Tomorrow, January 20, 2021, Joseph Biden will be sworn in as the President of the United States. I don’t know who you all voted for. I don’t care to know. But some of you are not happy about Joe Biden becoming President and some of you are. Our church is more of a mix politically than most conservative churches, so we have unique challenges to maintain unity, especially during such politically divisive times.
My hope is that these truths would settle the hearts and minds of those of you who may be upset or a little frightened.
1. Remember that God removes kings and sets up kings.
Read what God said in Daniel 2:
“He removes kings and sets up kings . . .”
Daniel 2:21b
I’ve heard some of you say that God made Trump President. That’s true. But He has also made Biden President. In a way, God made whoever is President, President. That truth can throw a wrench into how we think God works. That is, we assume God is involved when the people we like are in office and that He’s not involved when they’re not in office. Well, He’s involved in both instances. Let that reality shape how you understand these lesser kingdoms.
Romans 13 tells us that President Biden’s authority is from God. It says the authority he has has “been instituted by God.” “Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1,2).
This judgment is not referring to God’s judgment at the return of Christ in hell, but suffering the consequences from the laws God has set up on earth. We must respect President Biden, because as he serves our country well, he is, in a way, representing God. (The same is true for Governors, police officers, etc.)
2. Remember where our true citizenship lies.
Our flesh tells us this world is all we have and that this country is our true home. But our flesh is wrong and must be killed. This world is not our home, and as much as we love America, she is not our home either.
We need to have a clear delineation between our temporary relationship with this country and our eternal country that we are already part of. Our true country, although currently invisible (Mark 4:26-29), is permeating the entire world (Matthew 13:31-32) and is made up of every ethnicity. In our true country, the citizens don’t elect the leaders, the Leader elects the citizens. Oh, and the King? He’s not frightened or upset. We needn’t be either. Since He defeated death itself, there’s no chance of Him ever being dethroned (Romans 6:9).
If you’re dreading a Biden Presidency, settle your heart and mind on these truths. If you’re excited for a Biden Presidency, temper yourself. He’s neither the Anti-Christ nor the Messiah.
How massive are the implications of our true citizenship as people with work visas here! We’re free to bless those who disagree with us. We’re free to pray for a President (whether incoming or outgoing) we didn’t vote for. We’re free to seek the well-being of cities that espouse values that are entirely contrary to our true home. We’re free to see people not primarily as red or blue, but as in Christ or not in Christ. Oh how we must see the kingdom!
3. Remember to pray for President Biden.
God commands us to do this in 1 Timothy 2:1-2.
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercession, 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.”
1 Timothy 2:1b-2
We will be praying for President Biden on Wednesday nights and some in our worship services on Sunday mornings. All of us should do this as we should pray for every president, senator, governor, or any other leader over us.
Notice the goal of our praying for these leaders: “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” The benefit is not necessarily theirs, but ours. As we pray for government leaders, we grow in peace and calmness, becoming more godly and dignified. Praying for people is a lot like forgiveness—when you do it, you receive the blessing.
Praying for President Biden is a good and pleasing thing to do in the eyes of our Savior. After all, He wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
The Lord will keep us. He will strengthen His church and grow her in beauty, and perhaps size. What we most want is nothing a government can give us (or take from us), but what our King has already let us taste—Himself. That is sure to come, and that will settle us if we will remember it.
I am praying for each of you. You are so much more my concern than our country. You are my joy and hope. Reach out if you need prayer or counsel.
Pastor Jacob
Pastor Jacob’s Blog 