No Savior on Capitol Hill
Yesterday I took another listen to Derek Webb’s lastest album (get it free off NoiseTrade, thanks Derek!). For me, it was like his previous albums, containing a few songs that I resonate with and a few that for my taste fall flat. I was an angry punk white boy growing up so, like others of the same road, his sarcasm and wit is infectious. But, I’ve also had to become more diligent when I listen to his stuff than with many others. His lyrics are packed with innuendo and assertion, some of which is biblical, and some of which is his cultural preference. Because he’s so adept at articulating what’s wrong with the church in the west, it’s easy to be agreeing with him and not realize he’s gone from Bible to opinion. Nonetheless, in general I dig his music.
One song in particular stuck out, “A Savior on Capitol Hill”. As you can quickly guess, he’s exposing the way people in America put their hope in, of all things, a politican. We see this in every election, but it seems much more prevalent this time around. Maybe I’m just a little older and wiser, but it seems like this presidential election, more than ever, Christians are putting their hope for the “salvation” of our nation on their political candidate, whether Obama or McCain. The more I read, listen, and observe Christians in this election, the more they seem to be putting hope in one man (or woman) or another…hope which can only be rightly placed in Christ, and it’s hope that Yahweh is jealous for.
The US is not Israel, nor a theocracy, neither should it be one - but Christians in America certainly remind me of how ancient Israel clamored for an earthly king.
I’m speaking about the individual believer. I seem to recall it’s written somewhere that we should trust in the Lord, seek his ways and his righteousness. I seem to also recall that the ways of Yahweh are not the ways of man. Many of us have had our gracious, merciful, sovereign, just God eclipsed by the image of John McCain, Barack Obama (or perhaps Palin or Biden).
Does your stress level rise when you think of your candidate losing? Do you get angry about those who follow the candidate you don’t support? Do you think your candidate will really follow through with what they say once elected?
There are real issues in this election, I know. There is indeed a lot on the table. The world is already much different than only four years ago. There are serious problems in social, economic, military, and diplomatic arenas. We must be engaged in the process and act with vigilance. But we must not be deceived into thinking that either candidate is a savior.
I’m praying that Christians in America will remember, or learn for the first time, that we have but one God, one Savior, and he appoints leaders and takes them down. He establishes governments and lays them low. And his purposes are good and cannot be thwarted. And this merciful and gracious God calls us to seek him for what ails us, individually and as the Church. So pray Christian, but pray for His will to be done, not for your candidate to be elected based on your wisdom.
Have a listen