There are so many distractions for believers in the world today—things that take our focus away from God and his Kingdom work—diverting us from personal spiritual growth and sidetracking our pursuit of holiness. One of those distractions is the ever-contentious arena of politics. We all know people (even believers) who eat, sleep, and breathe politics. They dogmatically espouse their opinions to all who will listen. They stir up arguments on social media and say things to their “friends” that bear little resemblance to Jesus’ model of love and kindness.

The problem is, while we’re checking Facebook every day to see who we’ve inflamed with our latest political diatribe (wringing our hands in gleeful anticipation of the fight to come), there is work to be done for the kingdom:

• Help is desperately needed at the church food pantry.
• Someone on the street corner needs to hear the gospel.
• Our seat at church, where we learn about God in community, is conspicuously empty.
• We haven’t opened our Bible in months.
• We’ve drifted away from our family, the family for whom we’re supposed to be the spiritual head.
• Volunteers are needed in the children’s Sunday school department.
• Families in our community are desperate for help after a recent storm or other natural disaster.

 Our mission as believers is to glorify God and make him known to the lost world. To share the gospel. To love people to Jesus. To use our giftedness within the church body. To study and meditate on God’s Word so that we can get to know who God is. To develop our relationship with Jesus through prayer, meditation, and Bible reading.

When we allow ourselves to be distracted by the noise of the world, we cannot accomplish the mission to which God has called us. Satan would keep us busy ranting about political leaders rather than being about God’s business. He would have us believe that those who disagree with us need to be put in their place—and we’re the one to do it. He would keep us preoccupied by worldly pursuits and pastimes—putting our spiritual growth on the back burner.

Make no mistake, I firmly believe that Christians must make their voices heard and stand up for biblical values. In fact, it’s the responsibility of every Christian citizen in America to cast their vote according to the precepts in God’s Word—maybe even to hold a sign or attend a meeting on a local issue that affects us.  But politics shouldn’t dominate our every waking moment. And we certainly shouldn’t publicly spar with folks who disagree with us. We aren’t going to solve the world’s problems by alienating those we’re called to love.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 (NASB)

There are many other things that distract believers, of course. Things such as: chasing material wealth, pursuing the perfect body, obsessing over celebrities and entertainment, spending hours on social media and idolizing its influencers.

In this world full of distractions and noise, believers must keep the main thing, the main thing. The Bible says we’re to fix our eyes on Jesus as we navigate this life, nothing is more important. There are people every day who are dying without Jesus while we’re camped out in front of our television, trancelike, watching the news stations repeat the same news over and over again.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV, emphasis mine)

If you’ve been caught up in politics, or another distraction has prevented you from fixing your eyes on Jesus, it’s time to make a change. Seek the Lord in prayer for strength to break away from whatever is holding you captive. Ask him where you’re needed in his kingdom work. Get back to church. Open your Bible. Look for places to spiritually grow, in community. Find a place to serve in your local church.

Don’t worry too much about the political scene. God is in control. Whoever is in charge of  our country, God has allowed to be there. He has a plan, and it is far above the plans of man. I want to be a part of  God’s plan, don’t you? I want to be on God’s team, and I want him to find me faithfully serving when he returns.

Heaven forbid, when Jesus comes back, he finds me in a political rant, stirring up trouble on social media. Instead, I want to be about his kingdom work: loving, serving, giving, and sharing his life-changing message.

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)