The Christian Working Woman - The Idol of Politics – 5

Presented by Lauren Stibgen We cannot repair culture with politics, but this is not what the candidates for any political party want you to think. The effect your faith should have on politics should remove from politics what it can never deliver—a redeemed and perfect kingdom. When candidates or laws are up for a vote, are you filled with fear for what that change might mean? Do you catastrophize what terrible things may happen based on the outcomes of an election? In an updated article for October of 2024 from The American Psychological Association titled, “Fear: A Powerful Motivator in Elections”, it is clear fear is a primary tactic when it comes to an election.[1] Why? Because it works! The author points out this could involve factual or misleading statements about the other candidate or that a potential victory for the other party would lead to disaster. Even this article provides practical advice to check facts and, yes, turn off the news if you are feeling anxious and fearful! This is great advice, and, as a believer, you need to remember placing your hope in a temporal political candidate rather than prioritizing and trusting in God’s sovereignty in all things can be an indication you are making an idol of the politics that are intentionally trying to make you fearful! Trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding, submitting to the Lord in all ways and trusting that he will make your path straight can seem easier said than done (Proverbs 3:5-6). As believers we are promised that God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Trusting the Lord even if the earth gives way, and the mountains fall into the sea is counter to what culture tells us (Psalm 46:1-3). Politics promise to solve problems of social consequence like homelessness, hunger, poverty, human trafficking, murder, crime—and the list could go on. Like me, you have probably lived through enough election cycles to see the wash, rinse, and repeat. The promises and laws do not stop the injustice. “When the sin-sick soul stops being the central problem, then God’s provision of the person and the work of Christ stops being the central solution. When the travails of the here and now become the central problem, then politics become the central means of providing solutions.”[2] This quote from the article “Christianity and Politics” by Dan Bryant summarizes what we need to remember as believers—our God saves, not man. — [1] Waldroff, K. (2020, October 13). Fear: A powerful motivator in elections. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/fear-motivator-elections [2] Christianity and Politics | Modern Reformation. (n.d.). Www.modernreformation.org. https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/christianity-and-politics-2 <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-47368 size-full" src="https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-download-1.png" alt="" width="1584" height="125" srcset="https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-download-1.png 1584w, https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-download-1-300x24.png 300w, https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-download-1-1024x81.png 1024w, https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-download-1-768x61.png 768w, https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-download-1-1536x121.png 1536w, https://christianworkingwoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Click-here-to-downlo