No doubt many of you voted in the mid-term elections on Tuesday. The day marked a pretty impressive political victory for the Republican party, which made significant gains in both houses of congress, in state legislatures, and in governorships across the nation.
It is not our place or purpose to comment on the election results. I have my opinions (and I feel free to posit them privately). However, there are a couple of thoughts that arise in observation of the events of the day. These thoughts have a spiritual application that is appropriate for this space.
The first thing to note is that the day sported an extremely large turnout for a mid-term election. This is an indication of high interest. Such high turnouts are commonly seen during times of crises. This is a rather typical response of human nature. Comfort brings complacency and tribulation brings a sense of urgency. At present, the urgency is a result of a flagging economy. Wars and moral issues occasionally trigger the same interest in the American electorate.
What such interest has not seemed to do is awaken a greater interest in spiritual matters. Economic trials have in the past led to spiritual renewal. Those who can not fend for themselves tend to turn to God for comfort and help. We can only pray that there will be such a spiritual renewal in the United States. While I do not wish to live in a third world country, I do envy the open hearts that seem to be present in many foreign lands, as the preaching of the gospel leads to the conversions of so many. When compared to the meager responses to the preaching of God’s word in our society, we have a contrast that indicts the secular nature of our national interests and attitudes.
The second thing to note is the effectiveness of the Tea Party movement. Some are virulently opposed to the movement, and others embrace it. What is evident in observing the election, this movement was effective in turning out the vote.
I have been reading after and talking to many Christians who are active politically. They are motivated to further their particular political views, and feel it important to vote and have a voice in national and local policy making. Such is grand. I just pray for an equal interest in and zeal for the things of God.
More important than “getting out the vote” is recruiting workers for the harvest. More important than congressmen and senators who hold to our agenda is elders and preachers who hold to the agenda of our Lord. More important than debating governmental policy is contending for the faith “once for all delivered to the saints.” More important than civil involvement is active cross bearing on the part of the disciple of Christ. More important than convincing political opponents of your economic theories is the proclamation of the saving message of Christ. You get the idea…
In these comments I do not seek to denigrate political activism or involvement. I am proud that so many Christians are taking seriously their citizenship in this great nation. I just want you to remember that when it comes right down to it, we are merely pilgrims in a strange land (cf. 1 Peter 2:11), and that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven (cf. Philippians 3:20).
