Who will save us?

That depends. Which “us” do I mean?

In this case, “us” means Christians in the United States of America.

As long as I’ve been alive and part of the Church of Christ, this has been a question that comes up again and again.

Coming from Christians, it is a strange question.

We are the ones who call Jesus Christ “our Lord and Savior.”

So what do we mean when we ask: “Who is going to save us?”

Most often, the question comes up whenever we talk about politics.

So, what we mean is: “Who is going to save us from whatever cultural or political forces we perceive as threats to our beliefs and norms?”

But here is the question I want to ask in response to that question:

Is our Lord and Savior not able to save us from these things?

Do we believe that Jesus Christ is able to save us from the power of sin, but not the power of a sinful world?

The real question my fellow Christians need to be asking is: Do we believe Jesus Christ is enough? Do we really believe Jesus Christ can save us completely and from all threats or do we not believe he is up to it?

Politicians gain power by convincing us that Jesus alone is not enough to save us. If we want to be saved, we need Jesus plus politicians.

They claim: “Jesus can save your souls, but he and you need me to save your lives and your way of life! Jesus can save you from your own immorality, but only I can save you from the immoral people coming for you and your children!”

Politicians who make this claim will then make the claim that giving them your allegiance is the same as giving your allegiance to Jesus Christ. They know that once make your allegiance to Christ and to them one and the same, there is no amount of power you won’t give them.

Can anyone make this claim? Can anyone say they are Jesus Christ’s “candidate”? Can anyone say that a vote for them is a vote for Jesus Christ?

You know the answer. Beware of any leader who says these things.

That brings us back to the question: Who will save us?

Either we believe Jesus Christ is our Savior or we don’t.

So, if we believe that Jesus Christ will save us from culture or politics that we perceive to be a threat, how will he do it?

I want to make it clear that I do not believe that politics is the means by which Jesus Christ chooses to save us.

The Gospel of Luke 4:6-8 tells us that the devil showed Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world.

“I will give you authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” said the devil. “For it has been relinquished to me and I can give it to anyone I wish. So, if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

There it is: The political solution. The devil offered Jesus political power over the kingdoms of the world. It was a chance for Jesus to legislate morality and make his law the law of every land. It was a chance for Jesus to use the power of the state to keep people on the straight and narrow.

Jesus turned it down. He rejected political power. He rejected a political solution. If he was going to save the world, it was not going to be through laws and law enforcement.

Why?

We get a clue in the Gospel of John Chapter 16.

This chapter begins with a warning to Christ-followers: The world will use its power against you. You cannot escape from it no matter who you elect and what promises they make you.

Then Jesus goes on to say something about how he will make his ways known to the world. It is not through the exercise of political power, but through what he calls “The Advocate” (John 16:7).

“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).

In other words, convicting the world of its sin is not the job of the Church of Christ or elected officials acting on behalf of the Church of Christ; it is the work of “The Advocate” who Christians know as the Holy Spirit.

A point to consider here. Jesus calls this Spirit he promises to send into the world “Advocate.” The word we translate “satan” actually means “accuser.”

So, then, notice the difference between Christ’s Spirit who convicts the world by advocacy and the satanic spirit that convicts the world by accusation.

The saving Spirit of Christ in the world is one that advocates for the world while the satanic spirit condemns the world.

How often have Christians seemed more full of the satanic spirit than the saving Spirit of Jesus Christ? Do most politicians who try to get our votes sound more like advocates or accusers?

If we who believe in Jesus Christ truly believe that his Spirit is at work in us and in the world, what cause have we for fear?

As Jesus wrapped up his thoughts on John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!”

“I have overcome the world!” Yes, the world that we Christians so often allow ourselves to fear is the world that Jesus Christ overcame. If we are in him, he promises peace.

“Peace” is a promise that no politician can make or make good.

So, then, the Way of Jesus Christ is not to align our ourselves with political power in order to “overcome the world.” Jesus himself rejected it and promised us a Spirit that is better than any politician or political solution. The Way of Jesus Christ is to be at peace in how he already overcame the world, knowing that the Advocate is at work.

As people of the peace of Christ and the Spirit of Advocacy, we know who has already saved us and is always saving us. Rather than use politics to protect ourselves and push for a “Christian agenda” (something Jesus himself rejected), we are free and safe to be advocates in the political realm.

Advocates for whom?

Advocates for those for whom Jesus Christ came in love.

In other words, as people who know who saves us, we should be the people who have no political enemies. We should be the people who advocate for those who are most different from us culturally and morally. This is what Jesus did. This is what the Spirit of Jesus does now.

As Christians, if we truly believe we have a Savior, let us reject those who claim that we need them to save us, too. Let us follow our Savior to reject politics as the means by which he will save the world. Let us live in his peace that overcomes the world. And let us reject the satanic spirit of accusation to join with his Spirit in advocacy for those Jesus Christ calls us to love most.

Grace and peace.