“This is our time!” I had the opportunity to listen to a television preacher and a talk show host, both of whom were excited about the current administration. They firmly believed that the current president was a gift of God to Christians.

They honestly believe that at any moment, the president will soon turn the power of the nation over to the Christians so that they can form a new, Christian nation. For evidence they point to the new White House Faith Office (headed by the television preacher, Paula White).

Can I just point out a little Scriptural corrective?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the most powerful human being who ever walked the face of the earth. If he had been following the Christian nationalist program, he could have cozied up to the Romans and then used his power to kick them all back to Rome, or rain fire down on their heads.

Wouldn’t it have been more efficient to take over Rome? And the Jewish temple?

Instead, what did the most powerful human who ever lived do when he was on earth?

-He fed thousands (Matthew 14)

-He healed the sick (such as Mark 1, Matthew 8, Luke 5)

-He taught people to love, serve, be humble (Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7)

While he had followers who were connected to religious and political entities, he himself refused to use his status as Son of God to insert himself into temple or governmental politics.

In fact, when the Pharisees tried to trick him into taking a political stand on paying taxes, he asked for a coin and pointed out Caesar’s inscription on it. Then he gave these instructions,

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22)

He wasn’t asserting the ability to use his power to take over things- even though his power could have given him a quick takeover. He used his power differently.

He would use that power to preach the Gospel, show love and compassion, heal, and feed the multitudes.

My fellow Christians, could I encourage you that this is the time to exercise power, the power of Jesus’s way of doing things. You don’t need the power of a government, and you don’t need to lord power over anyone. In fact, those in power right now may NOT turn the power over to create a Christian nation. They may just use you and then abuse you. However, you have the power to change the nation through the way Jesus does things:

-He fed thousands, so now, you feed those in need

-He healed the sick, so now, you work to help people heal

-He taught people to love, serve, be humble, so now, you walk in love, serve, grow in humility so that someday you might hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”