This is in response to many emails that we have received about the upcoming elections.
Much prayer energy is released every time we have an election. Republicans Christians pray against Democratic Christians, and vice versa. Now, I admit this election has ramped up the rhetoric because of all the interesting nuances. Obama's birth heritage and race adds something new to the mix. Sarah Palin's gender adds something new to the mix. Yet all of that is a smoke screen to deflect attention from the real issue.
The real issue is that the Church of Jesus Christ has corrupted itself and entangled itself with the affairs of this world. Since the Church has lost its prophetic edge, it seeks power through politics, both within and without the structure of the Church. If we were really to pray the kind of prayers featured in this email every time we have an election, it would seem that Jesus would have modeled something on such an urgent matter. Yet the scriptures are silent on directing prayers for the political structures.
If this were so important for us, and for the growth of the Church, I am quite sure the Head would have addressed it. He was given ample opportunity to get involved in Israel's political structure and difficulties with Rome. Yet every time, He deflected the argument because it detracted from His agenda. His fight was not over taxation. He deferred, of all things, to a pagan dictator who was ruling over and oppressing His own people. When Peter wanted to take up arms to protect righteousness, He rebuked him. The sermon on the mount was His Kingdom agenda. Are either Obama or McCain running on that platform?
Over and over, Jesus rebuked His disciples and others and reminded them that His Kingdom was not of this world, so it doesn't operate with a political agenda. When brought before Pilate, He did not use the opportunity to engage in political debate, though He had every "right" to. The fact is that American Christians have become so enamored with their rights that they have trampled on the example of the Lord they say they follow. On the issue of "rights", He taught some revolutionary things. He said if someone tries to take your "rights" (or cloak or dignity, or...) we are to give it to them. He said the only way to keep our lives is to lay them down for His sake and for the Kingdom.
On a regular basis, He observed and walked by the most egregious form of torture ever devised-crucifixion. Yet He never addressed it. He never drew a distinction between pagan Rome and His own people. He never said that His own people were more righteous because they had not instituted this form of torture and caused so many people to die.
We also don't see Paul addressing any of the issues of his day the way American Christians address their election. Instead, he advised believers to pray for their leaders that they might lead peaceable lives, even though at the time he wrote that, Nero was emperor of Rome. This man trampled on all the "rights" of Christians and visciously persecuted the Church. Yet Paul never suggests that Christians ought to try to overthrow this evil ruler or to pray that he be dethroned. Could it be that Paul understood that the worst thing for a developing believer is not persecution, but social respectability? Could it be that even years before Constantine came to power in Rome and freed the Christians from persecution and made Christianity the state religion and made it socially acceptable, that Paul understood that would be the downfall of the Church?
The Church was left here on earth to finish the King's agenda of discipling all nations (Matt 28:16-20). When that task is done, our King can return (Matt 24:14). But since we don't want to do that task, and really don't want our Lord to return, it is so much easier to argue about politics. Our pride enters into play in its attempts to devise any number of good and religious-sounding arguments about why one or the other candidate should be president. It is so much easier to gravitate to the things we feel will make our lives easier or more comfortable. The prayers of Republican Christians become very much like the prayer of the Pharisee. "I thank you, Lord God, that I am not like that sinful Democrat who believes in killing babies." The prayers of Christian Democrats reflect the same spirit. "I thank you, Lord God, that I am not like that sinful Republican who talks about serving You, and tramples on the rights of the poor and social justice."
And while we argue and pray about politics, 27 souls are slipping into a Christless eternity every single second of every minute of every day. These are not the souls that have heard about Jesus and rejected Him. These are those who never had a chance to hear. What about their rights? Who is speaking on their behalf?
For myself, I will vote. But I am not praying for either candidate to win. What I am praying for is that God would deliver the American Church from the political system. I am praying that we would focus on our reason for being here, which is to finish the task. I am praying that God would deliver us from the idea that if Christianity is socially acceptable, we can get more work done. The fact is that the Church has never done its best work when it is acceptable. It loses its prophetic voice and just becomes one more political voice clamoring in the marketplace to be heard.
It might take real persecution to bring us to that point. It seems we have ignored all the wake-up calls. We prayed briefly after each calamity we have experienced in the past few years. But we keep thinking it is all about us. What does God have to do to get us to see that though we are not concerned about the 6,322 unreached people groups in the world, He is!!
The fact is the American Church has lost its saltiness. It has no moral authority to speak to the world because it has become a part of it. Short of a mighty revival or a persecution that would spawn a mighty revival, we are no good for anything but to be cast out and trodden under foot. THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRAYER FOCUS.
Joe and Peggy Rayman
