Reject political idolatry

For many Christians on both the right and the left, political parties, elected officials, or political candidates have become idols.

Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash

My church is currently doing a Bible study in the Book of Joshua. One of my favorite passages is in Joshua 5, as the new leader of the Israelites surveys the city of Jericho. Jericho is a walled city that the fledging, nomadic nation must overcome to start to take possession of the land that God promised He would give them over 40 years ago.

"When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" (Joshua 5:13, ESV).

The "man" gives a loaded response. 

"And he said, 'No, but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come," (Joshua 5:14, ESV). 

He was not for the Israelites or the people of Jericho. He is the commander of the army of the LORD, and he's here now. 

 Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, recently spoke in Iowa and referenced this passage. 

"There is the idol of politics, where people have decided it is more important to be Democrat than Christian, or Republican than Christian as though God rides the backs of donkeys or elephants," he said.

Then paraphrasing the response to Joshua's question, Dr. Evans said, "I am neither on your side or nor am I on their side. I am the captain of the LORD's army. I did not come to take sides; I come to take over; because I've got my own program that I'm pulling off here. And if you're not with me, I'm not with you, even though you are my people."

Has party politics become an idol? Has support for a political candidate morphed into idolatry?