Politics – How do we deal with the judgmentalism of our political system?

God is not worried about the conflict down here on earth!  He is not wringing His hands over who gets in as president!  He has a plan and our job is to trust Him in that plan.  Psalm 37 is a great psalm for this election.

 There are different words in scripture that are translated into the English word judgment. The main theme of the New Testament is love and how can love have anything to do with judgment?  Well judgment can mean to evaluate, like taking a personal inventory and judging ourselves correctly. “But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged… 1 Corinthians 11:31  We are also called to judge the church, those who are falling short so they can be corrected.  “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.” 1 Corinthians 5:12  No one wants to have others standing over their shoulder ready to criticize their every move, but we appreciate those who care about us, know us, and love us enough to be honest with us and protect us from harm. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by sin, you should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.” Galatians 6:1  (loving correction vs criticism)  So believers are to hold themselves accountable and the church accountable in love but what about those outside the church?  This is where the prophets like Jonah would warn of God’s judgment to those outside the faith because God cares. “God did not send his son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” John 3:17 However, Jesus consistently warned of the coming judgment.  Ezekiel spent five chapters writing about the surrounding nations being held accountable by God and bringing this warning to light.  We all will be called to give account.  A failure to warn was a serious moral failure.  I have that in my ethical code as a counselor, the obligation to warn of impending danger.  Warning others is a part of caring and loving them! In the first nine verses of Ezekiel 33 the imperative to warn is given seven times. “But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will not be held responsible.” Ezekiel 33:9 Where is the prophetic call today from those who judge themselves rightly, evaluate their church rightly, and humbly and gently warn the powers that be that they are accountable to God?   

 In the Old Testament the kings or rulers were held accountable by the prophets.  When David sinned in committing adultery with Bathsheba and tried to cover it up by killing her husband it was Nathan the prophet who called him into account.  For society to be healthy there has to be people who call us to be godly and ethical.  “If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the Old Testament sins were defined and also the consequences of sin were defined.  The prophets prayed for forgiveness of sins and for the restoration of blessing-shalom because of the curses-consequences that sin brought with it. (Daniel 9) The predominate sins of these elections are arrogance and judgmentalism – “Do not judge lest you be judged.” (Mathew 7:1-5) (Romans 2:1-3) The consequence is the undermining of public trust in our leaders, creating fear, resentment and more judgment.  It seems to be nominated, you have to be mean spirited and a pit bull ready to fight. (You can write in Thor my pit bull for president!) Attack and defend, attack back and defend is the political loop that is required to be a candidate. Reactive campaigns do not allow for the complexity of issues to even be exposed; it becomes more about who is right and who is wrong. Trading evil for evil is normalized and celebrated rather than confessed and repented. Is this system evil and used by the evil one to rob, steal and destroy? Has the system become too corrupt to bring righteous and godly leaders into power? 

Lord, we ask that You would forgive our nation for being arrogant and judgmental.  For becoming entangled in judgment, resentments and fear.  Restore and bring Your peace to us as we turn to You as the answer to our problems. You are our savior and the shepherd of our souls.  Thank You, Lord, for being the one who rules over the kingdoms of the earth and that You appoint whoever You want to rule. (Daniel 3-5)  Please guide us in this election and help us to trust You as we do our part.  Give us the wisdom to vote for that which is right, just and true and help us not to be too distracted or enmeshed in the conflict.  May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!