Political Sovereignty of God

This post is not going to be about picking sides or criticizing the different political parties. I think that we as Christians have missed the point during this election year…

In reading through the Bible in a year, I just finished reading Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets declaring God’s judgment and restoration of Israel. Something that has really stuck out to me, is how God continually used pagan nations to exact His judgment and fulfill His plan for His people.

Take the book of Daniel, for instance. God is UNQUESTIONABLY active in the political affairs of the nations. He is active in the United States politics and He is active in the world’s politics. What He wills and allows no amount of voting, campaigning, or manipulation will change. He is in absolute sovereign control over who gets elected as the president of the United States and what they do with that authority.

“For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does what He wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can hold back His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” Daniel 4:34

“Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Do we have such a small view of God that we don’t believe He can actually use any situation and any person for His purposes? Have we forgotten His use of the corrupt, pagan nation of Babylon as both an instrument of discipline for His people, but also for restoring them back to Jerusalem? Why are we acting like God cannot control the politics in the United States?

Is it impossible for us to recognize that God is capable of using WHOMEVER is in office in the United States for good? Or, if it is His will, to allow them to destroy and oppress, simply because it is within His plan? Romans 13:1 says “for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.” Whoever ends up in office come January first will be put there specifically by our sovereign Lord.

Yet here we Christians stand, arguing and criticizing, to the point that we’ve allowed politics to divide the church! We are called to a higher standard! We are called to be united as one in Christ Jesus. “May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me,” prayed Jesus in John 17:20. We are not doing a very good job of representing Christ in the United States. Furthermore, the enemy is using politics to tear the church apart and we are letting him do it!

So instead of spending today bad-mouthing other parties and candidates, why don’t we as the church set the example in love and represent Christ well. This is a call to take up our cross as Christians and instead of just be readers of the Word, to actually DO.

Italy Part 3 ~ Rome

Turning every corner and seeing some gigantic, historical, beautiful work of architecture could basically sum up the city tour of Rome. It was INCREDIBLE! Getting to actually see in real life the things I have only read about or seen in movies was indescribable.

Pantheon

We would be walking down one cobble-stoned, close-quartered street, turn the corner, and BAM! There was the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain! It was one astonishing and mind-boggling building or monument after another. By the end of the tour, my mind could barely comprehend the magnitude or age of the architectural works. Rome is an extraordinary city. Crazy busy and bustling, but beautiful and rich in history.

Two highlights from the walking tour: fantastic gelato in the city and throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain. According to tradition, throwing one coin over the shoulder into the fountain means you’ll be back in Rome in a year and a day!

Trevi Fountain

By far though, my favorite part of seeing Rome was the Colosseum. The vast enormity of what the Romans were able to do in their time is difficult to grasp! Actually standing where people during the time of Jesus stood… It is simply a staggering reality.

Rome is a city I definitely want to go back to someday!

Italy Part 2 ~ Vatican City

To be completely honest, I had a difficult time fully enjoying the Vatican City, especially St. Peter’s Basilica. Everything was extremely extravagant and opulent to the point of gaudiness… But let me start at the beginning.

View from an inner courtyard patio

The museums were incredible, with all the ancient sculptures, paintings, and tapestries. Sistine Chapel was the highlight for me. To see it in person was a dream come true! Did you know that the number one most known picture in the world is of Michelangelo’s depiction of God giving life to Adam that is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? It was extraordinary!

Bronze Statue of Hercules

Saint Peter’s Basilica: think excessive and profuse to the point of overstatement and the onlooker being overwhelmed by everything going on.
Yes, it was beautiful, but it filled my heart with sorrow. To see people worshiping this physical, created beauty, yet missing the One true beauty, was disheartening.
To see so many people missing the point of church and what that means… It just broke my heart to realize how many people are trying so desperately to be closer to God that they miss the easy truth that He simply wants them.

Altar inside Saint Peter’s Basilica

His temple does not need to be extravagant! His temple is in us! WE are the church. However, I will say that it was a good reminder of the magnificence of God’s purpose for the church as His people drawn together in community to worship Him. Thank You, God, for such a thing as a community of believers called the church.

Italy Part 1 ~ Venice

The city on sinking land, with leaning bell towers and water canals for streets. It was beautiful. Walking into San Marco Square was like stepping onto the set of the movie The Tourist with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. I learned that San Marco’s Square has the oldest analog clock in the world. And the square is named so because church tradition says that the apostle Mark’s bones were stolen from Alexandria and brought to the church which now bears his name.

 

Rossini beverage in Venice, Italy. A fabulous mix of Champagne and pureed strawberries that tasted much like a pink starburst candy!

The Bridge of Sighs was incredible to see, but I think my favorite little story from Venice was of the walkway connecting a church to an old hotel next door to it. The hotel used to be Antonio Vivaldi’s residence, and as any composer needs to be ready any time, day or night, to play on a piano/organ in order to compose a piece with all its parts, he had a walkway installed to the church so he could use their organ whenever he needed to!

Venice was rich in history and beauty. The gondola ride at the end of the afternoon topped off the whole experience. Gliding along the canals, with an accordion creating truly Italian background music, and laughing with newly made friends, was a once in a lifetime experience that I will forever be grateful for.

But it only got better after Venice!…