“The world should know that the power of kings is vain and trivial, and that none is worthy of the name of king but He whose command the heaven, earth and sea obey by eternal laws.” Legend attributes this quote to King Canute, 11th century ruler of 3 European kingdoms, answering those who thought he could control nature—as they stood ankle deep in the rising tide.
THE POWER OF KINGS
Presidents have power, but they’re not divine, and do well to recognize that God is in charge. Candidates offer themselves as the solution to the world’s problems, but not all problems are political and require political solutions, as Jacques Ellul’s “political illusion” suggests. The world’s biggest problem is the sinful human heart, requiring a spiritual solution.
Our hope and salvation will never arrive on Air Force One, but has already arrived in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to offer Himself as the solution to mankind’s sin by His own death and resurrection. At the time, Israel was expecting the Messiah to be a political savior, but God had something bigger in mind.
Commander-in-chief is a high office, but the God who appoints authorities (Romans 13) is infinitely higher. He is where my faith ultimately rests. Passionate online discourse about political figures often reveals misplaced expectations that earthly leaders will save us.
POLITICALLY SPEAKING
As November 5th approaches, it would be a great thing if we can maintain two things in particular:
COMPOSURE: While “the nations rage” (Psalm 2), and though we all have our convictions, it doesn’t help to lose our minds in outrage over the faults of our leaders, or to find ourselves in over-the-top praise and adulation of them. When David had an opportunity to eliminate rogue king Saul, he didn’t, because Saul was still “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 24:5-6). May we model the same restraint in our words that David asked for: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3). On social media, it’s easy to let that door (via our keyboard) swing wide open!
COMMUNITY: As far as it depends on me (Romans 12:18), I won’t let political differences divide my relationships. Supreme Court Justice Antonine Scalia once gave political rival Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg two dozen roses for her birthday because, in Scalia’s words, “Some things are more important than votes.” For Christians, “He Himself (Jesus) is our peace, who has made the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14). Because Christ is the true King, even political polarities can be unified in what is most important. Let’s “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3). Maybe an extra effort this election season.
Jesus is our sovereign King, and your neighbor is God’s image-bearer. These truths should inform our politics and how Christians speak about it in front of a watching (and voting) world.