On the last couple of episodes of the YNF podcast, I stated that I wouldn’t use YNF to talk about politics or the current events going on in America because there are more than enough people doing that, & I wanted to keep things positive.
I then realized that I was wrong to say & do that because, especially as a Christian, how it is (based on scripture & considering how God leads me to do so) un-Christlike & potentially cowardly to not speak in wisdom, truth, & love to what is happening in our world given that we are called to be light & salt as believers in Christ & the Gospel that draws us closer to Him.
That doesn’t mean that we respond to EVERYTHING that happens, especially if we have not been directed to by God or we aren’t doing so in love. But silence, more often than not, is interpreted as agreement with injustice, error, & evil. People shouldn’t have to guess where Christians, true Christians, stand when it comes to God, His character, & the people who bear His image. Although there may be people who intentionally misunderstand us or don’t have the capacity to be understanding in the moment, where we stand shouldn’t be up for interpretation, especially considering how increasingly harmful, manipulative, dangerous, & evil the actions of the current administration in America have been to countless people in less than two months.
& the likelihood that things are going to get worse seems very high:
– more jobs lost & vulnerable people (for example the elderly, children, veterans, & disabled persons) losing their sources of income & support
– a decline in mental health & well-being due to governmental actions, the adverse responses to those actions (or lack thereof), doom-scrolling, misinformation, & disinformation
– the increase in crime, poverty, & death by natural & unnatural causes (including suicide)
– a decrease in educated & well-informed individuals leading to more of the above
What’s even more egregious about all of this is that it’s those who claim to follow Christ (for the most part) who are dismantling what has attempted to create sustainable living for all & creating systems where everyone loses except for them… Where a culture of greed, power, & hatred of people who are not like them dominates not just the nation in which it is fostered, but eventually the world around them. It’s like they have forgotten or completely ignored what scripture says about greed, partiality, & abuse of the poor & marginalized (Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 16:19, James 2:1-4, James 5:1-6, 1 Timothy 6:10, Proverbs 14:31, Matthew 19:21 for example).
Spoiler: God isn’t a fan. To say the absolute least.
Furthermore, most if not all of what this current administration stands for attempts to (if not successfully in some instances) close the door to Christ’s saving grace & presents itself, in heretical fashion, as the savior of America. Because of this, every follower of Christ who fears the Lord should be speaking against these things, as they are a direct & intentional misrepresentation of the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the only One who saves.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to not fear the Lord when you see prominent Christian leaders (or those who proclaim themselves as such) manipulating scripture & ripping it from its context to create, endorse, & benefit socially & financially from systems that harm & abuse others & absolve themselves from accountability when they are in error.
But those who are humble & wise enough to fear the Lord understand that the temporary “protections” they are providing for themselves, especially as they often come through sin, without repentance, & at the expense of justice, the poor, & the marginalized will have eternal consequences.
& I understand how that might not be comforting in the moment when it feels like God is slow in His response & FAFO gives the appearance of instant justice. & while we can see some tangible consequences for them (or the appearance of such, mostly only for supporters of the current administration & not the administration itself), FAFO usually makes people double down, not self-reflect, repent, or take any sort of accountability for their actions/beliefs because, more often than not, pride gets in the way of the humility required to take accountability. Now they are just people without jobs or who/whatever else they’ve lost. & with nothing more to lose, the backlash & lack of income will likely make them more unhinged.
Something I’m sure their “king” is counting on.
I am basing this opinion off of 2 Timothy 3:2-7, which affirms for me that while I believe there will be some people who understand the error of their ways & change course, we should, unfortunately, count on the fact that some will not. Seeing the best in those this applies to who have continuously made their choices, regardless of warning or consequence, isn’t wise or a good use of our time.
I’m not saying that people are beyond redemption, nor am I saying we shouldn’t love or forgive the people this applies to. What I am saying is important to hold on to:
– Love & forgiveness do not equal granting access to people who are unwilling or unable to face & submit for transformation the thing(s) that compelled them to align with such egregious behaviors & thought processes in the first place. There are many scriptures that affirm that who you walk with matters (Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 13:20, Romans 16:17-18, for example). Take heed & allow the wisdom of the Lord to guide you accordingly.
– Not a singular person on this earth is anyone’s savior. It is God who saves, which is why such people should be submitted to Christ without unwise or, in some cases, additional engagement. Especially when, especially on social media, people tend to have bad-faith arguments for views, content, or as a projection of their own self-righteousness. Consider how Jesus interacted with the Pharisees, for example (Matthew 9 & 23, for example). He didn’t spend much time entertaining them, especially as He had the discernment to realize the intention of their engagement & the state of their hearts. May we all pray for & practice that discernment in these last days.
YNF is for mental health & suicide prevention primarily, but politics affect the mental, emotional, physical, & financial well-being of so many people. Because of this (& everything else I’ve said thus far), it’s important for me to speak up.
For me, it’s not just wrong to remain silent regarding politics that end up affecting people made in the image of God. It’s wrong to even give the appearance of standing with people that God Himself would not stand with. It’s wrong to not stand for God, His character, & His people, no matter the consequence.
This is already long enough, so I’ll end here as I’m sure I’ll (Lord willing) have more to add as things unfold in the coming days.
My prayer is that whoever ends up reading this will be encouraged, empowered, & more resolute to take a firm stand despite the world around them falling apart. That they, you, would be loved & cared for in a safe community, that you would be provided for, and that, most importantly, you would be drawn closer to Christ & His truth despite the desperate attempts to manipulate His Word & character.
Until next time (Lord willing)…
Have a great day, & finish well.
If you need help or support for mental health, suicide prevention, or addiction, click here. If you would like to download YNF’s 8-Day Devotional for free, click here.
YOU'RE NOT FINISHED 
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