How Cultural and Political Crises can Point us to Jesus
Leaders at the top of their field are easy targets for criticism, just ask President Trump or Biden. That is not to say that the criticism is invalid or unwarranted, but it is all too easy to blame the leaders for all that ails the country.
Consider the current events Joe Biden and his leadership are faced with: turmoil in the Middle East, cyberattacks on our gas lines and rising gas prices, ongoing pandemic and related vaccine and mask issues, migrant border concerns, inflation concerns, and job growth challenges to name a few.
President Trump, likewise, faced mounting criticism for issues surrounding the capital attacks, national racial and injustice issues, handling of the pandemic, mean-spirited verbal or social media attacks, and impeachment to name a few on Trump’s side.
My guess is that when you read those lists, you would be quick to come to the defense of whichever political figure you supported and argue that he is not to be faulted for various reasons. My point is not to lay or dismiss blame for either leader or his policies. Rather, it is to say that there always has been and always will be enormous problems that leaders and his/her countries will face.
Some of these problems may be self-inflicted due to personal decisions or choices that were made. But I want to encourage you to look a little deeper at the root cause of all that has or ever will ail this country. The Bible describes the root problem as sin—yours, mine, and the whole worlds. Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Sin is a dirty, nasty, and judgmental-sounding word. We do not like to talk about it. We do not like to think about it.
But at its root, and what makes it such a big deal to God is that it devalues the glory of God…. Sin literally means to “miss the intended mark.” One of the best definitions of sin that I’ve heard comes from author John Piper, “Sin is the glory of God not honored. Holiness of God not reverenced. Greatness of God not admired. Power of God not praised. Truth of God not sought. Wisdom of God not esteemed. Beauty of God not treasured. Goodness of God not savored. Faithfulness of God not trusted. Commandments of God not obeyed. Justice of God not respected. Wrath of God not feared. Grace of God not cherished. Presence of God not prized. Person of God not loved.”
The result of sin is what you and I see and experience in and around us every day. The ultimate result of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). There will continue to be national and worldly crises until Jesus returns. But until we address the sin issue it will be as if we were putting a Band-Aid on someone who is hemorrhaging.
Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, our current worldly and national crises are not determinative.
Rather, it is where Jesus has been, on our behalf, and where he now sits at the right hand of God in total authority and power that is most significant.
The current problems the world faces will feel like child’s play compared to the problem of what it will one day be like to face a holy and righteous God. John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” But God graciously offers to each and every one of us his free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus promises that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart for He has already overcome the world! (John 16:33) For those who trust in Christ, He has already stood in your place!
