Tag #FaithAndPolitics •

When Government Takes a Left Turn, Ruin Quickly Follows

Allen Frederick Leave a comment
A biblical warning about spiritual deception, political salvation, and the King who alone belongs on the throne

There is something deeper behind the political condition of a nation than parties, platforms, elections, and personalities. Scripture tells us that spiritual forces are at work in this world, including what John calls “the spirit of antichrist,” a spirit opposed to the truth and authority of Jesus Christ.

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist… and even now already is it in the world.”
1 John 4:3

That spirit does not always announce itself by openly declaring war against God. Deception is more effective when rebellion is disguised as enlightenment, bondage as compassion, dependence as security, and human government as the answer to problems that are ultimately spiritual.

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them…”
1 Thessalonians 5:3

There is something tremendously appealing about peace and safety. Tell frightened people that you can protect them, provide for them, remove their risks, solve their problems, and secure their future, and they may willingly surrender things they would never relinquish by force. The deception works because the promise tells people something they desperately want to hear.

Tell Us What We Want to Hear

Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people would no longer endure sound doctrine, but would gather teachers around themselves according to their own desires. The problem, therefore, would not merely be deceptive teachers. There would also be willing listeners.

That principle reaches beyond the pulpit. People choose pastors who affirm what they already believe, commentators who reinforce what they already think, and political leaders who promise what they already desire. Eventually truth itself becomes offensive because truth sometimes tells us precisely what we do not want to hear.

Give Us a King

That brings us directly to 1 Samuel 8. Israel came to Samuel demanding a king “like all the nations.” They wanted visible leadership, political security, and a ruler who would fight their battles.

“They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
1 Samuel 8:7

Israel thought it was making a political decision. God called it a spiritual rejection. They wanted visible human power instead of dependence upon God, and He warned them exactly what their political salvation would cost.

The king would take their sons and daughters, their fields and vineyards, their harvests and livestock. The government they expected to serve them would eventually make servants of them.

“And ye shall be his servants.”
1 Samuel 8:17

God warned them plainly. They wanted the king anyway.

Before Government Takes, Government Promises

Government seldom begins by saying, “Give us greater control over your life.” It says, “Let us help you.” It promises security, provision, protection, fairness, peace and safety.

The danger arises when people begin expecting government to provide what belongs to God, family, personal responsibility, community, and conscience. The more government is expected to give, the more government eventually must take.

Israel discovered that truth thousands of years ago. They wanted a king to fight their battles. They got Saul. But when Goliath appeared, their political savior stood frightened with everyone else. Deliverance came through David, a shepherd whose confidence rested not in office or military power, but in the Lord.

“I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts…”
1 Samuel 17:45

Israel wanted a king. God reminded them that they still needed Him.

The Left Turn

That is what I mean by a nation taking a “left turn.” It is deeper than Democrat versus Republican. It is the ancient spiritual turn away from God’s authority toward confidence in human power.

The left can promise salvation through government programs and centralized authority. The right can fall into the same trap by placing messianic expectations upon politicians, personalities, national power, or political victory. Antichrist is not simply “the other political party.” The spirit of antichrist is opposed to Christ.

That makes the political question much larger than “Who will govern us?” The biblical question is: Who will reign over us?

America’s founding principle that our fundamental rights come from the Creator rather than government recognizes an essential distinction. Government does not create our liberty, and therefore should not become its master.

Government Is Not God

Civil government has a legitimate purpose. It should administer justice, restrain wrongdoing, and protect the innocent. But government cannot redeem the human heart, legislate righteousness into existence, manufacture peace, or save us.

Yet political salvation remains attractive because it requires something much easier than repentance: a vote. Repentance requires us to change. Political salvation merely requires us to change who is in charge.

The Turn We Really Need

That is why another election alone cannot heal America. Elections matter. Laws matter. Leadership matters. But politics cannot cure a spiritual disease.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…”
2 Chronicles 7:14

Notice the direction. God does not begin by telling His people to change the government. He tells His people to turn.

While everyone argues about whether America should turn left or right, Scripture calls God’s people to make an entirely different turn: back to God.

When Christ is displaced, no political movement can save us. When truth becomes unwanted, people will find leaders willing to tell them what they want to hear. And when government assumes the place of provider, protector, and savior, Samuel’s warning begins sounding remarkably familiar: the king will take.

So vote. Participate. Discern. Hold leaders accountable. But never confuse Caesar with Christ.

Government can occupy an office. Only Jesus belongs on the throne.

The Shutdown: A Barnyard Parable

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Muddy Waters and Judging Between Sheep and Sheep

“Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also muddy the rest of the water with your feet?” — Ezekiel 34:18



“As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.” — Ezekiel 34:17

The farm’s gates swing shut. “Emergency measures,” trumpet the Elephants. “Necessary sacrifice,” bray the Donkeys. But inside the Big House, both species feast together on grain that was meant for winter storage.

Out in the barnyard, the animals take sides. “The Donkeys caused this!” cry the mice who follow the Elephants. “The Elephants are starving us!” bleat the sheep who trust the Donkeys. They fight over muddied water troughs while neither notices the pipeline running straight from the well to the Big House.

The exhausted horses, working three shifts to buy the same oats that used to cost half, don’t have energy to question why the “opposition” parties keep meeting for midnight suppers. The cows, confused by conflicting reports about which field has grass, give up and chew whatever’s in front of them—usually each other.

Old Major’s dream of “All Animals Are Equal” still hangs painted on the barn, but smaller print keeps appearing underneath: “During Shutdowns, Some Exceptions Apply.” “Temporary Emergency Measures May Extend Indefinitely.” “Your Sacrifice Ensures Our—I Mean YOUR—Security.”

The pigs—now “consultants” who work for both Elephants and Donkeys—explain that the muddy water is actually better for you. “Minerals,” they oink. “Probiotics. Trust the science we funded.”

But one ancient ram remembers Ezekiel’s prophecy: The Judge sees through barn walls. He knows which hooves muddied the water. He’s coming to separate those who got fat on others’ grain from those who starved believing the performance.

The question echoes across the barnyard: When you see them muddying the trough, do you help clear it? Or do you kick in more dirt because your side told you it helps?

The Judge is taking notes. And He’s particularly interested in why the Elephants and Donkeys keep accidentally ordering the same catering service.

But then—the first drops fall.

Rain. Clean, unmuddied, straight from heaven. No pipeline can capture it. No spin can poison it at the source. The animals lift their faces, tongues out, tasting clarity for the first time in years.

Some animals stop fighting over the muddy troughs. They position buckets, barrels, anything that holds water. “Why drink their mud when we can wait for rain?” whispers one lamb to another. Word spreads through the underground—not through official channels the Big House monitors, but farmer to farmer, sheep to sheep: The Judge hasn’t forgotten. He’s sending what they can’t control.

The Elephants and Donkeys panic. They can’t shut down rain. They try: “Unauthorized water collection is dangerous! Only properly filtered water protects you!” But more animals notice—every time it rains, the Big House residents rush to cover their feast tables while the rest of creation drinks freely.

And in the distance, a figure approaches through the storm. Not another politician-shepherd with promises. The Owner Himself, come to judge between sheep and sheep, between those who muddied and those who chose to thirst for truth.

The real revolution isn’t overthrowing the Big House. It’s remembering water doesn’t come from them. It never did.

“I Myself will tend My sheep… I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” —Ezekiel 34:15-16

Look up. The forecast shows more rain coming.