In 1984, two Christian friends lived together in Washington, D.C., as summer interns. One worked full time to elect Walter Mondale and the Democratic Party. Another worked full time to elect Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party. In August, when they returned to California for their final year of college, they laughed about how each other’s efforts had probably canceled out the other’s.
How many Christian friends do you have who will enjoy a similar summer with you in 2024?
Many of us care far too much about who will win this year’s presidential election. Forty years ago, the partisan fires were not burning as hotly, but Richard Loveless observed a similar spirit back then.
Every four years, Americans elect a new president in the hopes that things will somehow get better. Economic downturns, crop failures, moral decline, and deteriorating international conditions are all the fault of presidents, who often have little control over events. There is a fumbling, unspoken conviction in people’s hearts that the world will be healed from all its wounds if only a righteous ruler should appear.
To be honest, the presidential election meant too much. to me. I spent the first ten years of my adult life in Washington, DC, including six years as a political lobbyist for Apple. I know what it’s like to live and breathe politics as a Christian. During the 1992 election, the Lord began to proportion my political energies to the gospel message revealed in Daniel 2. Since then, I have returned to the Book of Daniel every election year.
Kingdom climax of political history
When Judah was exiled to Babylon, Daniel witnessed the massive suffering of God’s people. He then sees the Babylonian Empire conquered by the Persians. For Daniel, the question that surfaces is whether the rise of world empires has rendered the kingdom of God irrelevant. Despite all the bloodshed and seemingly contrary results, the answer in Daniel is a resounding “no.”
In Daniel 2, the prophet interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. There, the rough stone collided with and destroyed large statues representing the world’s mighty empires. Daniel tells us that the stone represents the kingdom of God, and that he sees the kingdom of God as the climax of all political history. . . .it will shatter all these kingdoms to pieces [our world’s successive empires] and it will remain forever” (verse 44).
If you read the entire book of Daniel, you will see how powerful, wonderful, and dangerous the human kingdom is. It’s no wonder that when I worked in Washington, D.C., I passed the president standing in a doorway and felt the oxygen sucked out of his chest.
But Daniel calls us to be fascinated by something greater: the Kingdom of God. At the end of history, all empires (including America) will be like chaff scattered by the wind (v. 35). There is only one empire left, the kingdom of Jesus. The Lord’s Prayer asks us to: . . On earth as in heaven. ”
our excessive fears and hopes
This allows us to put every political election into perspective. Daniel encourages us to resist excessive fear this year. The Kingdom of God cannot be thwarted by any president. he says: The God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people” (verse 44).
The Bible encourages us to resist excessive fear this year. The Kingdom of God cannot be thwarted by any president.
Following Jesus was never easy (see 2 Timothy 3:12). Daniel’s friends survive being executed in the furnace. Daniel survives execution by lions. Daniel urges us to keep our eyes on the only kingdom that will survive, despite the dangers. If Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome couldn’t stop the Kingdom of God, no modern president can stop it.
Daniel also urges us to resist unreasonable hopes. The Kingdom of God will be established by God Himself, not by political leaders. Daniel says: “The God of heaven will establish a kingdom.”
What the world needs most
While working in Washington, D.C., I volunteered for university outreach activities. A retreat speaker once asked his students, “If God made you king or queen of the world, what would you do?”
The students had a hard time coming up with an initiative that was appropriate for their power. One said he would ensure a great education was available to all. Another woman said she would distribute the world’s food fairly to everyone. However, the room became unsettling. No one felt that they were making the most of world sovereignty. One student said, “I want every child to have a loving family.”how politically Does it affect genuine family love? Finally, another asked, “Can we all become Christians?” Practice has been canceled. At this point, everyone realized that the world’s deepest needs cannot be influenced through politics.
This exercise was shocking to me. If the effects of world sovereignty are so limited, what do these despicable political experts hope to achieve? I have a friend who has. But it’s important to understand that your candidate doesn’t have to win for Jesus to establish his kingdom.
our responsibility
So when you vote this year, cut through the fear and frenzy. Billions of dollars and man-hours are being spent to make this the most important election of our lifetime. I’m 61 years old. I’ve been told that every four years. I won’t buy it again.
Your candidate does not need to win for Jesus to establish his kingdom.
Instead, humbly seek the Lord’s will, consider issues and candidates, and discuss them as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). So let’s vote with love and respect, knowing that Jesus’ kingdom ultimately does not depend on the outcome of the election.
And if the interpersonal bonds of your faith community are being torn apart by politics, lovingly name the real problem, as Reverend John Newton did in the 18th century. “I can feel the power of the gospel.”pole is really deep Felt He believed that the gospel was “the saving power of God” (Romans 1:16) and never worried about who Caesar was. Oh, how I wish Jesus would let us experience the Kingdom of God. of as a pearl of great price of We can take hold of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44–46), remove the claws from our hearts from politicians, and deliver them to our eternal King, Jesus Himself.
