Exhortation

Modern politics, we often think, is secular politics. Alexis de Tocqueville knew better. He observed that the French Revolution “took on the appearance of a religious revolution.” It was, he admitted, “a new kind of religion, an incomplete religion . . . without God, without ritual, and without life after death.” Like Islam, revolutionary religion “flooded the earth with its soldiers, apostles, and martyrs.”

Throughout the nineteenth century, nation-states dressed themselves in vestments borrowed from Christianity. The nation replaced the church, sacrifice for the motherland or fatherland replaced martyrdom, God’s election of Israel was translated into His election of Germany, or France, or America.

Obamessianism is nothing new. Modernity has a long history of elevating politics into a sacred cause.

Too often, this political idolatry has seduced the church. We promote evil because it advances our nation’s standing in the world. We vote and form our opinions on the basis of national self-interest. Our country is our mother, and we cling to her, right or wrong.

As you go to the voting booth this week, follow the example of Ruth who left her motherland and recognized Naomi as her true mother and Israel as her true land. As you go to the polls this week, don’t forget Paul’s teaching: The Jerusalem above is free; and she is our mother.