Every four years our nation goes into an uproar over political debates. It seems many of us have this hope and belief that if the right candidate gets elected, everything will be better. The only problem is, we have it backward.
We like to believe that politics creates culture, but politics is merely a reflection of culture. If you want to change America, you don’t start with changing its politicians. You start with its largest people group.
According to a recent ABC News poll, over 83 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians. These are people who claim to serve a God who has changed (and is changing) their lives for the better. But is America really embracing God’s transcendent power? Are God’s love, generosity, justice and mercy evident in how we live our lives and lead our nation?
We must realize that personal transformation always precedes domestic, local and national change. We want to change others so the world can be a better place, but are we willing to be transformed for the sake of the world?
It’s time for us, America’s largest people group, to first address our own depravity. We must be transformed for the sake of the world; only then can we become agents of lasting cultural and governmental change.
God says, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chr. 7:14).
Our land is in need of healing. It’s time for us to get off our high horses and hit our knees in prayer. The truth is that our prayers, more than our politicians, will determine the course of our nation.
But we cannot stop at prayer. Jesus was a man of action; his words found shape and form in what he did. And our freedom from social injustice will be found in following the example of the one man who got this whole humanity thing right.
So as the Christian church—and according to the poll, I’m speaking to over four-fifths of America—we have a huge responsibility in this election. We need to take action. It’s a great privilege to vote, and we should honor the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to give us this opportunity. (And when we don’t vote, we give our votes to those who may not share our values.)
But we must also take personal action in our homes and our communities. Great movements may begin with one, but they are furthered by the actions of many. Let’s abandon our quick-fix mentality and embrace a life of personal transformation. If we do, our politicians will follow suit. {eoa}
John Bevere is a widely respected international best-selling author, expert and global speaker. The Perdue graduate is known around the world for his boldness, passion and the uncompromising truth in his award-winning studies and best-selling books such as his previous title, The Bait of Satan, which has now sold over 1 million copies. John has written close to 20 books which have been translated into over 90 languages. Millions have been sold and given to leaders worldwide and has taught at thousands of conferences globally. He and his wife, Lisa, are also the founders of Messenger International, a nonprofit organization that does leadership development and anti-trafficking work in over 70 countries. John’s desire is to resource and develop leaders regardless of location, language or financial position. John’s latest book, Driven by Eternity will release nationwide Oct. 18, 2016.
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