“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel …  A ruler will come out of Jacob ...”  Numbers 24:17-19

Last year around this time, Reince Priebus (remember him) then chairman of the Republican National Committee came under fire after he was accused of comparing Donald Trump to Jesus Christ.  Here’s what Priebus said, “Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world, a Savior who would offer the promise of salvation to all mankind.”  Sharon Day, the RNC co-chair added , “Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a time to celebrate the good news of a new King.”

I just roll my eyes when people assume that because 81% of evangelicals voted for Trump our church services are weekend MAGA rallies.  First of all, we aren’t a monolith and our congregations have huge political diversity. Even the ones I know who voted for Trump aren’t confused about who the savior of the world is.  Not only that, but serious Christ followers aren’t confused about the temporary kingdom of man and the eternal kingdom of God.  For a Christ follower, his or her vote doesn’t signal their primary allegiance or their primary identification.  I belong to Jesus, no one else. Go ahead, torture me and kill me like they did the disciples, but I’m not bowing to worship another human.

If you are unfortunate enough to be in a church, on the right or the left, who’s message is too radically identified with either a radically global progressive or American nationalist set of policies, don’t walk… run away from that church.  The Church has to get one thing straight and that is, Jesus is our king and the Kingdom of God built on love, not the vitriol of political venom, is the hope of the world.  Perhaps if we elevated Jesus more we wouldn’t be so afraid to listen to the other side’s point of view and hear that at some points they actually agree with Jesus more than our side does. 

Sean Spicer (remember him) the former White House press secretary tweeted last December 25, in response to the Donald Trump is king message twist, “Christ is the King. He was born today so we could be saved.”  I have no idea if the man believes that or that he was just virtue signaling; I don’t care. It’s the message that anchors my life and helps me rise above the chaos.

Sorry if this “us and them” reference offends but secularist and even some religious types don’t seem to imagine that people could participate in politics while maintaining a transcendent relationship with God that keeps us from putting our long term hope in the next vote, the next appointment, or the next investigation result.  I don’t look down my nose at you if you don’t believe Jesus Christ is king, but I do highly recommend it; it might just keep you from going crazy.