A Christian Perspective on Decision 2024
Philippians 3:17-21 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Tuesday will be the culmination of another contentious election cycle and we will go to the polls to select who will govern us for the next few years. Most are very passionate about which candidates should be in power. Our opinions have been shaped by our political perspectives, economic perceptions, and moral values; this is true for both sides of the aisle. The stakes are high. Emotions are at a fever pitch and rhetoric is all but out of control. Is there a Christian perspective in all of this? I believe there is.
There is no biblical analog to our political system, but there are some principles we can glean from God’s word. My lesson Sunday will attempt to examine some of these principles.
- Our Citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). While we are affected by political realities, ultimately we must conclude that these are “earthly things” (3:19) and our true allegiance lies with the Kingdom of God. Residents in Phillippi were very proud of their citizenship status, but Paul points believers to something much higher.
- Many Live as Enemies of the Cross of Christ (3:18). This is as true to day as it was then. We speak of the de-evolution of our culture and decline of moral values, but this is neither new, nor unprecedented. Paul describes his culture, Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. We should do our part at the polls, but ultimately, The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
- God is Sovereign (3:21). God raises and deposes world leaders. It is all under his control. We trust in his control.
- Our Goal is to become as Jesus is Now (3:21). We do not belong to this earthly world order and we will not remain in it for long. Our bodies will be transformed to be like his glorious body and we will live in the Kingdom of God forever.
I’ll say more in my lesson. — Joey
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