As of this writing, the presidential election is 70 days away. The campaigns and media continue their attempts to influence our thinking, often by inciting fear, demonizing opponents, sowing distrust, and increasing divides. It is all too easy to allow their voices to dominate our thinking, inviting us to participate in the anxiety, slander, suspicion, and tribalism so prevalent in the American political process. The Lord extends a very different invitation to us:
Since then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. … [Now you must put away] anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. … Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience….” (Colossians 3:1-17)
The temptation is very strong to listen to the voices telling us to live contrary to God’s call, to forget who we are and use ungodly words and actions to aggressively advance our convictions and agendas. And while the voices in our culture may be the vehicle of that temptation, its source is none other than the devil himself. In Luke 4:1-13, Jesus powerfully rejects Satan’s voice in the following ways:
· He remains rooted in his identity as God’s beloved son.
· He submits his thinking, words, and actions to God’s word.
· He trusts in God’s purposes and rejects Satan’s shortcuts.
· He refuses to celebrate, serve, and submit to anyone but God.
As those raised with Christ and hidden with Christ, this is the process in which we participate as we engage with our culture these remaining weeks before the election. So when the temptation arises to post, speak, or act like the world—which in truth is participating with Satan—instead:
“Let us hold fast our confession. For we [have a high priest] who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Your Pastor in Christ,
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