The Problem is not the “Broken System”

I'm so glad C.S. Lewis knew we all would need his wise words regarding politics. The Screwtape Letters gives us the point-of-view we don't often think about: that of the evil one and his army of demons who are out to cause Christians to go astray. The book is comprised of a series of letters from a Senior Demon named Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, a tempter-in-training. Here is an excerpt from one of them ["the patient" refers to the man they are trying to tempt]: 

My Dear Wormwood,

Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip, and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character, and the things the patient can control [italics mine]. Ensure that the patient continues to believe that the problem is “out there” in the “broken system” rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself. 

Keep up the good work, 
-Uncle Screwtape

So, today, instead of worrying about politics, if you follow Jesus and his plans for humanity, represent him well today. Stride forth and raise the cross of Christ and all it stands for in the places God has placed you. If you're not a follower of Jesus, remember, it's more important to look deeply at the questions of life than the promises of political leaders. 

Jesus is the only leader who delivers on his promise that life can have meaning, hope and satisfaction. He delivers this promise in the giving of his very life, not in trying to pass a policy. No politician offers that promise. Not even Donald J. Trump. 

Politicians may point to themselves as the answer for all our problems, but there is a difference between those who say they're the answer by pointing to their life and the only one who showed that he's the answer by pointing to his death. Here's the other John 3:16 that's less famous (from 1 John): "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us," (and here's our response…) "and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."