By Robert Kiser
We live in a time when every headline, and every newsfeed seems to force us to choose a side: Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal.
I am reminded of something I read in Joshua 5:13-15.
“Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’ And he said, ‘No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’ And the captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.”
When Joshua met the heavenly Commander of the Lord’s army, he asked, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” The answer surprised him: NO? What do you mean, no? Neither for Israel nor for their enemies - but wholly for the Lord of hosts.
Today I want to challenge us: it’s not about red states or blue states, not about left or right. Are we for the Lord?
This Commander serves only the Lord. His allegiance is to God’s covenant, not to human agendas. Our politics can never overshadow our worship. When we cast ballots or lobby public officials, we do so under the banner of Christ, not under a party label that demands ultimate loyalty.
Examine your heart. Whose agenda commands your passion? Party slogans or the Great Commission? Our priorities should line up with scripture.
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Jesus did not say, “Seek first a political victory.” He said, seek first the Kingdom of God.
Often in politics it seems we are choosing the lesser of evils. We seek the Lord and pick the candidate or policies that best align with scripture. After that, our job is to pray for our leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-2: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
We might be American citizens, but first and foremost our citizenship is in heaven.
Philippians 3:20: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We pay taxes, obey speed limits, and respect officeholders because God ordains the civil order.
Romans 13:1-7:
“Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.
“Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
If the government says to do something against scripture, then it is our duty to disobey.
Acts 5:29: “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’”
We defend the rights of the marginalized, speak for the unborn, and champion religious liberty.
Proverbs 31:8-9: “Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”
We will seek to do right, not for party gain, but to display the love of Christ.
Galatians 6:10: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Will we vote? Absolutely. When it comes to policies where does our ultimate loyalty lie?
I would like to end this with a little political humor. It is a poem I wrote about political parties.
—————
Political Parties Explained
The Left is not Right!!
The Right is not always Right.
We have the Right to watch the Left
and the Right!
Or pretty soon
We will have no more Rights Left!
Right?
—————
Robert Kiser’s desire is to explain and defend basic Christian beliefs in plain language. You can find his writing at ReasonableAnswers.com.
We live in a time when every headline, and every newsfeed seems to force us to choose a side: Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal.
I am reminded of something I read in Joshua 5:13-15.
“Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’ And he said, ‘No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’ And the captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.”
When Joshua met the heavenly Commander of the Lord’s army, he asked, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” The answer surprised him: NO? What do you mean, no? Neither for Israel nor for their enemies - but wholly for the Lord of hosts.
Today I want to challenge us: it’s not about red states or blue states, not about left or right. Are we for the Lord?
This Commander serves only the Lord. His allegiance is to God’s covenant, not to human agendas. Our politics can never overshadow our worship. When we cast ballots or lobby public officials, we do so under the banner of Christ, not under a party label that demands ultimate loyalty.
Examine your heart. Whose agenda commands your passion? Party slogans or the Great Commission? Our priorities should line up with scripture.
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Jesus did not say, “Seek first a political victory.” He said, seek first the Kingdom of God.
Often in politics it seems we are choosing the lesser of evils. We seek the Lord and pick the candidate or policies that best align with scripture. After that, our job is to pray for our leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-2: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
We might be American citizens, but first and foremost our citizenship is in heaven.
Philippians 3:20: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We pay taxes, obey speed limits, and respect officeholders because God ordains the civil order.
Romans 13:1-7:
“Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.
“Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
If the government says to do something against scripture, then it is our duty to disobey.
Acts 5:29: “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’”
We defend the rights of the marginalized, speak for the unborn, and champion religious liberty.
Proverbs 31:8-9: “Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”
We will seek to do right, not for party gain, but to display the love of Christ.
Galatians 6:10: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Will we vote? Absolutely. When it comes to policies where does our ultimate loyalty lie?
I would like to end this with a little political humor. It is a poem I wrote about political parties.
—————
Political Parties Explained
The Left is not Right!!
The Right is not always Right.
We have the Right to watch the Left
and the Right!
Or pretty soon
We will have no more Rights Left!
Right?
—————
Robert Kiser’s desire is to explain and defend basic Christian beliefs in plain language. You can find his writing at ReasonableAnswers.com.
