The problem of partisan politics is the promises it makes.
Modern politics (and perhaps most politics through world history) promises that
the battle can be won. It tells the immature mind, “If you can only win
this—this issue, this problem, this position—the world will be right again.”
Me, I find myself laughing at such a claim. Perhaps it is because of my wide
travel, and theological training. But many good people that I know get sucked
into the political wheel of doom: more emotional investment, with more rage
hangover. How someone, anyone really, can stay on this treadmill for more than
one year, boggles my mind.
So let me help. I think Jesus has some profound words to be
applied.
Jesus, in His most famous sermon, taught in Matthew 7:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are
ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered
from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good
fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad
fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them
by their fruits.”
Let’s take a look at the fruit of modern politics. The
promise is clear, as I’ve already laid out. Each issue is the most sensational
issue in memory. The opponent is the worst that has appeared in history. And
everyone is cranking the anger output to maximum. I suppose it would be bad
enough if election day turned off the treadmill. It doesn’t. Modern politics
puts out a certain deathly and intoxicating fruit, because it is a deathly and
intoxicating source.
Political pundits, with any kind of longevity, seem to go
down one of two roads. Either they turn into brainless partisan ranting, or
they burn out. Check out two pundits trying to make sense of the “outrage
machine” and their own involvement in it.
To this pastor, the evidence is clear: modern politics is
the equivalent of a false prophet. It promises legacy, meaning, victory, and a
future. It cannot deliver, but instead hooks you on outrage, and then demands
more. Modern politics takes your attention, your emotional effort, your spiritual
vitality. It seeks to replace your connection with God, with humanity; tearing
away your participation in something, Someone, greater than yourself.
Let me share with you some good news, in fact, the Good
News. God, in all His glory and majesty, has made a way for us to be intimately
with Him—now and forever. That way, indeed the Way, is a man named Jesus
Christ: He died in our place to secure our present and eternal destiny. Those
who believe in God’s salvation, this Way, are firmly placed in a relationship
with God in which they can receive total fulfillment of body, heart, and soul.
Politics promises what only God can give. Look closer.
Politics is encoding law, or deciding how public dollars should be spent. That’s
it. How could that possibly fill your soul? How could getting your own agenda,
or that of your preferred party, passed into law possibly cause you to be
satisfied with your life? Isn’t politics, on its very foundation, about
deciding how society is to be governed? How could governing others give you
what you need inside yourself?
Truly, if you gain the whole world, you can still lose your
soul. And modern politics is sucking the soul out of Americans. We should
instead try to find our fulfillment in those personal and congregational
pursuits which do give purpose to life, and do draw us closer to God and one
another.
Getting to the soul’s sanctification is simpler than you may
think. The Lord promises in the Scripture that those who simply have faith that
God is able, and willing, to save; they receive such salvation. This
revolutionary truth means that anyone can stop putting their faith in American
politics, and treat politics as the hobby, or side-show that it really is. We
can devote ourselves to the better things in life, the more worthy pursuits.
God bless you this election season.
