When Christians can no longer distinguish our faith from our politics, something is broken.

When we are making enemies of our neighbors, rather than loving our neighbors and our enemies as we are called to do, something is broken.

But we shouldn’t be surprised when these things happen. Because it was already broken.

We live in a broken world, full of broken people. Jesus told us Himself in the first part of John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble…”

Jesus did not come to change the inner workings of government. He came to change the hearts of people. We know this, because He allowed Himself to be handed over to a corrupt government by a corrupt people. Was He wrong in doing so?

Regardless of our political views, whether celebrating yesterday’s inauguration or feeling defeated, we can be sure of one thing. That regardless of who is in the White House, God is always on the throne of Heaven (Ps. 103:19; Rev. 4:2). He was for the last 4 years, He will be for the next 4 years, and for all the years that were and will be before and after.

This world is not our home. If we believe that, if we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, then we can be confident that no matter what is happening in the world around us, His words ring true for the rest of John 16:33, “…but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

As Christians, we are called to pray for our enemies and our leaders. If you feel like you have an enemy as your leader, then maybe that means praying twice as much for that person. From the government to the workplace, there are no exemptions. We don’t need to wonder what to do when things don’t go as we think they should. We already know… if we’re listening.

Laws and politics don’t change people. But Jesus does.

Nobody in the White House has the power to change people. But Jesus does.

I pray that we don’t lose sight of this. I pray that whatever relationships may have been broken over politics and differing perspectives can be restored. And I pray that we can remember what we are called to do and why we are called to do it.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Cor. 13:1-3