Yesterday, Trump supporters violently breached our nation’s capitol building.  The authorities have things more or less in hand.  But the thought of a Trump-inspired coup succeeding still makes me nervous.  Historically, revolutions don’t end well for anyone.  

Coups aside, I’m nervous about a democrat-run government swinging the pendulum far left in reaction to Trump’s presidency and the actions of his supporters today.  Overall, I mistrust left, right, democrat, republican, and every other faction because of the way they all wrangle for power.

As a Christian, I try to be politically neutral.  You will never hear me, in person or in writing, strongly endorse any politician or political cause.  This isn’t because I don’t have opinions.  I do, and I have definite voting patterns.  But ultimately, my kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).  Human problems are not primarily political, and there is no political solution to our condition.  In fact, politics might be one of our biggest problems.

As comfortable as I am with these convictions, staying neutral also makes me nervous.  Sometimes, when you don’t take sides, you get flak from both sides.  This is especially true in polarized climates where “us and them” attitudes prevail.  (For more on this point, see these posts: https://thevoiceofone.org/2014/08/20/wanted-a-few-good-idiots/, https://thevoiceofone.org/2017/02/16/two-cities-one-gospel-christ-and-revolution/).

In all this, my only refuge is Christ.  Although America has been incomparably stable my whole life, I can’t depend on that.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away.  But my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35).  Whether in my lifetime or not, America will come to an end.  But we are receiving—and have received—a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:28).