If there is any lesson we can learn from the process to confirm Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice, it is the following: statist elites will do anything within their power to retain their political clout and control the national agenda.
We need to be realistic and prepared about what this means for the Convention of States movement. So far, COS opposition forces have mostly limited themselves to position statements, op-eds, and a bit of Internet trolling.
But once the number of states passing the application approaches the required 34, statists will realize that there is indeed a viable possibility of (to paraphrase Hillary Clinton) seeing 100 years of progressive activism being permanently undone. At this point, all-out war will break loose against us.
The war will involve lying, slander, manipulation, libel, lawsuits, hysteria, “doxxing,” harassment, bribery, and perhaps even violence. Our national staff will likely be the most vulnerable, but anyone who has stepped up to any kind of leadership role may find themselves a target.
Of course as believers, we understand that behind political battles lie principalities and powers warring in the spiritual realms. This means that the role of the COS Prayer Warriors Team will be come increasingly critical as the battle becomes more intense.
So here are three things to keep in mind—both to inform our prayers and to shape our activities in personal and political spheres.
- Integrity is essential. Of course our ultimate motivation is to please and glorify our Heavenly Father. But integrity has a practical purpose as well. Proverbs 29:6 says that sin is a snare to evildoers. If the statist power-mongers tried to use underage drinking, adolescent humor and emotional outbursts against Kavanaugh, imagine what they would do with any financial mismanagement, legal lapses, journalistic misrepresentations, or sexual indiscretions. We can’t afford to give them any ammunition.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. —Matthew 6:10 - We need to learn to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. Even the young Kavanaugh daughter understood this principle, and we COS activists need to learn it sooner rather than later. Because it’s only going to get harder as the opposition becomes more vicious.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. —Romans 12:14,17,21 - Expect God to fight for us. It is easy to become frustrated at the shenanigans of the opposition and try to beat them at their own game. We may be sorely tempted to try some of their dirty tactics against them to try to even the playing field. Or we may become intimidated and disheartened by the size and influence of the opposition.
But we have an advantage: we understand the power of God and the power of prayer. God is looking across the earth for those whose hearts are fully committed to him, and when he sees that in us, he will move on our behalf. Then regardless of the visible outcome, we can be assured that we are having a part in seeing God’s purposes accomplished.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” —2 Chron. 32:7-8
When asked if God was on the side of the Union forces, Abraham Lincoln is said to have responded, “The question is not whether God is on our side; what matters is that we are on God’s side.” Let’s always be careful to discern what it looks like to be on God’s side and position ourselves there.
If you are not yet a member of the COS Prayer Warriors Team, you are invited to sign up here.
