Our Mandate

Treasured Friends,

With the Presidential election now decided, we are likely to hear over the coming weeks and months about the new administration’s “mandate.”  Our system of government affords each presidential administration a certain degree of latitude – a “mandate” – to cast a vision for the nation’s near-term direction and even to institute certain policies and undertake certain changes.  Of course, as we learned in our civics classes, these powers are balanced by two other branches of government, so that no single person or branch is able to act with unchecked power.*

But I am thinking especially now of our mandate as believers and disciples of our Lord Jesus, and how this mandate does not change regardless of who is in office.  Over the last couple of days, some of you have shared with me your relief at the outcome of the elections, while others have shared your discouragement.  But as your pastor and fellow disciple, let me remind all of us of what our One, True Master, Teacher, and King mandates of those who belong to Him: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40), and “Love one another as I have first loved you.  By this others will know that you are My disciples” (John 13:34).**

Whether you are gladdened by the prospect of a change in leadership, or are worried about what may come, your King has spoken and His mandate of love does not change.  Administrations come and go, political platforms change, even nations will not endure forever (Psalm 146:3-5), but God’s Word does not fade (Isaiah 40:8).  If we are in Christ, we are duty-bound always and everywhere to take our directions from Him, for He is King above all kings, and Lord above all Lords, and His Kingdom – our true Kingdom – is forever.

On the journey with you,

Mike

* – while our American Founding Fathers were not unanimously Christian, they were most certainly influenced in their framing of the Constitution by the basic Christian sense that humans are sinful and prone to exploit others, and therefore no one individual should ever be endowed with absolute power.

** – the word “mandate” comes from the Latin word mandatum, from which the name “Maundy” Thursday is derived.  It was on that night in the Upper Room when Jesus gave His novum mandatum – His “new commandment” or “mandate” – to “love one another as I have first loved you.”