The Spiritual Dumpster Fire of Politics
Unless you’ve been floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean for the past three years, you’re probably aware that the political climate in the United States has become a cesspool. We are careening to one of the most feculent presidential cycles in my life time, which we can only pray will result in a peaceful election. News outlets of all stripes are raking in the cash while reporting from the sidelines, but everyone knows the real entertainment can be found on social media.
Ever wonder what your Twitter feed would have been like during Bush v. Gore in 2000? Or during Clinton’s impeachment? Or Watergate? Ugly for sure, but we’ll never know. We now live in a post-social-media world. No public event, political or otherwise, will ever happen without endless 140-character commentary and meme-sharing from the masses. There is no going back to an age of social media innocence. We are all consenting adults.
As a Christian, the past three years have been particularly challenging. The apparent uniform evangelical support of the president is well documented, and consenting voices from within have been publicly ostracized. Christians with a centrist or left-leaning political bent have become increasingly marginalized. The decision for some is to remain silent or risk the vitriol of the meme-slingers and their phone-hovering thumbs.
This much is clear. Some readers have already branded me a socialist that wants to take their guns and is probably sending my tithe money to Planned Parenthood. They are googling my church and giving it zero star reviews. No really. At least I home-school my kids. And I voted for Bush in 2000.
The Apostle Paul told the Ephesian church:
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. — Ephesians 6:11–12, NLT
If I were Satan and I wanted to create violent dissension among people who claim to follow Jesus, American politics would be a bonanza. Do you realize that there are principalities — ancient, powerful spirits — that revel in the idea that they can distract, corrupt, and invalidate you by amplifying your fear and anger? Do you know they can even take what you consider holy, biblical concepts and turn them into weapons of mass destruction? You doubt this?
“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” — 2 Corinthians 11:14, NLT
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” — John 10:10, NLT
The fact is, Christians are being devoured by principalities and powers as they attempt to defend their political views from the right or left side of the spectrum. Every fear-laced, racist or hateful meme shared on Facebook; every careless, demeaning tweet liked; every conversation that questions someone’s commitment to Christ if they don’t vote a certain way; all of this fuels the fires of hell.
There was a deep valley south of ancient Jerusalem where the evil kings of Judah would offer their children in sacrifice to the god Molech. Eventually, this valley became the trash dump for the city where a continual fire would burn to consume dead carcasses, sewage, and rotting garbage. The name for this dumpster fire of a place was Gehenna.
Jesus said:
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell (Gehenna) with two hands.” — Mark 9:43, NLT
So much of what is passing for righteous indignation and political fervor among Christians is idolatry.
Some of you say that children are being sacrificed to Molech in abortion clinics, but what about the children who are leaving the faith because of your anger, hate, and fear? Are you also going to throw them into Gehenna because they don’t support your candidate?
Others of you cry out for justice and mercy for the poor and oppressed but condemn to hell anyone who might dare question your sexual ethics. Are you going to refuse to listen to your honest, God-fearing brothers and sisters because they hold to traditions you have jettisoned?
Our deliverance is long overdue. I believe it is time for followers of Jesus to heed the words of the apostles Peter and James:
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7
This is not a call to inaction or detachment. As Christians, we need to be involved in the political process in this country. It is a gift of God that we can debate, vote, and even serve as representatives of the people if we so choose. However, as we engage, we should not be fooled.
We need the Holy Spirit to give us eyes to see what is really going on. These ancient powers are real. This is not the first time they have manipulated good people towards evil ends and it will not be the last. They want nothing more than to keep us opposed to one another, to forget love, to embrace division and hate, and to give up hope.
But God has not left us without help and hope. First, we need to confess the sin of idolatry; to loving our political ideologies more than the kingdom of God. Next, we need to repent — change our behavior — and love our neighbor instead of attacking them for their politics. Finally, we need to resist the spiritual forces that are dead-set on dividing us and pray for a revival of God’s love to sweep our nation and world.
Jesus gave us a wonderful crafted prayer to pray. If you realize you have been caught up in the spiritual dumpster fire of politics and need a fresh start, will you pray this prayer with me?
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. — Matthew 6:9–13
Amen. Now go and be salt and light and lay off the memes, ok?
