The Gospel matters. Even in politics.
Khen Lim
Image source: fotowarung.net
For us Christians, no political elections are ever about the
Gospel. While our brothers in America have long endorsed the separation of
church and state, secularisation in Malaysia is simply a clear line made blur
as much by confusion as it is by political design.
Yet our next General Election – the fourteenth to date – to be
held around August 2018 may well be about the Gospel. The balance of power
could be tested unlike ever before even if nothing we’ve seen so far seemed to
have changed the condition of the people’s hearts or the political complexion
of the nation.
We must remind ourselves, first and foremost, that God has a mission for the future of
Malaysia. There is most certainly a plan in place, a plan to prosper and not
harm the country, plans that bring about a hope of a better tomorrow (Jer
29:11). Even as we try to understand how this wonderful plan will unfold, I do
not believe it is going to be about who will and will not win the many
elections across our thirteen states.
Image source: freemalaysiatoday.com
In the third chapter of Peter’s second letter, the apostle teaches
us that our tomorrows will continue to be within God’s larger plan to save more
people and if that is His big picture, then I believe it should also be ours.
And every day we ought to wake up and tell ourselves that we must be congruent
with God’s plans. Regardless of which political party takes the helm of this
wonderful country, we will see God saving whomsoever He has His eyes on.
Peter further tells us that once God’s plan to save people is
finally fulfilled, a New Earth will beckon. So from now till August 2018 and
beyond, evangelism must continue because there are still people who badly need
to hear the truth of the Gospel. And many of these people will also include
politicians from the two primary political blocs.
Most of us are familiar with the pain of defeat in all the
General Elections that we have seen in this country. Many have become jaded
with fatalism. Some still believe in change and they clutch on to the thin
thread that connects them to a seemingly unreachable political hope. But elated
or discouraged, we need to think differently this time.
What we really need is the power of the Gospel to make things
new again. Yes, let us go out and vote. Let us not stay at home and mope or
moan. Let us continue to get involved for the goodness of all. But this time, we
should inculcate in people, a sense of purpose by pointing them to what
genuinely matters – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because in all else, there is
none of the hope that the Gospel portends for all of us.
This is the same power that the prophet Daniel spoke of in
2:20-22 when he praised God saying:
“Praise the Name of God forever and ever, for He has all
wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; He removes kings and
sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though He is surrounded by light.”
In Daniel 4:34-37, the Babylonian King later said:
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned
and I praised and worshipped the Most High and honoured the One who lives
forever. His rule is everlasting and His kingdom is eternal. All the people of
the earth are nothing compared to Him. He does as He pleases among the angels
of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop Him or say to Him,
‘What do You mean by doing these things?’
“When my sanity returned to me, so did my honour and glory and
kingdom. My advisors and nobles sought me out and I was restored as head of my
kingdom, with even greater honour than before. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise
and glorify and honour the King of Heaven. All His acts are just and true and
He is able to humble the proud.”
And that just about says it all for those who are losing or
have lost hope for change in Malaysia.
The Gospel does matter. Even in politics.
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