I know of a lot of Christians are politically involved.  I know a lot Christians are watching the news, listening to Rush and other conservative voices on the radio and television.  Reading articles and maybe commenting on social media posts of conservative news sources. I know, I have done some of those things myself. I can’t help but wonder if our energy couldn’t be focused better elsewhere.

I know of some who are concerned about the future freedom of the church.  Will we be pressed upon by the government?  In my opinion, I wouldn’t be surprised if the government, under Biden, began threatening tax exempt status available under the IRS code 501(c)3.  What I mean by that is they use it pressure churches to perform same sex marriages who are not doing so now.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they did the same with Christian schools, force them to hire homosexual teachers or to teach homosexual approved curriculum. (Now, there are already a lot of traditionally Christian colleges who have already either softened their stance or have outright advocated for acceptance of same sex relationships.) Some have considered fighting for that freedom.

The past election with all the chaos of vote-counting software being compromised to lots of extra ballots suddenly appearing has opened my eyes.  Not about the fact that Democrats would allegedly do something like that to regain the White House (I may write a separate blog about that) but how many Christians are wrapped up in politics.  The Evangelical Intelligentsia (some of whom are registered Democrats) telling evangelicals that they can’t seriously vote to keep Trump in office because he is morally corrupt. Advising that they don’t have to vote for Biden but they certainly should not vote for the morally bankrupt Trump. On the other side, there is pastor Robert Jeffress in Dallas and Franklin Graham who were staunch and very vocal supporters of President Trump.

Is this what Christians should be fighting for? Are we called to dive into political arena to try to save our country and the freedoms we enjoy to openly practice as Christians? I would argue that this freedom has done more damage to the church than anything else.  Northern Africa and the Middle East were stalwart areas of the early church.  The ante-Nicene fathers established a lot of our orthodox views today. In modern times, those regions are strongholds for Islam because their doctrine became watered down and weak. A missionary in those countries now is in a dangerous situation.

Persecution solidifies doctrine. True believers under duress will cling to the Word of God, they won’t wander off to chase after the comforts of the world because those comforts will be out of reach of them due the persecution. They will find their comfort in the bible, and their trust will grounded again in the One who has decreed all things before the foundation of the world was established by Him.

This election has provided to me some perspective. I don’t want to be caught up in politics about what is happening next or what freedoms I will be losing. I will keep tabs but I will remember that my citizenship is not of the United States but of the Kingdom of God.