Recently, I came across a social media trend, which, if you have a social media account, you are probably also familiar with. #LetsGoBrandon has become the trending phrase for just about every failure of the Biden administration. This seems to be a strange phrase, as the two are seemingly unrelated. When you know the backstory, however, it makes sense. After Brandon Brown won a NASCAR race, sports caster Kelli Stavast mentioned, during an interview, that the crowd appeared to be chanting "let's go Brandon". It turns out, however, that they can be very clearly heard chanting "F*** Joe Biden" (1).
Now, I fully understand the sentiment of the actual chant. In fact, though I am not an American citizen, Joe Biden's tyrannical proclamations have affected me on a very personal level, so naturally, in my anger, I have sinned, saying far worse things than that. However, though I understand the sentiment behind the thought, I repent of the thoughts, and I would like to encourage my readers to do likewise.
Firstly, as Christians, there is a certain respect we are to give to even the most tyrannical of rulers. Let us never forget that even while Paul was living under the anti-Christian government in Rome, having been personally beaten, imprisoned, and threatened with death for no other crime than spreading the Gospel, the Lord nevertheless delivered the following message through him:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:1-8).
Suffice to say, though the Biden administration has been raised up by God as ministers for our good, being a terror to evil works rather than to good works, it is doing a lousy job. In fact, I dare say Joe Biden is the worst president the United States has ever had, and following the Obama administration, he had some stiff competition. Nevertheless, God has, in His wisdom, raised him up, God tells those within his jurisdiction to submit to him, and even to honor him, for conscience' sake. And again, I shall remind you, Paul, the Apostle through whom these words were delivered, lived under a government who would eventually kill him for his testimony of Christ. As bad as the Biden administration is, they have not yet persecuted the Church to the point of death. Quite frankly, the fact that a crowd is able to chant "F*** Joe Biden" and live is proof that the Biden administration is far better than the Roman Empire. Therefore, we have no excuse for treating Joe Biden with any less respect than Paul treated Caesar.
But perhaps there are still questions in your mind, such as why would God allow such a despicable man to take office in the first place? Much less why would He raise him up? Let us look at two biblical leaders as our example.
First, let us look at Pontius Pilate. Observe this exchange between him and Christ: "Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." (John 19:10-11).
Now, I don't know about you, but I can't think of a greater example of government overreach than crucifying the only Son of God. When God comes to you, it doesn't matter if He's riding the clouds, or wriggling in a crib with a snotty nose. You bow to Him. You do not, even at the behest of the largest of angry mobs, give the order to crucify Him. Yet, here, Pilate did it. Notice 2 things. First, Jesus does not downplay the fact that Pilate is sinning. He doesn't say "you're doing nothing wrong, you have every right to condemn me". No, He said "he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin".
But notice also that while Pilate is sinning, Jesus acknowledges the origins of his power to do so. What could Pilate have done if he was just your average Josephus on the Roman street? Nothing. Pilate was only able to commit this sin because God had put him in a position of power to do so. Pilate's office was, indeed, legitimate, even though his use of that power wasn't always morally acceptable.
In much the same way, although Joe Biden is a terrible president, the office he holds is legitimate. (Please keep in mind I am completely ignoring, and refusing to declare my opinions on, The Steal). From a legal perspective, Joe Biden is the figurehead of the United States government, and thus, while he is abusing that office in thoroughly unacceptable ways, he holds that office for a purpose.
And this next leader we will look at shows us that this purpose may not be what we hope. I want to talk about the Pharaoh of Egypt during the time of the Exodus. Just as Pilate and Biden, Pharaoh could have had no power without God, but just as Pilate and Biden, God did raise this man up to power. For what purpose? According to Exodus 9:16, "And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth."
This purpose was undoubtedly achieved. For well over 3,000 years, the account of the Exodus has spread far and wide, telling us just how strong the Lord God of Israel is. Here's the problem: It wasn't through a good leader who prospered Egypt. It was through a hard-hearted sinner who cared so little for his country, he brought it to ruin. By the end of Pharaoh's leadership, Egypt was a graveyard. Crops were scarce, livestock had been slain, the people mourned for their firstborns whose corpses lay in their homes. If you think Covid-19 was bad, imagine the horror the Egyptians went through.
And the Jews? These were spared the Lord's wrath. Their food was not tainted. Their homes were not darkened. Their wealth was not diminished. Their firstborns, so long as they heeded the Lord's command and painted their doors with the blood of lambs, were spared. The Lord's plagues did not touch the faithful. But did the Pharaoh's persecutions? Did the Lord not tell Moses "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows" (Exodus 3:7)? Most assuredly He did. God's people were oppressed, not by a good leader, but by the shoddy administration the Lord had raised up for His purposes. Did this please God? Certainly not! The oppression of His people was a tragedy that stirred Him into action. Yet, as Scripture tells us, "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
For what purpose has Joe Biden been raised to the White House by God? Truthfully, I don't know. I don't know America's future. Anything could happen from this point, right up to a third world war, more devastating than the former two combined. But we can be sure of this: Joe Biden may destroy his kingdom, as the Pharaoh of the Exodus did, but he will never thwart the Kingdom of God. And that is what we, as Christians, need to remember.
For us as Christians, there is only one way all of this could end. We will finish the race, and win the prize that is eternal life. Perhaps justice will be done here. Perhaps Biden will fail in his schemes, and prosperity will return to America. But maybe, we will become casualties of war. Victims of persecution. Martyrs whose lives are cut short by bullets or bombs. Did we lose? Not so! For we will hear those blessed words, "well done, good and faithful servant"! Forgiven for our own sins, we will inherit crowns, live in mansions on streets of gold, eat from the tree of life, and my brethren, our God will reside with us, and we with Him. Can there be a better fate? Can there be a greater assurance of victory? We cannot lose here.
But what of Biden? Suppose he goes the rest of his life as a wicked man. Where does he go? If this happens, Biden could gain the whole world, but he forfeits his most precious asset: his soul. Hell will never be as prosperous as the worst pocket of the U.S. Hell will never be as pleasant a place to live as Taliban-dominated Afghanistan. Hell is a pit of despair, forever separated from the God who gives life to whom He pleases. Do we imagine Biden will enjoy his stay? His eternal stay? If Biden fails to repent, he is far more doomed than his country.
However, the word of the Lord tells us "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 1:2-8).
God wills that Biden will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Biden may never do so. Countless authorities have died having rejected the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. If Biden goes to his grave condemned, he will neither be the first, nor the last. But should he repent, there will be a great celebration in Heaven. Many who cursed him on the earth will hug him in the Kingdom. The very God he despised will call him "son". Maybe, much like Paul, he will even do more for the Kingdom than those who have been raised from infancy to serve God. God loves Joe Biden, and He proved it with His own blood.
In the flesh, I confess, it is hard to have the humility to love Joe Biden. I am concerned about the future, both of the U.S., and of the world. But this day, I humble myself, and I pray a prayer I hope my readers will echo: Dear Lord, save Joe Biden. May he repent of his terrible deeds, and become a president America can be proud of. May he come to honor and glorify you, and may your name be declared in all the earth, not through victory against him in his wickedness, but in his salvation. A God of great strength may destroy the wicked, but only you have the power to save them. Therefore Lord, may your will, in your great wisdom, be done through Joe Biden. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Today's message concerns a very specific member of a very specific government. However, it can be applied to all authorities worldwide. Wherever you live, whoever your leaders may be, pray for them, as the word says, that they may be saved, and that God will be glorified through them, and indeed through you. Wherever you live, remember that your residence in this world is a temporary mission trip, and your future home will never see a tyrant, save in one form: Those who were tyrants in life, but were redeemed, and covered by the same blood that covers us. On Earth, kingdoms rise, and kingdoms fall, but the Kingdom of God will be established forever.
References
1. Meek, Andy - ‘Let’s go, Brandon!’ – the backstory of this Joe Biden meme that’s all over the Internet, BGR, October 11th 2021 (link)