Inauguration Day
Today, January 20, 2021 is Inauguration Day where Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Like a whole lot in 2020, the elections themselves were a reflection of how so much has been turned upside down in our nation. Like it or not, today will force us to think about policies and ideologies. Since elections have consequences, we will see what the driving forces of the next four years will be like.
As much as is possible I want to stay out of the political arena. I want this to be reflected in what I watch and listen to on a regular basis. What brought that to the forefront of my thinking was a survey from the Public Religion Research Institute. It found that Americans are more likely to be unhappy if their kids marry someone from a different political party than if they marry someone outside their religion.
Wow, let that sink in.
Mom and Dad are less concerned about their son or daughter marrying outside of the faith than they are marrying outside of a political party.
Something is seriously amiss. This is more than the political polarization taking place throughout our country. When political affiliation matters more than religious identity tan politics its becoming a religion. For many Americans, it’s not that politics supersedes religion, but that politics is their religion. This is seen in the uptick of disunity in churches over partisan identity. It is seen in the fact that people are more invested in the political left or right than they are in the Great Commission. It should concern us deeply when normal conversations about life and the Lord are usurped by those utterly consumed with the last political developments. You’ve heard “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Sadly, the pressure to see and make politics the ultimate sphere of significance, gets in the way of this. (Continued in comments)
Given all this, here is my determination. I’m not naïve in thinking that politics doesn’t play a role and impact all of our lives. Plus, I’m not suggesting that we abandon this realm to unbelievers. What I am suggesting is living out our dual-citizenship with commitment and winsomeness. We let the Word of God be our continual reference-point for living, regardless of who occupies the White House. (Phil.3:20,21) “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control,”
The first is our unwavering allegiance, to our “citizenship is in heaven” where we live by the priorities and edicts of our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, we keep the anticipation burning in our hearts. We are waiting for the return of our Savior as the ultimate answer to the world’s state of affairs. Thirdly, as Christians we can embrace Godly change. If we’re waiting for the day He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them like His, then we can deal the with the changes and challenges of a new administration at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Fourthly and finally, there is the closing statement that God is ultimately in control. His power is directed to one day bring everything under his control. This reinforces the fact that God is in the driver’s seat.
Regardless, Joe Biden is my (our) president and the priority and principles of 1 Timothy 2:1-4 apply to him:
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
I feel the burden of this may be greater than any of us can imagine.
These four things will keep us from losing our way and enable us to make a difference for the Lord Jesus Christ. Just remember and purpose to live out who you are.