daily java

Daily Java:

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT)

It is the election season and there is a big fight over trying to elect Christian candidates. The reasoning is that if we can just get the right people in office, we can become a Christian nation again.

And I will vote for the person that I see as the one who is most suited for the job and has the best character.

The problem is: it won’t happen. We cannot elect a Christian nation. Yes, good leaders are important. But unless the nation turns to God, it doesn’t really matter what the leaders do.

There were several times in Israel’s history that they had gotten so corrupt that God was ready to destroy them. Then a good king would come along and he would institute reforms and changes, things would happen, worship would be restored. But when he died, things were right back like they were before he came in. The problem was that the nation of Israel was corrupt, not just the leadership.

Even if the nation were filled with Christian leaders, you cannot legislate morality. What is right has to be done by the heart or it is no good.

That is not to say that we do not need laws to protect things that are holy – laws against abortion, homosexual marriage, etc. Yes, we need laws to protect our basic rights as Christians and to protect our children from things that will destroy them. We need laws to protect the unborn from murder and to keep our nation from becoming a nation of adultery and evil.

But passing a law will not change the heart any more than passing a law saying I cannot pray in public places will make me quit praying.

The electoral process is a good one and I am glad we have it and I use it. But on the other hand, I know Christian candidates with whom I strongly disagree politically. I know they are good people but I do not want their brand of leadership.

And I know people who are not as good a Christians who would be great leaders for our countries, because their values are closer to mine.

The problem is how do we find someone who we agree with and will do a good job. There have been “committed, born-again” Christians who have gone into office who have made a shambles of our country. And there have been people who claimed to be Christians but have been obviously lacking and have done a great job.

The point is, as Christians we work in a different realm, the realm of the spiritual. You remember that the New Testament was written in the days of absolute and corrupt emperors, men who did whatever they wanted and many times murdered thousands of people in the process. Yet Paul said to honor the king and to pray for him (1 Timothy 2:2).

In fact, when Paul wrote about serving and being in subjection to authorities who are “God’s servants” (Romans 13:4), he was talking about Nero, one of the most corrupt and cruel emperors to ever come along. Yet Paul said to be in subjection to him.

I believe that we need a good and strong president and congress. They are necessary to having a good, strong country. Bad leadership can destroy our nation.

But we will never have a Christian nation by electing Christian people. We will only have a Christian nation by becoming Christ-followers and our nation turning to him.

That is done by the power of God and changing of hearts, not elections.