Hey friends, thanks for tuning in to this LIFE ON MISSION with Tanner Klein podcast. This is going to be a juicy one. We’ve got another Scripture-soaked podcast-post for you.
Here’s a quick introduction. We’re aiming to honestly expose widespread false gospels to the light and truth of Christ, and contrast these with the true Good News of Jesus and the always advancing Kingdom of God.
Why this, now? Because the Lord really moved my heart with His desire to inspire real, lasting HOPE in us—especially in an age when so many lack real hope.
So, I believe that God will restore HOPE in us as we turn our eyes toward Jesus and respond to the truth that sets us free.
My prayer is that this series will refresh you with the best news ever and inspire lasting, contagious hope within you that overflows from you.
Just so you know, you are welcome to explore our latests podcast-posts. So far, we gave the introduction for this new series, asking Which Gospel Are You Living By? as well as the first deep dive in this series centered on The FALSE GOSPEL of POPULARITY & INFLUENCE vs. THE TRUE GOOD NEWS of JESUS. These are linked here.
Before that, we had some fun exploring CULTURAL SAYINGS vs GOD'S TRUTH - Unpacking some Junk and Replacing it with Eternal Treasures.
Before it, I shared about PARIS: The SPIRITUAL DESERT Masked By BEAUTY, My Conviction to Go, God has Brought the Nations to Us, & Good News from Sunday. I am full of hope and resolve, excited to see what the Lord has in store for this city and for us.
In the post before it, I got to give A Glimpse into The Real Reality of our LIVES ON MISSION in PARIS 🇫🇷 4 mo. here in a 10x10 Studio✨. Life here has not been glamorous but it has been eternally significant.
If you’re interested in those podcasts, you can click the links attached. You can also share this podcast via Apple Podcasts and Spotify or share this LIFE ON MISSION publication with friends using the link attached or the QR code below.
Now let’s dive into this controversial topic!
The FALSE GOSPEL of POLITICAL IDEOLOGY vs. THE TRUE GOOD NEWS of JESUS
Jesus declared,
“My kingdom is not of this world.”
Just before Jesus was unjustly condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus said this to the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, while Pilate questioned Him.
Let’s set the stage.
What is the False Gospel of Political Ideology?
Let’s be honest: in today's world, it can be tempting to believe that hope comes riding in on the back of a political candidate or person in power—or that peace, justice, and "the good life" can be delivered through the power of policy, party, or protest.
Whether it's the right or the left, conservative or progressive, many today are placing their ultimate hope, trust, and identity in political ideology rather than in the risen King, Jesus Christ—and it shows.
The lie whispers:
“If we just elect the right people…”
“If we could just fix the system…”
“If our side had more control, things would be so much better…”
“With the right leader, policies, and support, we can usher in justice, peace, and make things right.”
This is a glimpse into the False Gospel of Political Ideology—a belief that human power structures can bring about the kind of redemption only Jesus can deliver.
It takes real, God-given longings for justice, truth, and peace…and misplaces them in kingdoms built by men, not the Kingdom of God.
Let’s bring this false gospel into the Light.
What about Jesus’ reign and His Kingdom? Let’s explore that.
Jesus Is King, and His Kingdom Is Not of This World
Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea, under the Roman Emperor of the time, Tiberius. After Jesus was betrayed by Judas, the Jewish leaders took Jesus to Pilate because they did not have the legal right to execute someone, according to Roman law (see John 18:31). In the book of John 18:33-37, we are brought into the governor’s headquarters where Pilate questioned Jesus. We get to see Jesus’ response to Pilate when asked, essentially, if He was a political threat. It says,
"So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
The Kingdom of God does not rise or fall with elections, policies, or cultural movements.
God’s Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
It does not fit neatly into man-made party platforms.
It is not confined to red states or blue states or any other political group or movement.
It's not American or European or national or globalist.
The Kingdom of God is holy, eternal, and completely "other."
In this Kingdom of Light, Jesus reigns as King.
In the book of Isaiah 9:6-7, a prophesy pointing to Jesus is given. It says,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
The Gospel of the Kingdom announces that Jesus reigns now—not someday, not once we take back cultural ground, but now.
It says in Mark 1:14-15,
Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
So, what about us? What about now?
The reality is that the Lord Jesus rules with justice and righteousness from the throne of heaven, and His people are called to represent His reign on earth—not as partisans, but as faithful disciples filled with the Spirit of God.
Ok, now back to the fruit of placing our hope in politics, government, or an ideology.
Why the False Gospel Fails
Political idolatry creates division, fuels fear, and puts false saviors on the throne of our hearts.
It makes enemies out of neighbors and breeds a self-righteous spirit that sees “them” as the problem instead of sin as the real enemy.
It says:
"If you're not politically engaged like me, you're part of the problem."
"I am a [fill in the blank] and nothing can change that."
"We can see, but you are blind."
"Change for the better can only happen through our candidate."
"If you don’t agree with me, don’t talk to me."
Can you sense the entitlement, the pride, the contempt, the disdain for the other. Yuck.
No thank you.
Here’s what Scripture says in Psalm 146:3-10:
“Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!”
It says in Psalm 20:7,
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
The LORD isn't looking for political allegiance—He's calling for full surrender to His Son, Jesus.
Politics can be a tool for the common good, for justice, and contribute to human flourishing, but it is a terrible place to anchor your hope.
Kingdom People: Living Under a Greater Rule
As followers of Jesus, the Biblical reality is that we are exiles, sojourners, and ambassadors of Christ and His Kingdom on this earth, and yet, already we are citizens of heaven.
It says in Philippians 3:20-21,
“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Do we live like this is true? That’s a question I ask myself. Do I live like I am a citizen of heaven? Do I eagerly await our Savior’s return? Do I know with all my heart that the Lord Jesus Christ will transform my lowly body to be like His glorious body? Do I trust in His power, convinced He is sovereign over all, able to subject all things to Himself, coming soon to bring true and complete justice?
Another question to consider:
Is our allegiance to the eternal Kingdom of God, or to another?
There’s tension that exists here.
We’re called to be in the world but not of the world.
God doesn’t ask us to withdraw from the world’s brokenness, and we’re definitely not called to worship the world’s systems either.
Instead, it says in 2 Corinthians 5:20,
“We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Our job isn't to win culture wars.
It's to represent the reign of Jesus, to make disciples, to pursue justice rooted in the Gospel, and to love our enemies.
This is the invitation for all followers of Jesus, young and old—all are set apart as ambassadors of Christ and His Kingdom, chosen by God to represent His eternal rule and reign, motivated by love.
A Quick Reality Check
Imagine if Jesus ran for a governmental office. What would His platform be?
“Die to yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. Love your enemies, give generously, humble yourself, serve the least, let My light shine, and prepare to be hated for My Name’s sake.”
What about His campaign slogan?
The Kingdom is here, no more fear! Repent, follow Me, and you’ll be free!
I’m not so sure that message would trend well on social media.
In a way though, that leads us to the point:
Jesus didn’t come to be liked. He came to announce the Good News of the Kingdom, to reconcile lost souls back to God, to offer a better way to abundant life, and set captives free.
Jesus came to reign—first in our hearts, and over all creation.
Jesus Reigns and Will Make All Things New
No matter who's in power, the tomb is still empty.
The throne is still occupied.
Christ’s Kingdom is still advancing.
Jesus Himself said,
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Lord Jesus is building His church and the kingdom of darkness cannot stop it.
Light wins. Darkness loses.
It says of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-20,
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
So, we can live today with hope, knowing the day will come when Jesus’ reign will come on earth as it is in heaven.
Remember Revelation 21:1-7,
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
That is gloriously good news.
That’s the hope we live for—not a passing policy or political figure or identity politics, but an unshakable Kingdom.
Awesome God, please help us to remember You reign now and You will reign forever! Hallelujah!
Friends, there will come a day when every president, king, and ruler will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
This has everything to do with how we live today, in light of Jesus’ reign and victory.
It says in Philippians 2:3-11,
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Amen and amen!
Be Encouraged: You Belong to a Better Kingdom
If you've placed too much hope in politics, here’s what you can do: Simply repent and return to Jesus.
There is no shame in realigning your heart—it is a blessing from God.
I know well from experience, the opportunity to repent is a priceless gift from God—otherwise we’d be stuck and dead in our sins.
It is a beautiful thing to repent and turn back to the Lord, and it comes with a promise.
It says in Acts 3:19-20,
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.”
God’s not rolling His eyes or passive aggressive when you turn back to Him; He’s not like a vindictive Judge or partial worldly leader.
The King of kings is ready to wipe away your sins and welcome you into His refreshing presence.
The Lord’s invitation is so gracious. His ways and plans are better.
His Kingdom is eternal and good.
A Final Thought and A Reminder of the Best News Ever
Politics can never save us, but King Jesus already has.
If you’ve trusted in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you know this to be true.
If you haven’t trusted in Jesus or aren’t sure whether He has saved you, here’s the simple Good News:
God lovingly made us to know Him, enjoy Him fully, and make Him known.
Nevertheless, we have all sinned and gone our own way.
But in His mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus—fully God and fully man—
who lived the perfect life we could never live,
died the death we deserved,
and rose again to conquer sin and death forever.
And now, by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus, we are invited into a new life—eternal, abundant life with God, starting now and lasting forever.
This is life-changing, good news. I need this reminder daily.
Whether you’re hearing this message for the 50th time or for the very 1st time, you can choose to commit or recommit your life to God, and to welcome Jesus to be your Savior and your Lord.
The Bible says in the book of Romans 10:9-11,
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’”
By God’s grace, you will be justified through faith in Jesus, meaning you will be made righteous in God’s eyes.
Friends, it’s worth noting, tomorrow is not guaranteed for all of us.
So, if you want to be forgiven, make peace with God, and accept God’s offer of salvation by trusting Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, the decision is yours to make—the offer of grace is on the table.
And if you accept, all of heaven will rejoice with you.
The powers of hell and sin will lose their grip on your life.
You will begin a new, real relationship with the one, true living God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Your sins and past failures will be forgiven. You will be made new, completely cleansed in God’s eyes.
God’s life-giving Spirit will come into you and be with you through every valley, storm, and season of life.
He will guide you into all truth, lovingly convict you of sin and encourage you to turn back to Jesus. He will shape you to look more and more like Jesus in beautiful and unique ways.
You will be welcomed into the Kingdom of God as a beloved son or daughter, into God’s covenant family, into abundant life with God.
The Bible will come alive to you as God’s precious words and truth.
You will experience God in ways you never fathomed were possible.
You will never regret choosing Jesus over the temporary false hopes of the world.
God has transformed my life in all these ways and so many more. I could not possibly more highly recommend seriously considering the implications of life with Jesus vs life apart from Him. Only He can save, redeem, and offer real, abundant life starting now, and lasting forever. Life with Jesus isn’t easy, but it is beautiful, powerful, surprising, and filled with life, purpose, hope, and light—it’s a life worth living.
Thank You, God!
Jesus’ Himself said,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In John 6:44, Jesus also said,
So, if you sense God drawing you to Himself, moving your heart, and you want to let go of false hopes and whatever else is weighing you down, you can receive God’s offer of grace right now.
Feel free to pray this with me, whether you want to trust in Jesus for the first time or recommit your life to Him. Otherwise, I’d encourage you to really consider God’s offer of grace.
Lord God Almighty,
Thank You for this offer of grace.
Thank You for Your offer of forgiveness, salvation, and new life with You.
I surrender my past, my present, and my future to You, God.
Forgive me of my sins against you and against others.
I’m sorry, and I choose to lay down all the things I put my trust in.
I choose to put my trust in You, Lord.
God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus, who lived the perfect life I could never live, died the death I deserved, and rose again to conquer sin and death forever.
I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
I confess with my mouth right now that Jesus is Lord.
By faith, I believe that God raised him from the dead.
Lord Jesus, You are welcome into my life and into my heart.
Fill me with Your Spirit.
Open my eyes to truly see, my ears to hear You speak, and my heart and mind to understand and know Your love and truth.
Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, ready and willing to guide me into all truth.
Teach me to know Your love, to sense Your presence, and to walk with You all my days.
I pray in the name of my Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Hallelujah! Thank You, God!
Friends if you believe this, know that all of heaven is celebrating your decision to trust in Jesus, and I am celebrating with you!
Please let me know if this is you, and I’d love to pray for you. It would absolutely make my day. Here’s my email: tannerklein1@gmail.com.
I can say with 100% certainty, you’re going to need prayer and people who know, love, and trust Jesus to walk alongside you, read the Bible with you, and pray with you. Discipleship is essential. Community is available. God’s Spirit abides in you and will help you to walk with Jesus daily. Your Father in heaven is for you. The Bible is the God’s Word, it’s alive and active (see Hebrews 4:12), and it’s the most relevant tool for your growth as a disciple of Jesus. Every time you explore God’s Words, you get to engage with God Himself. You are so loved.
Mi amigos, mes amis, my brothers and sisters, everyone who’s reading or listening to this, I hope you were blessed and encouraged by this podcast-post. I hope you’re having a good time unpacking some more junk with me and replacing it with real eternal treasures. May God deeply refresh you with the best news ever and inspire lasting, contagious hope within you that overflows from you. Feel free to share this podcast-post or the link to this LIFE ON MISSION publication. You can click the share buttons below or subscribe for free. May God bless you with hope in the Good News of Jesus! You are loved.
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