The number one (rap) song on iTunes last week was “Let’s Go Brandon”. If you are unaware, the song takes the audio clips from a derogatory phrase about our current president and remixes in music, as well as adding lyrics of discontent about the current administration. While I usually do not find many rap-loving members in the church, the phrase comes from a reporter who was interviewing the winner of a Nascar race- also a place where one would expect to find few fans of the rap genre. Due to the popularity of the original chant, the euphemistic declaration, and now the song, it is proper to remind ourselves that we are to be “in the world, but not of the world”.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 12.1-2) ”Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 12.7)
Valid arguments can, and have, been made about the legitimacy of the last election. However, our governing body has sworn into office Joe Biden as president of this country. More important than our vote is God’s appointing of this man to the office. While it seems easy to point out many of the non-Bible supporting policies of the current president, I am tasked with remembering that before I am a citizen of the United States, I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Philippians 3.20) I am called upon to pay honor to the earthly authorities due to the position they hold- as appointed by God.
As an American, I am given freedom of speech. That is a great blessing! But earthly freedoms are afforded only after the ordinances set down by the Creator. Does God appoint a ruler so that we can hurl derogatory phrases about them? No. I am for the Kingdom of Heaven. Let me use my language, not to insult the president, but to support our King. If only the gospel was proclaimed as vigorously as these chants. We have a better message than to insult the president- we can proclaim Christ.