How To Respond to Politics and Social Chaos as a Biblical Christian

From here on, every tragedy of epic portions will be politicalized.  The left has its agenda and the right has theirs.  This will not change. What can change is how we (Christians) are to respond to the polarization that is occurring in this country.  I like to offer a principle that helps to keep me centered in the midst of political and social chaos.

Principle: Whatever happens to America will have no direct bearing on the kingdom of God.

It is important to keep this in mind right from the beginning. If America falls tomorrow (and she will eventually fall), the kingdom of God will continue right on. 

Jesus stood before Pilate who was the political authority at the time and said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).  In other words, the growth and power of God’s kingdom is not of human origin.  It doesn’t matter what happens to the kingdoms of this world, none of them have any bearing whatsoever on the kingdom of God.   

As a Christian, I am told to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).  I am told to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10).  Though I love America and am proud to be a citizen, her existence and prosperity does not interfere with my greater love for God’s kingdom, which is where my spiritual citizenship is located (Philippians 3:20).

Think of it this way: America is a lot like the Titanic. Huge, glorious and a temporary home to a lot of people.  But then, a massive iceberg hits her and causes severe damage.  Water is gushing in. The ship is progressively sinking. Nothing and no one can save her. She is going down – that is inevitable.

On board are two kinds of people. Those who ignore that the ship is sinking and spend their times rearranging the chairs and tables on board so that everything will look the way they want it to look. Then there are those who know for certain that the ship is sinking and that there isn’t much time left. So they are busy pointing people to the life boats in order to save their lives.

The unsaved (people of this world) are content and happy to rearrange the tables and chairs. The Titanic is all they got.  Whatever they do on the surface of the ship, they think will change the gaping hole on the bottom. But it will not. Water of judgment is pouring in. The iceberg of sin has caused a massive wound in her that no man can fix or heal.  The ship is sinking and only the Christians, who are living for the kingdom of God, can point people to the life boats (Jesus) and offer them a way out.

Not all will respond. It is not our job to save all. It is only our job to point the way. Jesus Himself does the saving.

Now and then, I will jump in the political arena and try to help people to see that rearranging the chairs and tables on board of a sinking ship is not going to matter or help. America is going down and both the Republicans and Democrats don’t have the answer nor the power or means to save her. God promised Israel continual existence and blessings (Exod. 23:22; Deut. 7:15, 24; 28:7; Ps. 29:1; Isa. 65:17-25). He never promised this to any other nation, including America. She is going down like all other nations that came before her.

As a result of knowing and believing this, I fully expect to see and hear of more chaos in the social and political arena in this nation, because people are content to work diligently rearranging the chairs and tables, and mopping the floors and putting away the dishes on the Titanic – things that will not matter when she sinks.

Instead, for us Christians, point people to the life boat (Jesus) that is big enough to save as many who want to climb on board.

In the mean, stay centered on your mission.