Elections and fear…have no fear little flock.
I’m writing this before the great election of 2020. And since I can’t possibly know how this election will turn out – and you might not know yet either – I want to offer a reminder from Scripture to us readers of the Clarence Bee Clergy Column. Thanks for reading. No matter what the outcome of this election – whether you are elated or devastated – listen carefully to Jesus’ words (Luke 12:32). He says, “Have no fear, little flock. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
We stop and think, “What could we possibly be afraid of, these days?” What, indeed! Let your imagination run for just a milli-second, and you could make a long list (with a little help from your favorite news source and a quick look at your disappointing body). There’s lots to fear, right? But Jesus says that there ISN’T much to fear. Either Jesus is out of touch with reality, or he knows something we don’t know. He says, “Don’t fear anyone. Just One, my Father who has power over life and death.”
Jesus reminds us of the First Commandment. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” In our tradition, we wonder, “What does this mean?” A simple answer is, “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” There’s that fear again, added to love and trust…in God alone.
Humor me: do this little exercise. Compile your long list of worries, and imagine presenting them one by one to your Creator.
“Covid-19, God, should I fear that?” “No, fear Me.”
“How about the way this election is turning out, should I fear that?” “No, fear Me.”
“How about the mess this country’s in, should I fear that?” “No, fear Me.”
“How about my death, on the horizon, should I fear that?” “No, fear Me.”
“My wayward family?” “No, fear me.”
“Money problems?” “No, fear me.”
Eventually we run out of things on our list to be afraid of, and we bring our fear to God alone. And we ask, “God, should I fear you?” And he says, “Have no fear, little flock. It is my good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. I have even given my Son to die and to rise for you.”
These days of election fervor seem so large and momentous. And maybe for our lifetime, they are. But they don’t compare to that Friday afternoon when an “eats-with-sinners” Jewish Rabbi was crucified for claiming to be the King of the Jews. They don’t compare to that early Sunday morning when he rose from the grave and appeared to his fearful followers. (This event of resurrection, you might remember, was the evidence that Jesus is the Son of God in power; Romans 1:4. That was a political statement by God.)
We might be sorting out this election for a long time to come. But my encouragement is to keep an eye on the events of Good Friday, Easter, and Ascension Day. This is the Christian alternative view of the world. It is summed up in these brief words, “Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.” For two thousand years, through every kind of political environment imaginable, the church, the people of God, have experienced the Lord of Lords and King of Kings in their midst. His work of powerful redemption goes on, and he patiently uses and allows good and not-so-good politicians.
So when this election dust settles, whether (in your opinion) it’s the good or the not-so-good politician who has won, remember that God stands over and above our politics. They are all temporary. Ultimately, Jesus alone will be the only politician with any power, and he will bring his literal kingdom to earth. Our challenge in these days is to be dual citizens of both this country we love and the homeland of heaven which Jesus will bring to earth. We live faithfully in one, and look in faith to the other. Have no fear, little flock.
Note: Published in the Clarence Bee, week of November 3, 2020.
Photo credit: Aaron-blanco-tejedor, Unsplash.com