Though “Let’s Go Brandon ” has been chorused everywhere from high school classrooms to national sports events, it wasn’t until this past week that the White House was asked about Joe Biden’s response to it. Jen Psaki responded with some Tai Chi maneuvers, which is what people in her position are supposed to do.
Such a chant is part and parcel for politics. As was the brazen “F**k Trump ” which Robert De Niro hollered bravely to a crowd of hollywood elites who all agreed with him. But it is not fitting for Christians and neither is the Pure Flix version “Let’s Go Brandon.”
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
1 Peter 2:17
Sometimes it is tough to identify where the line should be when we strongly disagree with the government and intend on civil disobedience. Tougher still is to resist the swell of antipathy, particularly when we are facing the same direction the wave is moving in. But this particular chant is waaay over the line, past no man’s land, and far into enemy territory, and I don’t mean the Democrats. Christian allegiance is to God first and obedience to Him, and it is impossible to justify the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant when God commands us to honor the king.
We can disagree with the king. We can call him out. We can stand up as John the Baptist and bring the righteous judgement of God on Herod stealing his brother’s wife. We may confidently meet in our Sunday gatherings despite overreaching mandates on non-essential gatherings. We may also quietly obey God without making a stink about it when the law of the land transgresses the law of God. Indeed, the Bible is replete with stories of godly men standing in defiance of tyranny, oppression and wicked regimes, as is history itself. But we may not act so brazen as to command that the leader God has selected – and God has selected Joe Biden – to go and eff himself.
Christians ought to discourage this chant and repent if they have partaken in it.
But let’s go down this road a bit. What would be the point of the chant? As Christians, we disagree with Biden because he has made a mockery of humanity and acted foolishly. We can make this claim because Biden has clearly disobeyed the will of God in the Bible. And if we Christians had our way, we would rule in accordance to the will of God given to us in the Bible. So what sense does it make for us to disobey the Bible because we would rather have a king who obeys the Bible? By what standard would we have the country ruled? The same standard we are currently disobeying? Which will it be?
The Bible provides us with limiting principles. If we abandon the teachings of the Bible we also abandon the limiting principles, and among these principles is the instruction of how not to overcorrect the steering wheel. When we abandon the teachings of the Bible we prove that we lack the limiting principles necessary to be in charge of anything.
“Let’s Go Brandon” coming from the mouths of Christians is evidence that we do not have in mind the things of God, else we would do what God is requiring. In such a case, the world would be a better if it ignored us. I’m as much opposed to this President as the next guy and I’m sure I have toed the line in writing or in conversation, and so I include myself in this chastisement. But the Bible is clear: we are to intercede for our leaders even when they are acting foolishly, wickedly, and are raising themselves up against the knowledge of God.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
Remember, Paul wrote this to Timothy when Nero was emperor, just as he had started his slide into madness. You may have heard of him? He murdered his pregnant wife making sure to aim a few kicks to the womb; he dressed like a lion and mutilated the genitals of Christians; he married a young boy who resembled his dead wife, after castrating him of course, and this was just prior to himself dressing as a bride and marrying another dude. Now I’m no fan of Biden, but if Paul told Timothy to pray for freakin’ Nero, I ought to be able to muster a few supplications for the Biden administration, or the very least, close my mouth for the “Let’s Go Brandon” uluation.
If we want the clout of the Spirit behind us when we are brought before kings, we best speak in such a way the Spirit will approve of and not disqualify ourselves so flippantly.
Thought Butter 