Messianic Complexes?

Have you carefully listened to the presidential primary candidates? If you have, you will assume that the political process is awash in super political saviors. They speak about abolishing poverty, rejuvenating education, bolstering our national security, energizing the economy, effecting positive change, transforming politics and infusing the system with honesty, cooperation and pervasive good will bringing youthful zeal, experiential wisdom or an artful blend of both.

It seems some can mangle the math, promising helpful spending while ignoring painful taxing. There is no free lunch, but some seem eaten up with a passion to please that is borne along on astounding rhetoric.

Perhaps these major candidates are so self assured that they feel somewhat messianic. Maybe they feel that ranting about great promise is simply expected in a fevered political season, or that somehow, some way they are uniquely gifted with near miracle-working prowess as no predecessor has been.

It’s little wonder that voters are often confused by promissory jargon as uttered by "fools rushing in where angels fear to tread."

Some sobering Scriptural insight would be a good dose of stability. Our first U.S. president, George Washington, had it right when, in his initial act as chief executive, he stopped to kiss the Bible, which was open to Psalm 127:1. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build." Psalm 144:15 promises, "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord."

The prophets enjoined their people that flesh is weak, but God is strong. Jeremiah 17:5 warns, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord."

Regarding national security, Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God."

Perhaps some candidates are spooked by an assumed public dislike for religious references in our secular society. If expressing their sincere spiritual sentiments wasn’t so politically threatening, they would say what every politician must surely know—that their burden is greater than they can bear, and true wisdom, power and strength is God-given as James 1:17 says. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Gerald Ford, sometimes called the "accidental president" since he was elected to neither the office of vice president nor president, had as his life’s verse Proverbs 3:5 & 6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

King Solomon, successor to his father King David, had it right. "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (I Kings 3:9).

A little spiritual humility never hurt any candidate and surely could do lots of good.

Dave Virkler