Popularity Contest!

Recently, I got stuck in traffic. When I looked up, I noticed a bumper sticker on the car in front of me.

The words both frustrated me and broke my heart; “Vote Republican to save Georgia,” After voting Republican my entire adult life, I can no longer relate to or support this corrupt party. Just because you say you are conservative doesn’t make you one, you must practice conservative values.

The GOP is no longer a true conservative party like it used to be, if it were then they’d know that no man or woman is the savior of a state, country, or world. The very concept is anti-Christian. And some wonder Why oh why the party lost control?

Rest assured, we are living in trying times, whether Democrat or Republican, and neither are immortal. The pandemic, senseless war, and inflation are causing hardships around the world, not just among Americans.

Europe, Central, and South America have seen inflation run wild and it is likely to get worse. True conservatives, who’ve read the Bible, understand that the Bible said this would happen to everyone (Galatians 6:9. 1 Peter 1:6).

Hardship has been a human problem since the fall in the garden. No man or woman can change things, regardless of what party or politician anyone supports; only God has the perfect answer.

This is why I am not a big fan of politics, politics are all about making the right people happy, whereas Christianity is centered on doing God’s will. Our prayer is Your kingdom come. Politics are nothing more than a glorified popularity contest.

Popularity Contest!

The word popular means “Suitable to the majority, widely accepted.” With that in mind, think about our presidential election, elections are won by the majority vote, not everyone will like the outcome, but the majority rules no matter how much people riot.

Before the 2020 presidential election, I had a discussion with my mentor about the candidates and how I was looking at the election through a spiritual lens, not a political lens anymore.

Spiritually neither candidate nor party aligned with my conservative views. So I was left to vote for the lesser of two evils. I voted based on everything I had witnessed from the Republican president for four years.

The greed and pursuit of earthly greatness of the GOP have replaced the conservative values of humility and unity (Matthew 23:12, Romans 12:10). Not all Republicans have exchanged the values of God and put their confidence into this world.

Likewise, not all Democrats support immoral and anti-Christian causes. Some of my closest friends are Democrats and we respect each other, the 2020 election threw all respect and morals out the window just because one side didn’t agree with the majority.

Accusations of stolen elections and lies were made by the only candidate who actually admitted to the people he lied to them and would continue lying to them to make them happy.

Again, politics are about making the right people happy; however, that isn’t a Christian doctrine, seeking earthly riches and greatness is the playbook of the Devil (Matthew 4:1-10). And he has been a liar since the beginning (John 8:44).

Jesus harshly rebuked the religious leaders who had turned from the truth of God, and ironically the Pharisees were popular at once among the people.

I’m old enough to know that most people don’t always like the truth; especially when it hurts. But knowing the truth is necessary for life, that is why Jesus left us the Holy Spirit to guide us (John 16:13).

Politics, like false teachers, will lead men astray—like lambs to the slaughter. True believers and conservatives must rely on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to lead them. These are the two lenses I choose to view life through.

Mankind’s flesh is weak regardless of what political party we belong to. Man’s quest for greatness has been corrupted by our sinful nature and we must fight it. When Jesus came, He attempted to realign our will with God’s.

The sanctification process is a continuation of that work, as our hearts change, our values will change also. Our understanding of greatness and where it comes from will be from the perspective of God, not the values of this vile world, for God is with us.

Values?

True conservative values always align with God’s Word, even when we don’t like it. We cannot pick and choose which values and parts of the Bible we want to follow, greed and lying are just as wrong as murder and homosexuality.

God’s people have always turned to false teaching and beliefs whenever it served their purpose, even while in bondage in Egypt for 400 years! Today the false gods are earthly greatness and personal wealth, welcome to America.

Jesus would go off in numerous parables warning against pride and self-righteousness because even the Disciples had a sinful nature and needed to look upon the Lord (Matthew 7:1-5, 15:10-20; Luke 10:25-37). Abraham Hechel said it this way, “The test of love is how one relates not to saints and scholars but to rascals.” Jesus was definitely drawn to the rascals because He belonged only to the Father.”

This month in Georgia, we will have primaries for numerous positions, two Republicans on the ticket for governor are popular millionaires on a powertrip, and the other three lesser-known conservatives aren’t aligned with the false Messiah of the Republican party.

We cannot forget the Apostle Paul’s warning about how the church will easily fall away from biblical teaching and values (Galatians 1:6). Feel good teaching/beliefs are from this world and aren’t worthy of our devotion.

Are we unashamed of the gospel if we continue to worship the gods of this world? The truth isn’t always pretty but it is always better than feeling good and going to Hell; the gospel was never meant to be a popularity contest!