There are a few events in history that will stay with you an entire lifetime, in such a way that you can remember where you were when it happened. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I was at a local YMCA working out with my 4 older homeschooled kids, when we drove back home and I saw my wife glued to the television, telling me that a plane had flown into the side of one of the Twin towers in NY. I remember thinking it had to be an accident but then a second plane…and you know how the story goes.
I had one of “those” moments on Wednesday, January 6 when one of my sons came to our bedroom and asked if we knew what was happening at the Capitol.
On that Wednesday, the US Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College vote for the 46th President of the United States, but it was interrupted by the insurrection of a mob that stormed and breached the US Capitol, something that has not happened since the war of 1812.
My family and I watched, dumfounded by what we saw and trying to process this unbelievable event taking place. Drinking in the information, switching news outlets, trying to gain a broader perspective on the truth.
Since then, pages and pages have been written, twitter has been bombarded and bloggers and vloggers, journalists, entertainers, pastors, speakers, families, friends have been pontificating at a ferocious pace, trying to get their opinions out there.
Former President George W. Bush called the attack “a sickening and heartbreaking sight” and stated, “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic—not our democratic republic.”
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), a former CIA case officer, said, “This is what we see in failing countries. This is what leads to a death of democracy.”
Eugene Cho, author, pastor and president of Bread for the World… “This is unacceptable. It's utterly tragic and heartbreaking. But we shouldn't be mistaken that this just happened overnight. This is the result of several years of gaslighting, dehumanizing, insulting, stoking racism, enabling, spewing conspiracies, and lack of accountability. We can't just pray for peace...We must condemn this violence and lawlessness. And yes, let's indeed pray for peace and for our democracy. Pray for our nation and for our institutions. We need leaders from every side to ensure a peaceful transition in power...Lord, in your mercy.” He said
Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said “But enough is enough—and indeed was enough a long time ago. It will take decades to rebuild from the wreckage in this country. But, as Christians, we can start now—just by not being afraid to say what is objectively the truth. Joe Biden has been elected president. Millions of babies are being aborted. The pandemic is real. So is racial injustice—both personal and systemic. So is the sexual abuse of women and children. If Christians are people of truth, we ought to be the first to acknowledge reality.”
Dr tony Evans Pastor, Author Speaker… “Today’s political violence was a tragic illustration of what happens to a nation when it abandons God’s person, principles and policies. America is undergoing the passive wrath of God which takes place when His standards are compromised (Romans 1:18-32.) The result is chaos, conflict and lawlessness. Only a radical return to God by His people will change this. The answer to saving America is not in the White House - it is in the church house.”
I too am heart broken, for our nation…yes, but mostly for God’s people who seem to be Biblically illiterate and have an inability to see and live life from God’s perspective. We are divided not because we have divergent opinions but because we have idolatrous loyalties. We have placed our identity in political parties, ethnic origins, and social ideologies. We have substituted Christ, for the worthless idols of power, pride, and privilege. We have become ineffective in the world in which God has left us as ambassadors. We have become salt that has lost its taste, light that has been hidden under a bowl.
It is sickening and disheartening that the people of God are more loyal to a political party than they are of Christ. You are either for the Kingdom of God or you are not. No middle ground.
We have become drunk with the wine of this world and have forgotten that we are residents of another Kingdom that is not brought forth with swords and guns and violence and fleshly ways of “conquering”. We have listened to and been mesmerized by the deceitful song of the Enemy of God and thus have become God’s enemy ourselves. We are a living example of James 4:1-4
James 4:1–4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
We as God’s people have been sleeping with the enemy and God will not have it…for God opposes the proud…
So, our response as God’s people is not choosing sides but choosing Christ. God is not a Republican, Democrat, Independent or Progressive. He is not here to take sides. He is not swayed by the eloquent argument of this world and its systems. He is Lord. He is King of all Kings. He is Lord of all Lords. He has set His agenda in the heavens and we must submit to Him.
Just as Joshua was about engage and lead in the battle of a lifetime, he was geared up and ready, but God had to remind him of the true battle and of the true Commander!
Joshua 5:13–15 13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Christ is the Commander of the Lord’s Army and we must listen to him. Do his bidding. Engage in His battles, His ways.
As you process the events that have taken place in our Nations Capitol, you must not interpret them based on the color of your skin, or the leaning of your political party, or the philosophy of your parents or on the opinions of your peers. You must stand in your identity as a Woman and Man of God. A child of the true King. A citizen of Heaven… A chosen race. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. A people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
We must represent our Commander with the same humility, gentleness and ferocious love that He too displayed!