I
generally do not listen to the radio. In
fact, I find most radio stations a bore and drudgery. I most prefer to listen to books while
driving. The miles on the road, rather
than wasted, are set to good use by listening to books. However, I had an occasion in which I
listened to the radio. The message from
every corner seemed to have one underlying theme: Now is the time to
panic. It did not matter if the beginning
perspective was Christian or secular, conservative or liberal the message at
all points was everyone who agrees with this should panic and do so now. Panic, at times, on the verge of hysteria.
One
voice said that if the battle they were engaged in was lost the whole state would
be lost. This state serves as the
bastion of right, justice and the true American way and when it is lost the
whole nation would be lost into something of a dystopian future. This panic has bled over into the Christian
community. On a different channel I
heard that if a certain bill passed it would destroy all Christian schools,
churches and colleges in America, the result of which would be the end of the Christian
faith as we know it.
I
am not opposed, as some will certainly say, to Christians getting involved in
the process of governance. As Christians
we need to be involved, indeed, we ought to lead the way. What I am passionately opposed to is our
being manipulated by and submitting to the voices of doom that tell us that only
by doing what they say can we avoid doom.
Personally, I don’t think these panic mongers have that great a knowledge
of the future. They do have a profound
knowledge of how to use fear for their own ends. No doubt some are sincere and genuinely
believe their prophecies of doom. Others
are motivated by the potential for income.
In either case, their prophecies of doom are self-serving.
Fear
makes us very exploitable. This is not
lost on religious-political-media leaders.
The message that is broadcast to us is, “Everything is worse than we
thought or you can imagine. We must act
now! If we don’t all is lost.” What typically follows is a plan of action
(sign a petition, send in the response card, call a number, etc.) and
ultimately an appeal for money. I know of
one elderly lady who is supporting about 20 organizations that every month have
a crisis to be averted. Against my
advice she continues to send her money; it makes her feel better. It gives her a sort of hope for a better
future. Not unlike playing the lottery. But let us have no doubt, fear mongering or
giving into fear- it is contrary to what we have and believe.
If
we look at Psalm 46 we have a favorite verse we take out of context and a great
lesson about fear in the political realm.
“Waters” were a symbol of people groups or nations. In this Psalm we see political, national, or
even international chaos. But in this
God’s people are secure. In verse four,
we see a river that is apparently symbolic.
Mountain top Jerusalem has no river.
This river may represent the foreign policy, army, or extension of a
nation that was being used by God for the benefit of God’s people. We need not forget that entire nations were
raised up by God to accomplish His purposes.
As disciples there is nothing wrong with our being engaged in the
political process, but that is never our hope.
When things go sideways we ought not panic. Verse 10, which is often quoted for our
comfort, is generally taken out of context.
The nine preceding verses are about God’s sovereign authority over the
political process in the world. The
following verse is about God’s providential and specific protection for His
people. It is unlikely that this verse
jumps over to talk about having a daily quiet time. This verse is primarily about God’s people
relaxing or chilling out when political chaos and its associated panic are present
in every moment.
The
next time someone tells you that if you don’t act, give, or in other ways
conform to their agenda then all is lost say to them, “Do I have time to get
some popcorn to eat while I watch the end of the world?”
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