Misplaced Confidence

Transcript:

Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

In our current cultural climate, we are increasingly tempted to become anxious over politics. We can be tempted to get upset that things are not going the “right way”. However, as Christians we need not be anxious. Rather, we are free to walk in faith, despite political disappointment or disagreement.

Now, why? Our anxiety and anger stem from a misplaced confidence—fixing our eyes on self and would-be saviors, instead of Christ.

The Scriptures are clear: The kingdom of God is not inaugurated with the next session of Congress. The Messiah doesn’t arrive on Air Force One. Jesus is not coming to take sides. He is coming to take over. As Abraham Lincoln put it so well at a time of great division: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

Remember, the early Christians were put to death for their simple confession, “Jesus is Lord!” By this, they were saying that no human leader or political regime is ultimate. Their hope and allegiance were in Christ Jesus, and the powers-that-be saw that as a threat. These Christians had their own center of gravity and so could not be manipulated by the state or society. As Christians, I urge you with renewed fervor to look to the Savior, not to Caesar. This allows us to engage the public square both courageously and peaceably. It frees us to enter the voting booth with the proper perspective: rightfully fulfilling our duty as citizens, not frantically looking for salvation.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

~ Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV)