on taking sides…
NOTE: I have been doing a series on politics and social concern. This week, I will take a break to share some final reflections on the election, and then I will conclude the series next week.
Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” And the captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5.13-15)
That was then… this is now…
Then Joshua was forty years younger…
Then Moses was in charge…
Then God seemed to work miracles daily…
Then there was so much momentum, but…
Then, common sense supplanted faith…
Then the people abandoned their future to fear…
Then the nation wandered for forty years…
Then Joshua witnessed the death
of his generation…
But that was then, and this is now…
Now Joshua is forty years older…
Now Jericho’s walls are no smaller…
Now Jericho’s streets are no less populated…
Now Jericho’s might has not diminished…
Now Joshua is forty years older…
Now he stands before a fortified city…
Now, he has no battle plans…
Now the risks of defeat are real…
Now Joshua is forty years older—and the underdog.
Now his troops are young and inexperienced…
Now, he does not hold a strategic position…
Now, he lacks the element of surprise…
Now, he needs a miracle…
That was then… this is now…
Now Joshua is still forty years older…
Now, he is not the warrior he once was…
Now, Joshua is still a man of vision;
Now, there is still hope…
Now Joshua still sees...
Now it is the eve of a great battle…
Now behold! A man was standing opposite him…
Now the man’s sword was drawn…
Now Joshua lifted up his eyes and looked…
Now Joshua is forty years older…
Now Joshua is a man of vision and
Now Joshua sees the truth…
Before Jericho falls…
Joshua must bow…
Before Jericho is defeated…
Joshua must surrender…
Loved ones, the election is now behind us, but there is a nation, a state, and a local community before us. You stand at the threshold of a strategic opportunity full of our Father’s opportunities for you. Yet vision without surrender is thinly disguised vanity. Our greatest challenge post-election will not be who won or lost, our budgets, any changes we need to make, new ministries, or our disappointments. Our greatest challenge will be to surrender fully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and recommit to His redemptive mission. History teaches us that it is always a disaster for mission whenever the Church aligns herself with power and/or political sides. Surely, we can learn lessons from the Church's past and not repeat the same errors?
We cannot look at this country through the binary lens of an electoral map displaying red states and blue states. I think Jesus sees all states as "need states." Every state and the communities therein need the redemptive presence of Jesus preached and expressed through His Church. Is there a different Gospel for a blue state than for a red state?! Does one color state not need a Church catalyzed by The Great Commission and charged to express the Greatest Commandments?! Which color state can stand before the Lord and boast of their righteousness?! Does one state need Jesus less than another?! If we woke up the morning after the election thinking our missional labors just got easier, think again! Republicans will gloat over the power regained, while Democrats will now stew and strategize a path forward to regain the power they lost. Neither comes in the Spirit of the Lord that we have been anointed with nor the Gospel message entrusted to us.
... he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” (2 Corinthians 5.19-20)
On the eve of the Jericho invasion, both common sense and human deduction might correctly assume whose side God was on. Joshua learned that night that God does not take sides; He calls us to His…
This is the post-election lesson I need to remember and embrace afresh...
