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[leveragingliberty]

To The Christian Who Is Sick of Politics

Over the past five years, I have ridden a rollercoaster of emotions regarding the somewhat scary state of American politics.

From my conversations with fellow believers, I would wager many of you have been passengers on a similar emotional journey.

Does any of this sound familiar?...

During the last presidential election, I am emboldened, impassioned, ready to speak my opinion. The stakes are high, and I am not going down without a fight.

When the election is over, win or lose, I am ready to breathe a heavy sigh of relief, hoping to return to normalcy and civility, ready to think about anything but what went on in the oval office.  

As time goes on, and it becomes apparent that peace is not in the cards, my passion dims and is replaced by frustration and disgust.

When my phone buzzes about twelve times a day, announcing another knock-down, drag-out, fight between grown men wearing suits and ties, I consider calling my cell phone company. Did they offer an insurance policy for screens that were cracked in fits of anger? Because if I see one more fake news notification I would not be responsible for my actions.

I decide to stop watching the news because it is bad for my blood pressure.

When I open my mouth to speak my opinion, I am shot down before I can finish my sentence, labeled a “bigot” because of something I don’t believe and didn’t do. I make a pact with myself to never speak of anything political in public ever again.

-I watch in helplessness as everything I stood for was mocked and belittled, dipped into deep, agonizing sadness as evil is paraded around as good.

-This time, as I go to open my mouth, I hesitate. I can either keep talking and get hurt, or I can go quiet and numb, let someone else speak for me.

I convince myself this is ok because no one is listening away.

-The talking heads keep shouting and fibbing and throwing dirt and it’s all just so jumbled and contorted and wrong I want to throw my hands over my ears and scream.

I am disgusted.

I am defeated.

I want to throw a rock at the television.

I am tired.

I am so, so tired.

This is the word I have heard repeated more than any other in regards to this election cycle-tired.

We are tired of the games.

Tired of the name calling and bullying that substitutes for proving your point.

Tired of the loss of logic.

Tired of struggling to know what’s actually happening.

Tired of the lies, lies, lies, told to us with smiling faces and smug, eyebrow raises.

To be honest, I’m tired of trying.

As I have heard a thousand times in the past few months, “I’m just ready for it to be over.”

But as I go to boycott the news, unfollow half my friends, and drown my sorrows in cute kitten videos, I hesitate.

Because this is what I thought four Novembers ago…“I just want it to be over.”

If this past four years has taught us anything, it’s that evil doesn’t give up.

“Win” or “lose,” darkness keeps gnawing away like a cancer, keeps eating away at the foundations of liberty.

And I am a fool to believe that the battle will be over when the last ballot is counted.

What is happening in our culture is so much bigger than a presidential election. This is about a clash of kingdoms. I am not here to discuss the merits of either party’s candidate, this would miss the point.  

I am here to remind myself that whether or not I choose to tune out the news, and disappear into my own little world, America has reached a breaking point.

Whether or not I want to believe it, or ignore it, the decisions of the talking heads behind the screens directly affect my ability, not to practice my faith, but whether or not I am able to publicly share my faith in an unhindered manner.

No matter how politically incorrect this sounds, and how many people stop reading after this sentence, the progressive left aims to systematically strip American believers of the ability to publicly express their faith. They want to label the Gospel, the ultimate expression of love, as hate speech. This is not my “bias” speaking, this is simply true.

We can see it happening right now as Supreme Court hopeful Amy Conan Barrett, is under fire for her Christian beliefs. Her faith may, “hinder her decision-making abilities,” rendering her “unfit for office.”  

If we think hiding in our little corners and ignoring the plight of our sister in the limelight, will save us from the same fate, we make a devastating mistake. (one that has been repeated throughout history with horrific consequences.)

The left has been pounding down the door to religious liberty for years now, hacking into our own back pockets with constant imaging rolling across our phone screens, making court decisions here and there, that may seem far away and inconsequential, but lay the groundwork to flip the legal system in their favor.

Whether or not we are given a four-year extension, someday that door is going to fall. The crushing jaws of globalism are closing in, and no matter how hard we try to wriggle free, one day they are going to shut.  

I ask myself, why does this even matter for me, as a Christian? Hasn’t the church always thrived under persecution? Shouldn’t I be excited to suffer? Ultimately, I am not a citizen of the United States of America. This is not my home. I belong to a separate Kingdom in a totally separate world, to a King who will never let me down.  

Shouldn’t I be justified in closing my curtains, cuddling on the couch with my babies, and watching “Andy Griffith” reruns until Jesus comes back?

It matters because God says it matters.

No, religious liberty is not required for the Kingdom of God to flourish, BUT Paul says something in 1 Timothy that gives me great pause and perspective on God’s view of government.

The Apostle Paul, possibly history’s greatest example of thriving under persecution, specifically commands Christians to pray, “For all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth.”

God is not interested in American democracy because He is very patriotic and wants His children to be able to relax and enjoy life without fear of imprisonment. As John Piper explains, “God approves of our prayers for peace and tranquility because He approves of the advance of the Gospel. Peace is not the main thing; salvation is the main thing. Tranquility is not the goal, the knowledge of the truth of God, that’s the goal.” https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/pray-for-kings-and-all-in-high-positions

Liberty is precious because it is an opportunity. Whether or not we have been taking advantage of this privilege, religious liberty provides an incredible and unique outlet to spread the Gospel. We should desire and seek religious freedom not so we can live comfy lives, but so that we can leverage that freedom to reach as many people as possible for Christ. Before the jaws “shut” and He comes in judgment against this fallen planet, God wants to bring as many people as possible into the Kingdom that will last forever.

So here’s my question for the Christian sick of politics…

 How are you currently leveraging your freedom for the Gospel’s sake?

In your disgust of the current cultural crisis have you inadvertently shut yourself off from the very people you are here to reach?

If you unplug, and go silent now on purpose, you may regret it when you are forcibly silenced by someone else in a few years.

So go..

Speak while you can. Tell that friend who’s been on your heart, talk about Jesus when you’re standing on the sidlelines at your son’s soccer game.

Post while you can. Share that verse. Reshare that link. Type out your testimony.

Do whatever you can WHILE you can!

“Make the best use of the time because the days are evil.”

Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t give up when your darkness got too disturbing? When taking your sin got a little too messy?

God, give us the courage, in a time where we would rather throw up our hands and walk away, to roll up our sleeves and dive into the hard work of evangelism.

Go and love your little patch of darkness into light. Shout into your microphone until it’s ripped from your hand!

And when the hammer comes down and the door to religious liberty splinters on the floor of our nation’s capital, you’ll already know how to fight. Your sword will already be in your hand.

Let’s not waste our liberty, only to discover what a precious thing we had when it’s taken away, “The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Before we can blink, the sound of evil knocking on our doors is going to sound a little different. The believers are going to be feasting with the King and the world is going to be pounding on the doors in desperation, begging to come inside.

And the King will say, “I never knew you.”

When He returns may He find us on the streets, dragging in the lost to the Feast before it’s too late.

So for Heaven’s sake, go vote! Pray for our leaders! Let’s seek to preserve religious liberty for as long as possible.

DO SOMETHING WITH IT while you still have the chance.

Whatever happens in November, don’t disappear.