Primary elections were on Tuesday. I voted and a few of those I voted for won and a few didn't. It is an honor, privilege and blessing as well as a responsibility to vote.
That said, primary elections are a bit exhausting to me. Elections in general are mentally arduous. Did you know that every, single presidential election I have ever voted in has been the most important in our nation's history? At least that's what I was told.
Campaigns, and perhaps primary elections in particular, are exhausting because of what we're told is at stake and what we're promised will happen if our candidate wins or loses. Both political parties cosplay as a savior. Both parties paint the other as a demon. Golden ages are promised and dark ages are warned against. And both parties see governmental activity as success.
First, what I'm not saying. I'm not saying elections don't have consequences. I'm not saying voting doesn't matter. I'm not saying that legitimately good things can and have happened because an election went one way versus the other. I'm not saying there is not actual evil things that must be opposed and real good that should be supported. I'm not saying the two major parties in my country are morally equal and effective. I'm not saying that governmental activity is never success.
Here's what I am saying: I want to Make Politics Boring Again.
I'm fatigued of thinking about my government and my leaders so regularly. I host a morning show and we try to talk about what people are talking about. I'm tired of politics being in the forefront so frequently. Those older than me and my age can attest that the frequency we discuss politics is much higher today than not that long ago in the recent past. We have politicians that are experts in staying on the tip of people's tongues and none are better at this than our current president.
I'm not saying that we should practice ignoring important issues. As one of my social studies Mr. Semler used to say, "apathy is the yeast of injustice". Apathy isn't what I'm asking for. Peace and quiet is.
The Apostle Paul said it this way:
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4
The prayer of a Christian isn't for government to be a savior. The prayer of a Christian isn't even necessarily for a Christian government. The prayer of a Christian is for freedom to live in peace and quiet that allows for us to share the Gospel so that people can hear and be saved.
Not every generation of Christians gets this. Some are needed to storm the beaches of Normandy. Some, like Bonhoeffer, would no doubt have preferred a quiet, peaceful life of service to God and neighbor than the life of opposition to evil. Many today plead for this and get the life of chaos from a dysfunctional government or the fear of living in a country whose overbearing leadership actively seeks to snuff out the feet that are fitted with the Gospel of Peace.
As for me, I am happy to live in my nation. I want the absolute best for my country and I will seek her prosperity by my actions in the voting booth. That said, I will pray for the government that will allow all people to live a peaceful and quiet life. I will pray for and vote for leaders that will hopeful leave the Church free to live in a godly and dignified manner.
Christians, we must beware of giving politics and politicians the mental space that God alone deserves. Christians, we must, frankly, give evangelism and quiet, pious living much more of our attention.
I'm tired of hyperbolic politics. I'm tired of heaven on earth being promised in ads and hell on earth being warned of by pundits. Good governments are a lot like a good umpire: The less I think of them the better job they're doing. I pray that we as a nation, as we celebrate our 250th birthday, would have a heart of gratitude for our many blessings and that our leaders would seek to be forgettable as they helped protect the peaceful and quiet existence for as many as possible.
May God help Make Politics Boring Again today.
