I got up this morning at my usual time and went to my usual place. You know, that small room where a man can be alone with his thoughts. And I did what I regretfully and often do in that small room. I doom scrolled. A casual friend named Christopher left a comment on some random thread that boiled down to this: politics are tricky, the media is bought by the deep state, wake up.
And I’ll be honest – it triggered something in me.
Not because I’m offended. Not because I feel the urge to defend the media (God forbid). But because comments like that aren’t the problem themselves. They’re symptoms of a deeper disease that’s been rotting our civic life for decades.
So here’s the longer version of the thought I probably should’ve ignored – but didn’t (I actually lectured on his thread – sorry, Christopher). Consider this a Scott Sheet–style “I meant to keep scrolling, but here we are.”
Politics isn’t tricky if you know who you are
Politics only becomes “tricky” when it’s treated like a personality cult, a soap opera, or a substitute religion.
In reality, it’s fairly straightforward if you have a few things settled:
- Who you are
- What your principles are
- Whom you serve
For me, that’s Jesus Christ first – and then, in my public role, the people of Weld County.
Layered on top of that are a few truths that keep a man from becoming a self-righteous blowhard with a social media account:
- We all sin and fall short of the glory of God
- Be quick to listen and slow to speak
- Weigh your words
- Fight like hell for what you believe – but fight for principles, not personalities
- Focus on issues, not individuals
None of this used to be controversial. Now it sounds radical – like saying “water is wet” at a hydration conference.
We turned politics into a reality show – and it’s melting our brains (and ruining our families and friendships)
Somewhere along the way, “principles over personalities” got tossed out the window.
Politics became entertainment. Teams replaced ideas. Politicians became either messiahs or monsters.
That’s not healthy. And no, it’s not American.
It’s emotional addiction masquerading as civic engagement.
And yes – the media ecosystem feeds it. Not just “the media,” but the entire outrage-industrial complex that profits when we’re angry, tribal, suspicious, and perpetually doom-scrolling. Outrage isn’t a bug. It’s the business model.
So yes, media matters. A lot.
But I’m cautious with the “deep state bought everybody” narrative because it often becomes an intellectual escape hatch – a shortcut that keeps us from doing the harder work:
- thinking clearly
- checking facts
- holding all institutions accountable (including the ones we like)
- and taking responsibility for our own civic behavior
“Everything is rigged” is a tempting story. It’s also a convenient one. It lets you feel enlightened without requiring discipline.
The real problem: we pushed God out, and the vacuum didn’t stay empty
Here’s the root issue as I see it: for a couple of generations, we systematically pushed God out of public life – and the vacuum didn’t stay empty.
It never does.
Human beings are worshippers by nature. If we’re not worshipping God, we’ll worship something else. And one of the most common replacements is government.
Not government in the boring sense – roads, budgets, public safety (the stuff I swoon over) – but government as ultimate authority, ultimate provider, ultimate judge, ultimate savior.
That’s where things go sideways fast.
Despite the modern myth that the Founders were all vague, squishy deists who wanted faith locked in a basement, they were clear-eyed about this. They understood that liberty depends on virtue – and virtue doesn’t appear out of thin air.
- John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
- George Washington warned that “Religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
- The Declaration grounds rights in something higher than government: “They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”
- Jefferson put it plainly: “Almighty God hath created the mind free.”
Put their words together and the picture is balanced but unmistakable:
God is not a prop for politicians.
But government is not a replacement for God, either.
Someone will rule. Something will be worshipped.
Here’s my blunt belief:
Someone will rule, and something will be worshipped.
If it’s not God, it’ll be government. Or ideology. Or the mob. Or the Self – which is having a real moment right now (“MY” truth, anyone?).
And when people start worshipping government, they begin demanding that politicians do what only God can do:
- fix hearts
- erase sin
- care for our fellow man
- make life perfect
- punish all evil
- save us from ourselves
That’s how tyranny gets dressed up as “progress.” The state becomes the church, politics becomes salvation, and dissent becomes heresy.
History is very clear on how that movie ends.
The fix isn’t a better savior. It’s proper order.
I don’t care how much you love your preferred political hero – whether it’s Reagan (swoon), Trump, or the guy you’re convinced is one executive order away from defeating Satan and lowering egg prices.
They’re not the Messiah.
They’re people.
They’re fallen. Flawed. Limited. Capable of bad judgment, ego, blind spots, and sin.
Obama isn’t perfect. Trump isn’t perfect. Commissioner Scott James damn sure ain’t perfect.
None of us are.
So the answer isn’t finding the right politician to worship harder.
The answer is restoring proper order – putting God and government back in their rightful places.
Government isn’t divine. It’s delegated authority with limits. It has real responsibilities – and real boundaries it must not cross.
And yes, here’s the part that makes modern Americans itchy:
A healthy Romans 13 kind of government means we respect lawful authority, demand that it do justice, and remember that it is accountable to God, not acting as God.
That doesn’t mean government is always right. It means government is real authority under God, meant to restrain evil and promote order – not replace the family, the church, the conscience, or the Almighty Himself.
So what do we do with this?
A few practical takeaways – because faith that never touches the ground isn’t much use:
- Stop turning politics into your religion.
If elections stir more emotion in you than eternity, something’s off. - Treat people like people.
No deifying “our guy.” No demonizing every opponent as literal Hitler. That’s propaganda-brain. - Demand truth – especially from your own side.
If you only fact-check the other team, you’re not a truth-seeker. You’re a fan. - Recover the idea of virtue.
Freedom requires a moral people. That’s not nostalgia – it’s reality. - Remember where rights come from.
Not from government. From the Creator. And remember where government stops.
Closing thought from my usual place
Yes – be wary of propaganda and corruption. That’s part of citizenship.
But don’t lose the plot and turn politics into your religion.
We don’t need political saviors.
We need moral courage, humility, truth – and a citizenry that remembers where rights come from… and where government ends.
And if this reads like a lecture, that’s because I’m preaching to myself, too.
Merry Christmas, friends. Go love your family. Say a prayer.
And for the love of all that is holy – don’t make the state your god.
