Why I’m Done With Politics

Posted in , By Nick Smith 1 comments

It took a lot of prayer and careful thought, but I’ve made a decision; I’m done with politics.  Oh I’ll still vote and all that since that’s how our government works, but I’m done putting so much of my energy into thinking and worrying about policies and their consequences.  Why, you ask?  It’s simple; that’s what Jesus did.

Jesus wasn’t concerned with government; He was concerned with people.  When He was asked about paying taxes, Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods” – Mark 12:17.  Christ didn’t lead any revolutions or allow the people to make Him king.  Why do you think that was?  Do you think that the Romans had created a government that was so perfect that even Christ could find no fault in it?  I doubt it.  The Roman government committed human rights violations left and right, they didn’t care about discriminating against people, and they certainly didn’t operate under the principal of innocent until found guilty.  And still Jesus was not concerned with righting these wrongs.

Why?  He had much more important things in mind, as should we as His followers.  What is more important than eternal salvation?  Nothing.  Our government does not change that fact.  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17

Consider the movie The Matrix.  The people living in the matrix had the same concerns we do.  But in the end, how much did it matter?  None of what they did was real.  The only way they could do something of any real consequence was to leave the matrix.

I hope the analogy to our situation on Earth is clear.  Our time on Earth is only relevant in terms of where we go when we leave it.

Also of concern in regards to God and politics is where your trust lies.  Consider this excellent quote from Dr. Taylor’s blog (underlining mine):

“Do not make the mistake of looking to the government to fight your battles.  Look to God, instead.  Do not make the mistake of rejecting God and replacing Him with government.  Either God is your champion or your government is.  It cannot be both.  Either you bow to your government or to your God.  It cannot be both.”

This was a tough pill for me to swallow.  There are so many issues in politics that get me fired up.  There are so many wrongs that I want to see righted.  But it all boils down to trusting God and in eternal salvation trumping any momentary Earthly injustice.

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan