Both sides keep blaming each other for the condition of our country but the state of our nation is really just a reflection of the current condition of our hearts. We are telling each other that things are terrible but are things really worse that during the American Civil War, the dust bowls, or World War 2? And how did previous generations get through those tough times? They teamed together, today instead of teaming together we are tearing each other apart. Part of the problem is that we have left our first love, we are relying on our riches instead of the Redeemer. We have traded the treasure of togetherness and the richness of relationship for the trinkets of treasure. We have taken our independence to a new level, instead of celebrating our national independence we are now chasing after and championing individual independence. But this independence comes at the expense of inclusion, where we make it about me instead of we. Today we have a short sighted focus that only goes to the end of our noses, where we only see self and how things will impact us. How did the World War 2 generation save the world from tyrannical oppression and occupation, and then come home and build a powerful nation? Through selfless sacrifice that focused on the greater good not on personal greed. Today we are a nation deeply divided and we want to blame it on race or religion, but our greatest division is not the color of our skin but the selfishness in our core. When it comes to politics nothing is new, political leaders are still promising to fix all of our problems so we can live full and fulfilled lives. Liberals tell us that we need more money and education while Republicans claim that it can be found in economic stability. But if the answer is really found in more money than how come we have more that most and yet are the most miserable? What if the answer to satisfaction is not found in what we have but in who we have? Jesus said a full and fulfilled life is not found in riches but in a relationship with the Redeemer, John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” Every person hungers for happiness, so we desperately seek satisfaction in people, places, and possessions. We want to know what will make our hearts happy and satisfy the deep desires of our lives. As kids we thought it could be found in a candy bar, or the perfect present at Christmas. We thought that new bike, video game or doll would make us happy but they all fell short. As teenagers we started seeking satisfaction in a significant other, or believing the wisdom of the world we looked for it in good grades or athletic accomplishments. But no matter how much we achieved all of it left us discontent. So as we stepped into adulthood we began to believe the lie that a bigger house, a better job or the right spouse would quench our thirst and satisfy the hunger of our hearts. Yet no matter how hard we try to fill our lives we are always left wanting more because we were created for more than just the trivial pursuit of pleasure. We will never find lasting satisfaction through possessions, places or even people because seeking satisfaction in the things of this world is like chasing the wind. The only thing we will find in chasing after the world is weariness. Many of us waste the treasure of time chasing nothing when we could have been pursuing true peace and pleasure. The problem is that apart from Jesus our hearts are black holes of discontentment that relentlessly devour relationships and riches all while screaming, “I need more.” We’re are constantly consuming any yet always craving, eating but famished and unfulfilled. It is this dissatisfaction in life that leads to disaster, because dissatisfaction in life is near the root of all kinds of damaging sin. Why do people cheat and commit adultery, why do they abuse alcohol and drugs, or mindlessly binge on entertainment, watching ridiculous amounts of television or scroll endlessly on social media? Often they happen because we haven’t found happiness, and our souls are searching for something that will satisfy. At the root of our dissatisfaction is a never-ending thirst that this world will never satisfy. We’ve been duped into believing that a better job, more money, different friends, another spouse, or a better life is the answer to what we need. Yet the only one who can satisfy our soul is the Savior, Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can exceed our expectations, meet out heart needs, and fulfill our deepest desires. Only He can provide the satisfaction we so desperately seek. In 1971 rocker Mick Jagger sang the now familiar lyrics, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” Despite having tried everything, “Cause I try and I try and I try and I try” that the world says will satisfy he couldn’t find gratification anywhere. But long before Mick Jagger stated his dissatisfaction King Solomon said the same thing in his quest for fulfillment, Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” No matter what they tried, that the world had to offer, in their quest for both Solomon and Mick come up short. The reason for their dissatisfaction, they were looking for peace in all the wrong places. Today we are looking to politics to provide peace, but lasting perfect peace is only found in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Psalm 63:5 proclaims, “You, God, satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy.” Because God created us, He alone understands how we are wired. He knows what we crave, and how we try to fill that empty spot with things other than him. The restlessness of your soul can only find rest in the Redeemer. The answer is not riches it’s a relationship with the Redeemer. Our problem today is that we are looking for peace in a political party instead of in the Prince of Peace. We believe the lie that more instead of the Messiah is the answer to our problems. Why are we in debt as a nation? Because we keep borrowing based on the belief that we can buy our way out of our problems, that one more policy or program will bring peace. We are looking to law instead of looking to the Lord. Our division is driven by dissatisfaction, today we care more about being right that loving right. We have replaced charity, compassion and caring with cupidity. We have traded mercy for money as we look to wall street as a major indicator of our nation’s health, but it’s not an indicator of health it’s an indicator of wealth. The truth is you can be wealthy and yet unhealthy. Today we are being taught that economics and the financial condition of our country is the most important factor in determining the success of our nation.  If you want to look at health you have to look at the heart. Today we have hearts of selfishness not service and sacrifice. We care more about how the election will affect us individually than how it will impact our country. It is no longer about we but about me. So what about you what is the current condition of your heart? Do you have a hard heart or a happy heart? Let me leave you with one final thought: If the answer is actually found in a political party then why are both of the candidates that representing those parties so unhappy and full of hate?

Last time we saw that the key question we need to answer is this, “Is Christ Lord of our political views?” Are we living in submission to God’s Will and His way? Which means that our political beliefs must be shaped by the Word of God, not our wants. According to Gods Word, the primary purpose of the church is not politics but the preaching of the gospel of peace, Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” So the church must be careful that it doesn’t become known more for a partisan political stance than the preaching of the gospel. In this regard there are several things that the church needs to remember, first:

• Evangelism not political power is God’s primary means of dealing with the problems of the world.

When we forget this we fall into the trap of believing that the answer to sin is to promote a social gospel instead of the salvation gospel.  Something many liberal theologians are preaching and encouraging people to practice in place of the gospel of peace today. Because the major problems of this world stem from sin in individual hearts, the only real solution is salvation, seeing people brought into a right relationship with God. Remember Jesus didn’t call us to go and win political races, He commands us to go and make disciple of all nations, Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” We need sharing the story of salvation and keep the cross as our main focus. The cure for our country is found at the cross, not in civics. Our hope is in God and His gospel, not in political power.

• When promoting political candidates we need to remember the doctrine of depravity.

All candidates, even if they are Christians are fallen sinners who are susceptible to the lust for power and prestige. If we are not careful we can become overly enamored and blinded by a particular political party or carried away with a certain candidate. The church needs to be wise and not posture itself with a particular political party, whether Republican or Democrat. Because in truth neither party is thoroughly biblical, there is a mixture of good and ghastly in both parties. We must realize that candidates of both parties posture themselves to appeal to large blocks of voters, and just because they promote themselves as conservative, or focused on family values doesn’t mean they are or that they will uphold these values once in office. We need to weigh their walk, not just their words. When a party, or its presidential candidate endorses sin, such as abortion then a Christian in good conscience should not vote for that candidate. These are moral issues, not political issues. Our current president has appointed two Supreme Court justices both of which have ruled against Christian moral values. The reality is that the next president will appoint at least one, if not several Supreme Court justices which will probably tilt the Court in one direction or the other. These rulings can greatly affect our country, either for good or evil, as the infamous Roe v. Wade decision proves. Over 60 million lives have been snuffed out because of that one reckless ruling, that’s 20% of our current population killed by the court. So while the gospel should be our main priority, electing officials who will enact laws or appoint judges in line with Christian values is also important. While the gospel is our only hope for lasting change, God has also ordained that righteous laws protect our society. As a result, the relationship between church and state is neither one of total separation nor one of total identification.

• Because we are called to ministry to the whole person we should not neglect working for just laws

Throughout the centuries Christians have influenced governments positively and these changes have also facilitated the spread of the gospel. Some of these changes include outlawing infanticide, child abandonment, and abortion in the Roman Empire. Outlawing the gladiator battles in Rome, outlawing branding the faces of prisoners, as well as instituting humane prison reforms. Stopping human sacrifice, outlawing pedophilia, granting property rights and other protections to women; banning polygamy,  prohibiting the burning alive of widows in India and outlawing the crippling practice of binding women’s feet in China. The church was also instrumental in advancing the idea of compulsory education for all children in Europe, and abolishing slavery. So to say that preaching the gospel is our only purpose and that the church should not influence the culture through promoting just and righteous laws are both short-sighted and foolish. Often as the church has engaged in efforts to promote justice for the oppressed God has opened the door for the proclamation of the gospel. So the church should not be afraid to share with the state when it comes to matters of morality. We see this throughout the bible, in both the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament we see prophets calling kings to account, while both John the Baptist and Jesus confronted the religious and political leaders in the New Testament. We also see in the New Testament the Apostle Paul confronting Felix the governor, concerning righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Acts 24:25: “As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Paul didn’t base his preaching on Felix’s response but on what was right. Felix feared the truth and backed away from biblical beliefs. We have a responsibility to teach truth and share matters of morality with those in leadership. Their response is their responsibility. But this brings up a difficult question: How far should we push Christian morality, legislatively in a secular society? This is a hard question to answer and certainly it can be taken too far. You see during the colonial days there were some states that punished people who traveled on Sunday. Even in the sixties there were stores in America that prohibited the purchase of certain items on Sunday. This may seem absurd but it begs the question how far do we go? The point is that the relationship between the church and the state is neither one of total separation nor one of total identification. We need to be involved in both preaching and politics, but preaching must remain our primary means of bringing peace to a weary world. So here is the question we Christians need to ponder, “Do I put more energy and effort into sharing my political views or proclaiming and preaching Christ?”