When Push Comes to Shove, for Whom will you Stand?

Whew. Another presidential election come and gone. Another drama filled duel for the Oval Office.

Bullets may not have flown between candidates, but they certainly did fly in an assassination attempt, and the rhetorical bullets flew with much more frequency…while they may not have drawn blood, they still had plenty of bite to them.

That's the thing about politics...they're rarely pretty. Those top of the ticket politicians rarely (more likely never) come in a nice and neat package completely unscathed from the journey. Let's just say the delivery drivers are exceptionally rough and they probably weren't packaged particularly well to begin with.

Whatever condition they started out in, their political path has probably made them worse for the wear. They may have weathered some storms well. They may have compromised on things they should've stood strong on. They may have let the power and prestige go to their heads, or worse, to their hearts. They may have lacked the tenacity to stand for truth when being pelted by sundry vegetables whilst being humiliated in the stocks of public opinion.

Whatever the reason may be, these people started out imperfect, and political processes tend to not age one like fine wine, but more like unpopular leftovers from the deep recesses of the fridge. It may look okay, but just open it up and that stench that hits you lets you know it actually isn’t as great as it appears.  The same could be said for us. Without the Holy Spirit helping sanctify us, what hope have we of being any better off than a politician? Their reputation precedes them, and that may not be pleasant.  

The bigger question should be how our own reputation precedes us. Especially in such a tense political environment as this year has been, people's reputations are certainly showing. Is your reputation like that of a person whose mere presence lights up a room? Or does it stick out like an ornery tag on your shirt collar that can easily be tucked in again?  Or is it more like an odd odor that follows you around that no one wants to confront you about but wishes that someone, anyone else would?

In this cultural moment, do we reek? And if so, of what?

Perhaps the better question is, of whom? Of your favorite presidential pick? Yuck...both those candidates left a LOT to be desired, much more so than the usual options. What about yourself? Your own fleshly scent is also pretty gag worthy.  And it seems the less aware of that fact we are, the worse we reek.  

Really, Christians, the only aroma we should seek to be emulating is that of Christ.  Any other aroma has a worldly stench to it.  And that is one off putting odor.  

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession,

and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.  

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved

and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death,

to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?  

For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity,

as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ."

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

So why is it that so many who claim Christ would rather walk around smelling of someone other than Him…who have their hearts so set on what they want and what this world has to offer that they completely lose sight of Him, His sovereignty, and what His Word has to say?  Truly, what does this world have to offer?  

 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires

of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 

And the world is passing away along with its desires, 

but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

1 John 2:15-17

Not. a. darned. thing.

And that includes these worldly political wars too.  There is nothing that either side of the political aisle has to offer that is remotely redemptive.  Yet for some reason, many have acted as if somehow, someway, the world’s well-being was hanging in the balance based on who walked away a winner on election day.  Before this election, folks on both sides were acting downright sacrilegious…as if their president-elect was for sure the savior.  And now that election day is done and the results are desired for some and definitely not so for others, some are acting as though their savior was elected, while others are acting as though those who didn’t elect their chosen one killed our country.  

I’ve seen Christians downright deny God’s sovereignty because they don’t like the results of the election.  What an embarrassment.  We should be ashamed to let something as trivial as an earthly political thing cast a shadow on our Sovereign Savior.  Sure, things like elections have ramifications and sometimes very serious ones, but to say that God is somehow limited because we can’t wrap our little mortal minds around His perfect plan is pathetic.  

And quite possibly, if not probably, idolatrous.  

If something like this can sway your faith so badly, your faith was probably on pretty shaky ground to begin with.  Might I remind you, fellow Christian that he works all things for our good and for His glory?  Even in elections that go asunder of what you would’ve wished for?  

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

Romans 13:1

But He is not bound by our perception of what should be!  Thank the Lord for that fact!  What a wreck this world would be had that been the case!  We probably would’ve been obliviated by our own human obfuscation ages ago because we can’t all have it our way…it just won’t work.  Thankfully, God is who gets to determine how it all turns out.  Spoiler alert – He wins.  In fact, He already won, and it was a total blow out!  

It is God who puts rulers (whether we like them or not) in authority for His purposes (whether we like it or not).  This may come as a shock to you…I didn’t love either option.  I feel like surely somewhere amongst the 334.9 million people here, that had to be some other options.  In fact, I probably know some people that I think would be much better suited to be Commander-in-Chief.  Someone who loves Christ’s lordship more than the political gains this world has to offer them.  

Maybe that needle is indeed out there in some haystack just waiting to be found.  If so, Lord, please raise that person up!  

But the truth is, that wasn’t His purpose for the here and now.  That’s just my pipe dream of a president.  Perhaps our country is being punished with awful selections for our presidential election because we’ve gone so astray and been led so asunder.  Regardless, we must know for Whom we stand and do our citizenly duty to elect whatever leaders we feel will do the least evil and align the most with biblical principles.  Even if we have to hold our nose while we do it because they both stink.  

He is still sovereign.  Even when things stink.  Politically or personally.  He always has been and He is still.  

One of my favorite songs to remind me of God’s sovereignty is Sovereign Over Us.  It’s written by Michael W. Smith, but I’m linking my favorite version here.  The lyrics are a great reminder of just how amazing He and His plans are, even when we don’t see it or wish things would’ve went a different way:

https://youtu.be/uvA9M-pMnWI?si=RcxAWFJM89CFQiSd