Left or right, red or blue, liberal or conservative, fiscal accountability or social policies, Republican or Democrat? Every four years, as the strength of summer draws to a close and autumn puts on its glorious display, we are inundated with political activism. Yard signs, radio commercials while shopping at Walmart, newspaper and digital ads, and robocalls all demand our attention. Depending on where you live or might be working, you may encounter a politician running for office. Sixteen years ago, while still living in Iowa, I was working on a remodel job in town when I noticed a marked increase in traffic. Law enforcement officers and political banners were everywhere. I learned a man campaigning in the primaries for the office of the presidency was to speak just two blocks away. My curiosity got the best of me. I unbuckled my toolbelt so I would make it through the checkpoint. I’m going to see what this is all about and what this man has to say. Making my way past the mob of political workers who were offering me a hat and T-shirt, trying to register me to vote or at least take a bumper sticker, I settled in to hear the pitch. If my values were of this world’s system, I would still be sad today that the candidate didn’t make it to office. If we only would have voted for him, taxes would be low, food and gas would be cheap, our schools would be thriving, and the economy would be booming. We would be as close to heaven on earth as we could get. As so, the cycle continues every four years.
We devoted most of this issue of The Heartbeat of the Remnant to values that our fathers and forefathers held dear. Values such as non-resistance, separation of church and state, non-participation of government, and the two-kingdom principle. But today, these values are under assault. Contemporary Christianity preaches across their pulpits that voting is a moral obligation of all Christians. We must be politically involved to fight against evil. And if we are politically involved, then we should also defend our country. The same flag that is hung over the voting booth is carried onto the battlefield. Their arguments sound quite convincing.
I invite you to read through the articles in this issue that bring a Biblical perspective on these issues. Here are some quotes from the writers:
“But the kingdom of Jesus Christ doesn’t force its way. The kingdom of light pulls, drawing men to it, while the kingdoms of this world push, forcing people to submit. Jesus came to attract, not attack!”
“The country of America, as great as it may be, will never be able to live for God. It will live for itself, protect itself, and live like unregenerate men live. Will we, as God’s people, accept this separation?”
“The Christian’s power does not come from the state. Christians have received power through the Holy Ghost by Jesus Christ himself.”
“When any group or nation upholds Bible principles, God can bless it. But because a nation is a worldly thing, a part of this world’s kingdom, it cannot be a godly thing.”
“The political process is poorly equipped to change hearts. That is the calling of the Christians. Jesus changes hearts, and our calling is to be a ministry of reconciliation – reconciling the world to Christ through the new birth and a changed life.”
I believe the last quote sums it all up. Political involvement is simply not the Christian’s calling. In a few years, it won’t matter who the president is. C.T. Studds says it well about what does matter:
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
This reminder is fresh on the minds of our family. On September 23, we laid my mother-in-law to rest. After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, she finally went on to her reward. My wife and I now have laid both our parents to rest. In their lifetimes, 15 presidents have come and gone. One more is about to leave office. None of those presidencies matter to them anymore. All that matters is that they are in the presence of the King of kings. And that is all that should matter to us as well. We may consistently vote the right president into office. But if we find ourselves standing before the wrong king in the life to come, our entire life and all its endeavors will have been a wasted effort.
But as for me and my house, we will serve the King of kings,
Edward Martin
