Have you heard that this election is “the most important election in the history of our nation”? I’ve heard it, too – this year, and in 2020, and in 2016, and likely before that, if I recall. Could there be some hyperbole here?

I’ve also heard it said that “our very system of democracy is under threat” with this election. The problem with that is that both sides are making the same claim.

“If Trump is elected,” say the Democrats, “he will undermine the very foundational principles of our nation.”

The Republicans say, “Actually, it is Harris who will destroy American freedoms if she gets in.”

I ask again: Could there be a little hyperbole here?

There is no question that the upcoming elections are extremely important and that the stakes are very high. I don’t dispute that for a moment. That’s why it’s important that we pray for God’s will to be done, that we understand the key issues and where the candidates stand on them, and that we exercise our right to vote. This is absolutely not a time for complacency.

But I am not in the least bit panicked about who will be our next president since America’s present and future well-being depend far more on the state of the Church than on the occupant of the White House.

As Goes the Church …

To be sure, it should be clearer than ever that there are no political saviors in our midst, in particular our two main presidential candidates.

And as I’ve stated recently, if our mantra was “Make America Righteous Again,” then we would know out of the gate that no party or politician could make this happen. Our moral character can only be transformed through God’s people living out the Gospel in all its implications.

But that, in turn, is the key to America’s present and future well-being. As Scripture states, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Proverbs 14:34). And since there are multiplied tens of millions Bible-believing Christians in our country, with influence and presence in virtually every sphere of society, if we can get our own act together, America will be blessed.

As I posted on Sunday,

America’s future and well-being depend almost entirely on the state of the Body. If we, the believers, humble ourselves, repent, get right with Him, and carry out our mission, America will be blessed. If not, America will fall under deeper judgment. So, yes, get out and vote, but keep the main thing the main thing: sweeping revival and reformation in the Church. The rest — including who is our next president — is really quite secondary to that.

In short, the White House does not control the future of America. God’s people do.

The Absence of Light

To be clear, I reject the contemporary teaching that the Church (Greek ekklesia) is God’s governmental authority on the earth and has the power to enforce His decrees on society.

I also reject the idea that, for the Great Commission to be fulfilled, the Church must take control of the main spheres of society, as if these were mountains we had to conquer and rule. (I address this in The Political Seduction of the Church.)

But I do believe that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, as Jesus stated (Matthew 5:13-16) — meaning that we can have a life-giving, transformative effect on our nation. In Him, we have great promise and potential.

I also believe the Lord’s warnings: “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matthew 5:13). And, in a different but relevant context, “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22)

As I’ve said for many years, my greatest concern in America is not so much the presence of darkness as it is the absence of light.

The Silver Lining

In this regard, the responses to my poll on X are enlightening, albeit simply reflecting a sampling of human opinions. I asked on Sunday, “In your opinion, to what extent is the Church of America living up to its potential in God? (By ‘the Church’ of America, I mean all true believers in the country, ultimately known by only by the Lord.)”

As of this writing, only 2.6%said, “75% or higher”; just 7.3%answered, “About 50%”; 20.1%of the respondents responded with, “Can’t venture a guess”; and a whopping 70.1%answered by saying that Church of America is living to “less than 25%” of its potential.

Candidly, it wouldn’t surprise me if were operating at closer to 10%of our God-promised potential than 25%. And that, my friend, is why our nation finds itself in such a deep moral, cultural, and spiritual crisis. It’s on us.

But there is a silver lining to this bad news. The darkness, indeed, is very dark. But we, with the Lord’s help, can become bright shining lights and illuminate the whole nation.

It is high time that we wake up and arise and shine. But we can only do this with divine help, which is why I echo this ancient prayer again: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6)

 

Dr. Michael Brown is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. He is the author of more than 40 books, including Can You be Gay and Christian?; Our Hands Are Stained With Blood; and Seize the Moment: How to Fuel the Fires of Revival. You can connect with him on Facebook, X, or YouTube.