Warning: Political and spiritual priorities are often reversed.

With each passing month, the upcoming U.S. presidential election becomes more central to everything happening in our country and around the world. Whether we think about Iran’s recent atrocities in attempting to bomb the state of Israel or the confusing and often contradictory claims of climate change activists, we see that everything is political. Every issue and event is a tool for Republicans and Democrats to persuade potential voters to send their candidates to office. Every election cycle, members of both major political parties issue dire warnings that this election could destroy our country if the opposition wins. “The stakes have never been higher.” At least that’s what we’re told.

As Christians, it’s easy to get caught up in the election hype every year. We too easily believe the propaganda that claims this election is the most important thing happening in the world.When you believe that an election will take place that Importantly, we tend to base our priorities on this perceived reality. Our fears govern our conversations, our prayers, our content consumption, our social media interactions, and even our Sunday morning sermons. Sometimes we even feel like the next election is a basis for hope for the future. I’ve been there too, and I remember waking up on a Wednesday morning in November and feeling like the wind had been taken out of my sails.

What has been happening in our country throughout recent history is undoubtedly disheartening and alarming. The country, which once had a sense of moral compass rooted in traditional Judeo-Christian morality, has abandoned nearly every category of morality. Today, the only immoral thing to do is to claim that something is immoral. Sarcasm? probably. Self-contradictory? absolutely. But that’s the world we live in.

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Christians responded in different ways.

At one end of the spectrum is a vague and vaguely defined position called . christian nationalism. Although the exact meaning of the term often varies depending on who uses it, the general idea is that Christians should strive to make America a Christian nation by imposing Biblical commands as national policy. That seems to be the case. It is debated whether these commands are the Law of Moses in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, or the Law of Christ as summarized in the New Testament epistles. But what most Christian nationalists agree on is that the primary purpose of Christianity should be to build a Christian world for future American generations.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are Christians who have given up all hope for America’s future. They see no point in voting or participating in the political process. They believe that America is irrevocably judged by God and that the only experience left for this nation is destruction.

Neither response to the problems plaguing our nation resonates with the truths of the Bible or with the hearts of those who participated in the revivals where America’s seeds were first sown. Samuel Davis, an 18th-century minister considered the greatest preacher in American history, wrote in the 1740s: The only sure cause of national disaster and devastation, and of a permanently established peace.” (Quoted from Ian H. Murray) revival and revivalism, Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, Pennsylvania: 1994, 21). Davis observed the ungodly conditions of his own time and believed that the only way to preserve a nation and avoid its complete destruction was for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on the land and the people to experience true revival. I realized the truth that this is true.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to people who, like many believers today, are worried about the future when considering the political situation in our country. “Then don’t worry, ‘What shall we eat?'” he said. or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles are eager for all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Then all these things will be added to you. ” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Even though we have everything from the Lord, we often find that the same things that tend to worry unbelievers also trouble the hearts of followers of Christ. When we see inflation skyrocketing, we worry about having enough food. When home prices rise faster than our income and savings, we worry about our ability to afford shelter. We worry that the problem will get worse if our opponent wins the election. Moreover, they fear that even their freedom itself will be lost. If we are honest with ourselves, we worry about the same things as people who don’t know Christ, even if we believe that the path to fixing these problems is contrary to their policies. .

Because of these fears, we tend to look at Davis’ words about revival and think that revival is the way to solve America’s problems. It is true that if we want to have a strong, moral, and free nation, we need to experience revival and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are right to reach that conclusion. For, as Davis points out, the only sure cause of long-term peace is a nation inhabited by large numbers, if not large numbers, of truly converted and Spirit-filled people. . But our reasoning is seriously flawed if we understand Davis to be suggesting that we should aim for Reconstruction with the goal of living in a free and prosperous country. I don’t think Davis’s intention was that we should pursue revival as a means to an end.

The reason I believe Davis would wince if he heard 21st century Christians use his words as motivation for prayer, preaching, and evangelism is because we are asking for: beginning God’s Kingdom and God’s Righteousness. kingdom of god It’s heaven. It is a kingdom that is not of this world. It is not aligned with any particular geopolitical nation. It is a foreign kingdom, a heavenly kingdom, that Jesus will one day impose on the whole world to once again rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. Seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness first means “desiring a better country, the kingdom of heaven,” the city God has prepared for us (Hebrews 11:16). If we seek this kingdom as our first priority, we cannot seek it as a means to an end. The goal we seek is the kingdom of God, not the improvement of one earthly kingdom.

Because we want to see Christ glorified, sinners saved, and the church built, we should seek victory over the realm of darkness and seek revival and expansion of the kingdom of God. That should be our number one priority as Christians. We should hope for the salvation of our neighbors. It’s not because they want to be able to vote a certain way, but because they care about their eternal souls and want to see them delivered from God’s wrath.

When the priorities of the political and the spiritual are reversed, we are guaranteed to lose both the spiritual and political battles. When we seek the kingdom of God first and foremost as an end in itself, we will see the gospel triumphing over the hearts of sinful people. If this happens on a large scale during reconstruction, the political trend may change. But even if the revival is delayed and the political climate continues to deteriorate, we know that no matter what happens politically, God will provide exactly what we need to do His will. I know. Because we seek God’s kingdom first, our ultimate victory is certain because, as Martin Luther reminded us, “the kingdom of God is eternal.”