Gospel Prism

Justin Taylor and others recently endorsed Mike Huckabee for President. Desiring God Blog (Abraham Piper) had to apologize because it seemed like they/he also endorsed Huckabee. It makes me wonder what the Lord thinks about American politics. For some (like James Dobson), politics is perhaps a necessary evil to fight for what he would determine to be biblical causes. For those who throw their hat in the political arena and who claim to be Christian, I would think there is an inherent contradiction with their first allegiance to the national interests of this country and their first allegiance to their love and worship of God. Sometimes the two are on polar opposite ends. If the U.S. were dry of oil, and the economy would fall into ruins, I would imagine it would be in the national interests of the U.S. to launch a war to gain access to oil. But such an action might not be a God-glorifying solution. I’m sorry to say but the United States is not biblical Israel under orders from God to move out and destroy people (though many in this country might actually believe that the US is biblical Israel with orders to go out and destroy people).

I know that the U.S. president has much power. But I wonder if we are so riled up about who becomes president, that that overtakes our calling to be the salt and light of the world. What will change the world in the end, who sits in the oval office or why the God-man Christ died on a cross? 1 Cor 1:18ff seems to answer that question for me. I have a feeling, this conversation is just the tip of the iceberg for the next 12 months.

Ah, politics and faith, is there anything that brings more angst to some than this combination?