Two political blunders - 10 April 2010 |
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The general election is now just a few weeks away, which means that as Christians we need to be conscious of the two mistakes we’re tempted to make as we look at the world around us.
The first mistake is unjustified pessimism: “The world’s in such a mess that no one – not even God – can do anything about it.” This is faithlessness. It’s a form of unbelief that shrinks God down to puny proportions, doubting his sovereignty and power over anything that looks too big to handle.
The second mistake is misplaced optimism: “The world’s in a mess, but political party x has the solution. All we need to do is get the right guys into power and it’ll all be alright.” This is idolatry, because it locates the power for world transformation in something or someone other than the Creator.
When we’re guilty of misplaced optimism, we need to hear the first half of Psalm 146:
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. (vv. 3-4).
When we’re guilty of unjustified pessimism, we need to hear the second half of Psalm 146:
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! (vv. 5-10)
Either way, this reminds us that we need to confess our sins.
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Exhortations before confession, Minister's Blog