Whose (political) side is God really on?

People of faith like to believe that decisions they make are God-inspired. Their interpretation of the scriptures leads them to the conclusion that God would be fine with whatever it is THEY want to do. 

Politicians are no different. Maxine Waters, the Congresswoman from California, recently stated that “God is on our side” when she called for harassment of Trump supporters, advocating they be driven from the public square, including stores and businesses, simply for being…Trump supporters. 

Of course white racists, who believed blacks should be kept out of various public areas simply because they were black, often used The Bible to justify their actions, and they too, were wrong. 

Race is not discussed in the Bible, and racial distinctions shouldn’t exist among Believers. In Galatians 3:28, the Apostle Paul makes it very clear: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” And since people of all colors were enslaved during Biblical times, race doesn’t apply there, either. 

Whose side IS God on these days? When it comes to immigration, the left would have you believe that God doesn’t want borders, and that we should allow anyone to come in without restrictions. In Acts 17:26, God makes it clear that there ARE boundaries to nations: “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” That doesn’t mean people can’t come in, but nations have a right to control the flow of migration.

When it comes to poverty, poor people should always be considered and cared for, and the left thinks giving handouts is “compassionate”, but Jesus never calls on government to do the job. Rather, the Bible says, “If a man doesn’t work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Giving handouts without asking able bodied people to work is damaging to them. 

But the larger issue is not who’s right about a particular political issue, but what are we supposed to do as Believers? Jesus had to deal with some nasty government officials, and so did Paul, John and many of His other followers, then and now. 

Government is made up of people, and people are flawed. Sometimes they’re incompetent, other times evil. Rarely does the best person get elected or appointed. Jesus never said, “It would be great if you all could follow me, but so-and-so’s in office, so let’s wait until things get better.” 

Are certain leaders put in place at certain times, either to judge or bless a nation? Yes indeed, and the Bible is clear about that, too. Romans 13:1: “…there is no authority except that which God has established.” 

I actually heard some Republicans say, “Trump’s gonna save us!” at various events I attended before he was elected. I always corrected them. “NO, he’s not”, I told them. “He doesn’t have that power.” 

We are commanded in Psalm 146:3 to “not put our trust in princes…”, precisely because they don’t have the power to save. Read the Old Testament. King after king “did evil in the sight of the Lord…”, yet God’s plan was never hindered or thwarted in any way. 

As Believers, we have an obligation to live our lives as unto the Lord, and do our best to glorify Him, regardless of who’s in power. Our nation will continue as long as He sees fit, and if our nation were destroyed tomorrow that would not destroy God’s plan for each of us. 

Pray, vote for people of character, maintain vigilance, and try to make the world a better place, but don’t get caught up in thinking that the hope of our nation rests in any President or Supreme Court Justice. 

I Corinthians 8:5-6: “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”