Politics and the kingdom worldview

am a follower of Jesus.

Though I lean to the right politically, my worldview is a kingdom worldview.

As it should be for all followers of Jesus.

I say that to say this.

In a matter of hours, Donald Trump will become the 47th president of the United States. I will be the first to admit that I was thrilled with the election results across the nation last November. I was thrilled the official narrative was rejected and the media was rendered an irrelevant, toothless lion.

However, I feel as a kingdom follower that I must also throw out a caution to my fellow Christians on the right.

It is perfectly fine to celebrate what is about to happen tomorrow. I, like you, have a bit of hope that things might get back to some sense of normalcy. I personally feel a sigh of relief that the chaos and narrative of the last four years has been vehemently rejected by the American people.

But Donald Trump is *not* the savior.

Though he will be president, he does not sit on the throne.

We serve only one king.

He, like all of us, is an imperfect person who will make mistakes. He, like us, is a broken, sinful man.

Though those of us on the right feel a sense of relief, we cannot forget who the real Savior is.

Jesus saves the world, not Donald Trump.

What does this mean?

It means that we with the kingdom worldview must not lose our moral compass. We must hold our new president and leaders accountable. We must not tolerate being lied to and having the wool pulled over our eyes.

We must not excuse immorality simply because he’s “our guy.” If we don’t hold Donald Trump and our leaders to the same standards as we had Joe Biden then we lose the moral high ground, and more importantly–our prophetic voice, for generations.

One caveat: I know his opponents will join the mantra: “Yeah, but he’s a convicted felon. You’re excusing that, aren’t you?” Possibility of redemption aside (remember Chuck Colson?), it actually might mean something if he wasn’t “convicted” using the most Stalinistic tactics (“Show me the man, I will show you the crime.”). Virtually every legal scholar predicts the verdict will be overturned on appeal once it gets out of the New York Court System Gulag. All but Trump’s most vocal opponents see those charges as joke. A “convicted crime” is not automatically a crime when it comes in a corrupt justice system. So let’s have the debate whether I am right or wrong on this, let’s not try to cover it up or pressure me into silence.

Back to my primary point.

Mistakes are going to made in the White House, and it is more than ok to call them out. We must not do semantic somersaults to justify them. That doesn’t mean we must stop supporting him, nor does it mean all hope is diminished.

If lies are told (note: “lie” does not mean “My personal interpretation or policy does not agree”), we must hold our leaders accountable. We *must* not look the other way.

Is America heading into a Golden Age? If you’re on the left, no bit of economic data will be taken as positive; if you’re on the right, no bumps will be seen as negative. I hope so, only time will tell.

If America is entering a “Golden Age,” Jesus still reigns. If things go sideways, Jesus still reigns.

As Christ-followers, we must also not get lazy. Politically, Christians on the right might feel a sense of being unburdened by the constant attacks by our own government. As Paul reminds us, “our battle is not against flesh and blood.”

We must not retreat to our comfort zones. We must go forward and fight.

How?

By not sitting back and letting the government do our kingdom work for us. We must not sit back and simply call out immorality. Hashtag activism is worthless.

Instead, we must do. As Micah 6:8 says, we love “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”

We must continue to assist those thousands in North Carolina still suffering by Hurricane Helene as well those who lost everything in the Los Angeles fires. This does not matter if they are liberal or conservative, or if they are poor, rural people or are wealthy city folks.

We must love and care for the homeless, many of whom do not feel worthy to deserve a “normal” life.

We must come along side those who struggle with identity and show them that they are created in God’s image and this is where they find their value.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, we must come alongside and support young, unwed mothers both during and after the pregnancy.

We must care for the widows or those who need an extra hand, of which are all around us.

In other words, we must serve and care for the world that might hate us.

Our future relies solely on Jesus Christ, not Donald Trump or the Republican leadership.

We must never forget who we ultimately serve.

Humanly speaking, I am excited about inauguration day.

However, as a kingdom believer, I am most hopeful in the One who saved us all.

Nations fall and nations rise, but He is the One forever on the throne.