this season.  Sure, we know the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).  We have heard the warnings saying, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you . . “ (1 John 2:24), and “ . . . you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4), but we are so convinced, so blinded by our circumstances that we “exchange the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25) and put a politician or ideology above Christ, above the gospel.

Now don’t get me wrong.  We are to be concerned about our country and communities, and we should vote.  Some of us may even be called to politics.  The error lies not in our participation in our communities but in our hearts.  In seasons such as this, we must ask ourselves and others who our savior is, remind each other that we have already been completely redeemed.  We don’t need saving. Not only are we “free” in Christ, our Father in heaven is in complete control of our circumstances, even this all-important election.  As Lamentations explains, “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?  Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?  Why should a living man complain?”  (Lamentations 3:37-39). Simply put, God’s sovereign plan to redeem his people will continue, even if our favored politician, our “savior” doesn’t win. 

So, in this season of great division and emotion, my prayer is that this time, this election, I will remember my first love, love my neighbor (regardless of their political leanings), trust God’s sovereignty, and vote.  I want to wake up the day after the election without regret, knowing I trusted my savior faithfully, keeping my eyes on his throne instead of one inhabited by another man/woman I temporarily abandoned him for.