I can remember during one of my recent trips to Africa being asked by an African Pastor “Republicans and Democrats, what is the difference?”. I vividly recall my initial reaction upon hearing this question. My first thoughts were “how can a person not know the difference between the two groups?” and “what kind of a question is that?”. Then, in my self-focused analysis, I thought to myself, “how can we have a serious conversation about politics if he doesn’t even know the difference between the two groups?”.

Now, you may be reading this article and thinking at this point, “how could anyone not know this?” or, “everyone should know the answer to such a question”. But, to you I say “do you know the difference between a Kikuyu and a Luo?” At this point, you may be asking “what are they?”. My point is, the difference between these two tribes in Africa is as significant in African politics as is the significance of the difference that we in the United States perceive between Republicans and Democrats.

So, imagine being asked such a question. Having a clean slate on which to influence a person’s opinion and thoughts about the two major political parties in the United States. Knowing and understanding that your answer will become a point of reference for this person in their opinion for the rest of his life.

To be honest with you, after getting over the initial and more simplistic emotion of thinking to myself “here’s my chance to stick it to the other party”, I began to realize the depth and gravity of the moment. After thinking a few moments, I repeated this pastor’s question out loud in order to give myself more time to think and formulate an answer. During these few moments I began thinking to myself how wonderful and refreshing it was to be talking to someone who isn’t caught up in all of the debate and controversy surrounding American politics. Then I thought, “I don’t want to change the innocence of this fellow’s understanding of American politics”. Then, it hit me, “how do I answer this question?” At this point, the reader needs to understand that I am no novice when it comes to politics. In 1984, while in graduate school, I was actively involved, as a student volunteer, in the State campaign of a particular candidate running for Governor of West Virginia.

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God is not an American. God is not a Republican. God is not a Democrat. God is not a Libertarian and, God is not a Baptist. OK, now that I’ve got your attention, it is time that the church looks at some things and quits evading certain realities.

As a student of politics, I am as drawn to and as flabbergasted by what is going on in our current election cycle as much as you are. In this election cycle we are seeing what we used to call in graduate school, “power politics”. In other words, forget what your party says it stands for, forget what any interest group stands for, “just win”. Or, in the words of a famous football team owner “just win baby”. Some will say at this point, but isn’t that the way politics have been all along? Yes, to some degree, but not like what we are seeing this time. This time is different. And, our society is never going to be the same afterwards. This leads me to my point of emphasis.

As Christians, we cannot put our hope or trust in politics. That’s right. That may come as a surprise to some of you. Let me put it to you another way. The President of the United States cannot save you. The United States Congress cannot save you. And, no, not even the Supreme Court has the power to save you. Our salvation comes from one source and one source alone and that is the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. You cannot be saved by anybody else or anything else.

Jesus is the solution to the problems of mankind. Jesus is the answer for the world today. Jesus is the only one who has the power to calm the waters of the soul. He alone has the power to make the crooked things in your life straight. Only Jesus has the power to restore the years that the locusts have eaten away.

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