What Should We Think About America's Government?

In the aftermath of the January 6 riot and attack on the Capitol and the changing of presidential leadership this week, as America seems to be an object of laughter for many and everywhere you turn we are confronted with the reality of a divided country, hatred, and the uncertainty of our future how are we to think? What do we do with our concerns, worry, and fear?

Church, let’s begin by remembering:

1. God is still in control. This simple statement is undoubtedly our Christian go-to statement during times of turbulence. You may even feel like its overused, but it is truth we must never let grow cold. When earthly America appears to be in shambles, God’s people can rejoice in knowing that our Heavenly Jerusalem is not, and never will be. America’s current state is no surprise to God; therefore, it should not be an overwhelming source of worry for us. We should see America’s state and mourn, yet with hope and anticipation of the more perfect dwelling which awaits us. (Psalm 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1; 103:19; Daniel 2:20-22).

PRAY: Thank God for His sovereignty. Thank Him for our constitutional government and its resilience. Lament and mourn for America’s current state. Ask God to expose the forces that give rise to such deep division and distrust. Ask God to heal our land and allow our country to be used for further use in His kingdom purposes.

2. Rebelling against the government is not a sin limited to one political party. When we heard that protestors had stormed the Capitol, all kinds of information have been swirling as to who it really was. We need to be reminded — sinfulness and rebellion exists along the entire political spectrum (which is not to say that all political protests are sinful). The turmoil that we see in our country, in our world, in our home and in our own life is a result of sin. Christians and churches can helpfully engage politically, but we cannot do politics like the world. We must actively turn ourselves away (Rom. 12:2) from godless expressions of power, fear, and false hope.

PRAY: Thank God for the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – the only One who cures the riotous and rebellious spirit in us. Ask God to search our hearts and that we might repent and turn to Him for mercy and grace.

3. America is not our hope. It has been said that the motivation behind a lot of the rioting and protests has been rooted in a desire for America’s political structure to provide the “best life now.” Brothers and sisters don’t put your ultimate hope in the nation instead of in Christ and His people. The United States is not God’s people or the city on the hill – the church is. Be reminded that as Christians, our best lives come from the redemption we have in Christ; and therefore we have the ability to live amidst whatever political leadership the Lord sovereignly appoints (Rom. 13:1-2) - striving with joy to honor the Lord.

PRAY: Thank God for what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8-9). Ask God to fix our mind not on things that are transient, but on the things that are eternal (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

We the church within America (and yes here in Enid) MUST live in contrast to the world around us. Let us present the church as a beacon of grace and a community of truth and love.