It’s #1 for a reason

Many Christians like me were dismayed to hear John Lennon’s anti-religion anthem “Imagine” being sung at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Whose idea was that, I wondered. But apparently it was his favorite song, which dismays me even more.

The fact that this (really terrible) song that promotes peace and unity but effectively denies God’s existence and authority is a favorite of any Christian reveals a bothersome reality. For them, the second greatest commandment takes precedence over the first. “Love your neighbor” is the responsibility of every believer, yes. But it takes a back seat to “Love God.” Are we not disobeying the “great and first commandment” every time we approve of something that denies or diminishes him?

I see this reversal of priority in our politics. Generally speaking, the Left prioritizes #2 and the Right #1. Of course there are exceptions as well as folks on both sides who don’t even believe God exists, so don’t see themselves as subject to either commandment. But among those who claim to be Christian, if humanitarianism is your driving principle rather than love for and submission to God, you will likely vote Democrat. Christian Republicans, by and large, see humanitarianism as properly second to our responsibility to obey and honor the one who created humanity.

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, are good examples of this reprioritization of principles. All of them claim to be devoted people of faith but demonstrate by their support for abortion, gender ideology, decriminalization policies, etc. that they disregard the first and greatest commandment in their elevation of the second.

I’m confident that “Imagine” won’t be performed at Donald Trump’s inauguration, but I have no illusions about hearing “Amazing Grace” or “Rock of Ages” instead. Perhaps his team will find or compose a musical rendition of Ecclesiastes 10:2 – “A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.”