Love Has a Name

Recent days, in that I mean the preceding 10-20 years and more, have been fraught with tension, injustice, war, hatred and suffering all over the globe. No matter your religious belief or background you are subject to a government of some kind, religious, human, or both.

In today’s world we are being asked, often times demanded, to pick a side. Left or Right? Republican or Democrat? Liberal or Conservative? “Disagree with us and we will cancel you“, some people say. The pressure is high and the microscope is everywhere.

Much to my dismay I have seen many Christians pick a side as well with, in my opinion, one grave error. They are picking a side and forgetting their only allegiance, at the end of the day, is to Jesus.

Christians and non-Christians alike are being swept up in the mainstream media’s frenzy and hatred of the opposite side and splitting the world in 2. Christians are unfortunately joining the masses in picking a side, Left or Right etc., and leaving their allegiance to Jesus aside, even if but for a moment. Christians however must pick vertically. We must choose the Kingdom of Heaven over Left or Right or Liberal or Conservative.

We Christians must insist on choosing the only Saviour and the only “Party” that will win in the end. The King of Heaven as ruled by Jesus Christ.

There is of course a need to be politically minded and aware of your political parties platform, values, and beliefs should you choose to cast your vote. Your vote has weight and it speaks to the world and informs society a little of who you are and what you believe.

I contend however, that as Christians and followers of Jesus we are not to take a Left or Right, Republican or Democrat, Liberal or Conservative focus as our main focus. We are citizens of heaven. We are the bringers of light and should only have allegiance to the Father in Heaven should push come to shove.

Our politics should be informed by the Bible and not have our faith informed by politics.

The Bible teaches in Daniel 2:21, that it is He (that is the Christian God) changes the times and the epochs, installs and removes King (Governments) and gives wisdom to wise men. Whether we want or do not want a president, prime minister or king above us we will have one and it is the Christian God who installs these governments. (For my non-Christian readers, this is another claim of the Bible which no other god or deity or entity makes claim to and as it is not contested that the Christian God installs governments it is easy to see that it is true.)

Jesus himself when being questioned before his execution told Pilate, his sentencer, “you could have no power at all against me unless it was given you from above.”

For those of us who follow Jesus we are quick to forget this and that our Governments are not our saviors. They do however have a great impact on our lives. Romans 13:1-7 clearly outlines we are to obey and submit ourselves to governing authorities, and here’s the kicker… only if the laws do not force us to contradict the laws of God.

We cannot disobey our commandments in Scripture for man’s sake, we must, in fact we are compelled to, disregard man’s laws for Jesus’ sake.

Throughout recent months all over the world there have been elections and I have witnessed people weeping and mourning for the loss of their candidate and others celebrate and march in victory for the win of theirs. The grand emotion on both sides clearly indicates they are looking to human governments for answers and for salvation and for peace of some kind.

People want a saviour. People want freedom. People want assurance of their salvation. I can only assure you that your government, regardless of your candidate will not provide you a way into eternal life.

Men and women are all flawed and each and every single one of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Any human, or god or deity, being outside of Christianity for that matter, regardless of their political influence, social media influence or stature cannot provide salvation. (Another claim only made by Jesus is that He is the only way to eternal life not based on works or deeds, but based on the free gift of salvation by grace through faith, alone. Another uncontested statement made only by the Christian God through Jesus Christ.)

My hope and prayer for this post, for my Christian readers, is to reset your mind to focus upwardly toward Jesus and His Kingdom and His authority. We are not going to be in this world for much longer and I would be remiss in not confronting this issue.

My hope and prayer for this post, for my non-Christian readers, is to simply investigate the seemingly outrageous claims of Jesus with an open-mind and an open-heart. You too are offered the free gift of salvation from Jesus Christ should you choose to receive it.

Lord be with us all and keep us safe from the evil one until the day when Christ returns.