Saturday, October 18, 2008

Politics and worldly troubles - Where is our hope and trust?

I found an excellent blog (from what I've seen so far), and an excellent blog post on that blog that I wanted to share. The blog itself is called New Life Design, and it seems to be a very grace-based blog.

The specific blog post I wanted to share is called Perilous Times. It echoes a lot of what I've been thinking about lately. With the U.S. presidential election a little over 2 weeks away, and with the various economic conditions around the world - and with all other kinds of troubles and trials and negative circumstances in the world - many people are worried, sad, fearful, perplexed, distressed and depressed, along with many other negative thoughts, feelings and emotions. The Perilous Times post is a great encouragement to all that our hope and trust is in God, not man or circumstances.

It seems so very easy for some people to put a lot of stock in politics, politicians, political parties, the political system, etc. I mean, we say they're all liars and cheaters, but yet of course the ones we're voting for are the hope of all mankind! ;) So we form strong opinions, we hold rallies and man, oh man do we talk so bitterly about "the opponents." (Come on, is that really the life of Christ speaking through us?) And when it comes to worldly affairs, it seems so easy for us to live as if our very lives are dependent upon the circumstances of the world - when the circumstances of the world have been so very up and down and unstable ever since the Fall.

Don't get me wrong - What I'm not saying here is that "politics" are to be ignored. (But whatever your "politics," do let it all be an outflow of the life of the One who indwells you, and of faith, not sight, just as with the rest of your life). What I am saying is that in the midst of all this it's so easy to forget the One who truly does have the whole world in HIS hands. AS IF the fate of the United States and the rest of the world has ever really been in the hands of Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush (the presidents in office since my birth) or any other local or national leader in all of history - or yet to come. Sure... God has worked in and through them, as He has with all of mankind, but the world's fate has never been in their hands. Never.

Check out what Jesus said to Pontius Pilate when Pilate asked Him, "Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" Jesus' answer was, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above." (In other words, "Sure, Pilate, you indeed have a lot of power. But AS IF my fate is in your hands. This is God's plan"). In the very same way, isn't it also true that the whole of history - all the leaders, all those 'powerful' decision makers - were and always will be in God's hands?

What do we have to worry about?


  1. Joel,
    Great post. Indeed, our ultimate security lies in Father Son Spirit. As well, on the Cross, Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world," which alluded to the fact that we are not to but all our faith, trust and believe in the world's systems because they are created by men, not Father.

    Thanks for including the link to Dana's blog! It's great!

    ~Amy :)

  2. Col 3.2 speaks to keeping our eye on another Kingdom and not being preoccupied with this earthly plain.

    I believe His Spirit gives us opportunity to speak out for, love, and tangibly minister to those who are marginalized.

    Col 3.3 speaks to us being Hidden in Christ. There is absolutely nothing for us to fear. It is my belief that only that which is found in Christ will remain - all else outside of Jesus will be tossed.

  3. After I had posted this, I knew something was sort of missing from it that I had intended to at least touch on, and then I realized it had to do with the difference between "the world" and "the kingdom of God," so I'm truly grateful this was brought up here in the comments!

    Indeed, we are strangers and aliens here. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the things of the world (in this case, politics, but there are so many other things) and forget Whose we are and who we are, not living in the reality of the kingdom of God that is within and that is eternal, not temporary.