God & Country: The Next President

It’s getting very close. 

A night full of the scariest things you’ve ever seen. 
A night that you might cover yourself with a blankie as you watch spooky things on TV. 
A night filled with treats, and quite a few tricks.  

Yep, it’s almost time…for Election Night. 

(Did you think I meant Halloween?) 

I guarantee that there are many more people fearful of the Election than Halloween this year. Halloween is make believe. People wear masks. But the Election is real life!  What will happen? How will we survive if so-and-so is president? Is this the end of America? 

Today our goal is to take a look at God’s Word and we want to do 2 things: (1) see why it is this election is not nearly as scary as some websites would have you believe and (2) see how it is Christians should react to whoever is president next. But before we study God’s Word, let’s say a prayer: O Lord, strengthen us by the truth; your Word is truth. Open our eyes to see what you want us to see. Open our ears to hear what you want us to hear. Open our hearts to believe what you would have us believe. Amen. 

I. A Not-So-Scary Night

I direct your attention to Romans 13. Romans is a book that a disciple named Paul wrote. It was actually a letter to Christians and future Christians in Rome.  In fact, it’s a good letter for all Christians. It talks about sin and our Savior. Then, it discusses Christian living. Finally, in Chapter 13 – there’s this directive about the government: 

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. (v.1)

Take a look at that word “authority” to start out with. Authority means to “be in charge of” or “to have power.” 

There’s a lot of different authorities in this world. There’s the “authorities” as in police officers and highway patrol. In each family, parents have authority – although sometimes husbands joke that the “wife” has authority. You might have authority at work to do some things that others can’t and you might not be able to do some things that others can. 

There’s lots of different authorities. Even in the government. There’s the President of the United States. There’s the Vice President. There’s the governors and senators and representatives – there’s the mayor and district representatives and even the city clerk! They are all very different in size of authority, shape of authority, and form of authority. 

But they also have one thing in common.  

There is no authority except that which God has established. 

Have you ever seen ‘est’d.’ on the front of a building? Usually it’s on cornerstone – or in some easy to see spot. It means this is when the building was made and this is who paid for it. We’ve got a plague in the hallway that says something similar about our fellowship hall. Maybe we’ll have something like that for the new Precious Lambs building. 

Do you understand what Romans 13:1 is saying? If someone is in authority – no matter where the authority is – no matter when the authority is – no matter how the authority is – God is the one who set it up.  Because God is the ultimate authority. 

And that means – that on the morning of November 9th – we will know who is in control. 

God. 

No matter who wins the election. No matter who becomes President of the United States (POTUS). No matter who is elected – you can envision a little ‘estd’ on the name badge above their breast pocket. 

Established by God.

Do you believe that? Imagine for a minute that it’s November 9th. You are waking up the day after the election and after you grab your coffee and you read the headline on the newspaper OR the tweet on your phone – the other candidate won. 

Not the one you voted for – who you maybe didn’t even like all that much – the candidate that you didn’t vote for because you were terrified of that candidate becoming president. 

How do you react? 

Add a little spike to your morning coffee? 
Immediately tweet about how America is over? 
Do you go online and start searching for the price of houses in Canada?

When less than 40% of America is behind a candidate, November 9th is bound to be a scary day. Someone will be in authority that more than 60 percent of the country doesn’t even want! 

We'll start thinking! 

This is because our no-good country elected that person. 
This is because of the no-good media. 
This is because other countries interfered. 
This is because it’s rigged. 

Some – or all of that might be true. But there’s a bigger, deeper reason behind the Next President. 

Romans 13:1 again: There is no authority except that which God has established. 

II. God’s Choice

But that’s hard. Because it means that whoever gets elected on Election Day, will do so under God’s authority!  

And if we were to end the sermon there, you’ll probably leave thinking: 

That was crazy. Because if so-and-so wins, that one is an awful no good unbeliever – How could God be behind that? 

To be fair: It was hard for the people who were hearing this message originally. Because at that time, the Roman government was in charge. The Roman government was the authority. The Roman government wasn’t Christian. In fact, Romans didn’t like Christians all that much. Romans viewed Christianity as a cult that would lead to a revolution and loss of authority for the Roman government. 

One of the worst offenders was a guy called Nero. He’s gonna show up very early in the history of the Christian church – shortly after the letter to the Romans is circulated. Nero hated Christians. There are accounts and records of Nero burning Christians at the stake and throwing them into the Lion’s Den. Christians were probably very wary of the Roman government and very nervous about what it might bring them!

Then, they read this letter form Paul. I bet they thought: Here’s the section about government. I can’t wait to read it. I can’t wait for him to tell us about how we should fight back against Roman soldiers. I can’t wait to read about how we should burn Nero’s palace down. I can’t wait to hear about how this is all a bit misunderstanding and God will give us a new ruler soon.  

So…let’s see. It says, “The authorities that exist have been established by God?”   

Is this a typo? 
​
But this must be true! If we believe in an all knowing, all powerful, all incredible God, then we believe he has all authority. Otherwise you make him into some feeble, old ruler who can’t prevent his own overthrow or some non-caring, jerk, who doesn’t care about you. 

God establishes authority.  

And no, we don’t always know why God establishes the government that he establishes. If you look at Bible history, there are some reasons that are explained -- 

(1) Sometimes it’s for good order. To keep believers and unbelievers and people of different cultures, races, belief systems and backgrounds from beating each other up. 
(2) Other times it’s for prosperity. God used kings like David to bring prosperity on the nation. 
(3) Sometimes? It’s for discipline. 

Take Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was a Babylonian ruler. He didn’t know God. He didn’t care for God. He didn’t consult God. But God used them. He used them to punish his people. He used them to bring them to their knees. He used them to discipline his children and bring them back to faith in him. 

Here’s the truth. We don’t know why God establishes the authorities that he does. But we do know that whatever the reason – It’s for our eternal good. 

Check out this passage from the same letter to Rome – “All things work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  

Here’s a second truth: We don’t know why God will establish the authority that he does on November 8th. But…we do know that whoever he established, “All things – including the American election – will for your good.” For your, eternal good. 

Like Pontius Pilate. He was a Roman. He didn’t care a lick about the Jewish people. He could be harsh and uncaring – like the time that he allowed an innocent man to be crucified on a cross just so that he wouldn’t lose his authority. 

But God had a purpose. An eternal purpose. Your eternal purpose. 

That innocent man that he killed just happened to be the Son of God – Jesus Christ. The one of whom it was prophesied, would die on a cross. (Isaiah 53) A cross that the no good, unbelieving, Roman government used as a punishment. 

God used Pontius Pilate to fulfill his plan. 
God used the Roman government to sacrifice the Savior. 
God used those authorities – to save you. 

God will use the next president for your good—your eternal good. 

III. What Now? 

1) Trust

Because there might be a Next President that you don’t like. A president that you don’t trust. Even if you vote for that person, you might not trust them. 

But Trust God. 

It doesn’t matter what earthly person is in authority, they can’t out-authority God. 
They can’t take away the salvation that Jesus won for you on a cross. 
They can’t pass a law that says "You aren’t forgiven."
They can’t change legislation to make you into an enemy of God. 
They can’t amend history and keep Jesus from dying and rising from the dead. 

God is in control.  

So…here’s what I think you should do. Before you open up your newsfeed on November 8th. Before you check Facebook or the news. Before you watch the news later that night after you vote --- Open the Bible. Find Psalm 46. Read “God is our Refuge and strength and ever present help in trouble; Therefore we will not fear, though the earth quakes and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” 


2) Don’t Rebel

Ever had a babysitter? Me too. I, like many young boys, didn’t think that I had to listen to my babysitters. In fact, one of my first babysitters – I refused to listen to. I stayed up late. I jumped on my bed. I ate way more cookies than she said I could have. I rebelled against her authority and I thought that it wasn’t a big deal. I figured if I wasn’t disobeying my mom and dad, then it was okay. 

I was wrong. 

The same is true with the next president: if you rebel against whoever it is – you’ll be rebelling against God. Look at what it says in verse 2, “Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” You’ll have to answer to God. 

You might be thinking, “I’m not gonna rebel. I’m not gonna grab a sign and go downtown to picket…because I don’t know where to buy picket signs.” 

But that’s not necessarily rebellion. Rebellion means “to go against authority.” To attack; to fight against; to tear down. 

So here’s something to ask yourself about your action. Is it building up? Or tearing down?

Ask yourself. Is this email joke really building anybody up? 
Is this SNL skit just attacking someone?
Are my swear words really a blessings? 
Is this illegal way that I’m trying to not pay so many taxes, really supporting our government? 

Not so much? Then, you’re rebelling. Against authorities and God. 

3) Give Respect. 

Instead, give what you owe the next president. Look at what Romans 13:6 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” 

Instead, give respect. Give honor. Give prayers. Give kind words. 

And if you’re having a hard time doing that – please look at God! Because God is the one who established that person. I know you want to give glory to God. He won salvation for you; he forgave you; he loves you; and he’ll take you to heaven. 

Treating his representative with respect is treating God, your Savior, with respect. 

4) Remember Where you are “of”
   
In John 17, Jesus says this about his disciples, “They are not of the world any more than I am of the world…Protect them from the evil one.” 

Because the truth is, we are in this world. While we are in this world, we will always have sinful human leaders. Because there are only sinful, human leaders to choose from. 

While you can’t avoid that, you need to remember that you are more than that. You are in the world; but you aren’t of it. 

Be different this election.

When others are frightened, be confident. 
When others are complaining, give praise. 
When others are planning rebellion, show respect. 
When others think the world is following apart, show them God’s World and how he put you back together. 

No matter what's going on -- remember that your kingdom is not of this world. 
Your kingdom is God's kingdom. 
That kingdom is above. 

​Amen.