Are you looking for a political savior?  It is not surprising that in every election cycle, people look for a savior in hopes that this time their country can be saved. There is job insecurity, corruption, and mismanagement in government, and we read about injustice daily. The instability in our country and the world stokes our fears and insecurities.  Our political leaders have failed us, yet we keep searching for “the one,” a political savior who can save our country and so save us. The following Bible verse recorded long ago describes how many Christians feel today.

God rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard. 2 Peter 2:7-8 

Looking for a savior in man is nothing new. In fact, the Bible says there is nothing new under the sun.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.  Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”?  It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

The ancient Israelites clamored for a king, thinking that this kind of leadership would bring about respect for their nation.  Their demand displeased God because, when asking for a king, they rejected God’s rule over them.  Later in Jewish history, the people were subjected to Roman rule as were their religious leaders.  The Jews hated to pay taxes to Rome because much of the tax money went to maintain the pagan temples and the luxurious lifestyles of Rome’s upper class.  The coins they had to pay their taxes with bore not only the portrait of the emperor, but it also carried an inscription describing him as ‘son of god!’   Zealots were members of a Jewish patriotic party who formed to resist Roman rule, and driven by hatred, they resorted to violence and assassination.  This is the world that Jesus was born into, yet He talked little about government, and He certainly did not promote hatred and division.

The religious leaders asked Jesus:  Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?  Should we pay, or shouldn’t we?  Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”  And they were amazed at him.  Mark 12:15, 17

Jesus accepted the state as an institution ordained by God, which would not be what they wanted to hear.  They wanted the government to be overthrown.  Jesus taught that believers have dual citizenship on earth and in heaven with obligations to both.  It is the will of God that we continually seek Him by faith and do His will on earth, no matter who is in power.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone:  Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:16-17

God set up the government to protect its citizens and punish evildoers, so a nation whose people reject God has already set itself up for failure.  When a majority of the elect is immoral, they vote for leaders who reflect themselves.  Are you following the teachings of Christ or conforming to the world’s thinking and morality?  You will vote accordingly.  Believers should vote for the candidate and party platform that best reflects what the Bible teaches, but then leave the results to Him.  In the heat of this election year, don’t forget that our God is Sovereign over every nation and His will cannot be thwarted?  No government leader is ever elected without the knowledge and Providence of God.

Does He who implanted the ear not hear?  Does He who formed the eye not see?  Does He who disciplines nations not punish?  Does He who teaches man lack knowledge?  The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.  Psalm 94:9-11

You lose sight of pleasing God when you have an earthly focus and think and act as if everything depends on you.  You soon forget that this world is not eternal and that the problems in our world stem from sin in the human heart.  Political parties and candidates soon fade away, but Christ and His Kingdom last forever.  

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Colossians 3:1-2

Idolatry in Politics

Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.  Proverbs 11:7

A quote from “Counterfeit Gods” by Timothy Keller: “Opponents are not considered to be simply mistaken, but to be evil.  The increasing political polarization and bitterness we see in U.S. politics today is a sign that we have made political activism into a form of religion.”

Has God called believers to save the country, or to trust Him and do His will?

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.  Psalm 118:8-9

When people cease to trust the Providence of God, they become fearful and feel powerless, so they begin to look for a political savior.  When they find him/her, they then view politics as the answer to all their problems.  All their hopes are now in that person, so they become passionate and often offensive in defense of their candidate.  We only need to open our Twitter feed or watch the news to see what “religious-like zeal” looks like.  At this point, each of us must take a long hard look at ourselves.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”  1 Peter 3:9-10

What happens when you defend your political savior and forget your calling from God?  I am personally aware that “friends” are unfriending friends on Facebook because sinful passions are riding high, and there is no room for differences during this election year.  Instead of the fragrance of Christ, others only see someone’s political savior!  We cease loving our neighbor when we call others “stupid” or “uninformed” when they do not agree with us.  We deceive ourselves and do the will of the enemy when we think our cause is righteous, yet our behavior is anything but.  Superiority is not a Christian value nor is lack of love and divisiveness.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4:2

What pleases God is when we obey His commandment to love Him and love one another.  With God’s help, speak the truth in love without being argumentative.  Support your candidate but do so in a way that if he/she loses, you are willing to trust God for the outcome.  Satan is always ready to use someone willing to sow resentment, discord, and division, but don’t let that person be you.  God has called us to peace.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3

God is in Control of World Events

For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise.  God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.  Psalm 47:7-8

When we see evil leaders elected and good leaders not elected, we begin to wonder if God controls world events.  Because of unbelief, God may give a nation the ruler it demands.  Pray for the leader and the nation when this happens.  If the leader is wicked, the people will suffer for their choice, but perhaps they will repent and seek God.  The Book of Daniel teaches us that God is Sovereign, and His unseen hand is behind everything that happens to us, individually, as well as corporately as a nation.  God governs the world according to His purposes.

God called Daniel to serve an evil king when he wrote this:

Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His.  He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them.  Daniel 2:20-21

Do you believe that God rules from heaven and that His will cannot be stopped?  Faith works very differently than unbelief.  Faith believes that God is Sovereign, and nothing is too hard for Him.

Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.  Job 42:1-2

Don’t lose faith in God because you do not understand what He is doing.

“My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways.”  Declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

Only God knows the future and He alone sees the end of all history.  He inspired the prophet Isaiah to prophesy to the Jewish people 150 years before it happened that they would have an “anointed one” named Cyrus, a Gentile who did not even acknowledge God.  The Jewish people knew God’s prophesy in Isaiah, but they could not believe that God would use a pagan to deliver them.  In the foreknowledge of God, when Cyrus became king of Persia, he was responsible for the decree that released the exiled Jews, so they could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.   (See Ezra 1:1-7; Isaiah 41:2-4; 45:1-7) Why would God choose Cyrus, a Gentile, to free His people when he did not even acknowledge Him as Lord?  God Most High is in control over the kingdoms of the earth, and He gives them to anyone He wishes.  Few kings of Israel or Judah did as much for God’s people as King Cyrus of Persia would do.

From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.  What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.  Isaiah 46:11

The same God who raised up the Gentile Cyrus to save the Jews shows us that God uses even unbelievers to serve His purposes.  Each generation gets caught up in its own problems but trusting God’s plan embraces all generations.  History is His story.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples, But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.  Psalm 33:10-11

Trust in Jesus, Your Savior, and Eternal King!

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from Me there is no Savior.  Isaiah 43:11

Notes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a committed Christian living in Nazi Germany:  “Jesus was never a political savior though that is what the people were looking for.  If we cleaned up America by law, had the right political party in power, we would still have massive problems because hearts are left unchanged.   Our basic problem is sin, disobedience to God, so our problems will only continue under new rulers.”

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  Jeremiah 17:9

Jesus Christ did not come from heaven to lead a religious or a government revolt, but to save us from our sins, the true cause of all the pain, misery, and injustice in the world.  Spiritual renewal begins with repentance.  Think what would happen if enough people began to seek God instead of looking for a political savior?

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

 Trust the only true Savior, Jesus Christ, ruler of heaven and earth.

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:17

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Bible study for “Looking for a Political Savior”

Week 1:  2 Chronicles 7:14; 20:6; 1 Samuel 8:4-22; Job 12:22-25; 42:1-2; Psalms 2; 10:16; 22:27-28; 33:10-22; 45:4-6; 47:1-3, 7-10; 66:5-7; 67:4-5; 94:9-11, 20-23; 118:8-9; Proverbs 3:3-8; 4:23-27; 8:13-17; 11:7; 14:34; 16:18; 21:1

Week 2:  Ecclesiastes 1:9-10; 2:26; 3:14-15; 12:13-14; Isaiah 5:20-21; 31:1-3; 40:6-8, 12-15, 21-26, 28-31; 43:11-13; 46:11; 55:6-9; 59:1-2, 12-16; Jeremiah 7:23-24, 28; 9:3, 5-6, 23-24; 17:5-9; 18:7-10; 32:17, 26-2; Daniel 2:20-21; 4:34-37

Week 3:  Matthew 1:21; 22:36-40; Mark 12:15, 17; Luke 1:37; John 2:23-25; 14:27; 16:33; 19:10-11; Acts 4:12; 5:28-29; Romans 12:3, 16-17, 21; 13:1-7; 1 Corinthians 4:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:7-10; Ephesians 3:1-2; 4:2-3; Philippians 3:20; 4:4-9

Week 4:  Colossians 1:12-15; 3:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:15-16; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 6:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:19, 23-26; Titus 2:11-14; 3:1-2; Hebrews 11:6; 12:14; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 3:8-12; 2 Peter 2:7-10; 1 John 2:3-6, 15-17; 4:13-15; 5:1-5; Revelation 1:5; 11:15