‘Imagine There’s No Heaven’
Americans are consumed with self-reliance rather than God-reliance.
John Lennon’s famous song, Imagine, is celebrated as a wonderful poetic work by people who don’t realize the lyrics are disturbing—because they push out God. Unfortunately, it’s a perfect song to describe the world today. American society seeks self-satisfaction rather than God-satisfaction. As a result, these humanistic views are also becoming more pervasive in our politics.
There’s a growing chasm between political parties and their religious views. Neither party should claim God is on their side but should focus on seeking his wisdom and guidance. Without God at the center, the world is doomed to failure.
The religion of man rather than a faith in Christ is the underlying cause of societal problems such as addiction, depression, anxiety, and violence. Politicians often seek answers and solutions that do not include the one true God, but ultimately there is no hope and no peace in a world without Him. Much of the world operates as if there’s no heaven or hell and we live in a society that’s self-focused rather than God-focused.
Lennon’s song begins:
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Livin’ for today
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine was written as a protest song and a call for peace and unity during the Vietnam War. Yet man alone can never obtain true peace and unity despite Lennon’s dream that the world will “live as one.” Without God, that’s not possible.
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Democrats, Republicans, and Faith
A disturbing trend since the 1990s shows a wider divide between Republicans and Democrats in their views about God. Faith views were similar in the 90s between both parties with 67 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats claiming they believed in God with no doubts. Contrast that with the 2020s: 64 percent of Republicans have no doubts about God’s existence, but only 39 percent of Democrats can say the same.
In 2021, Pew Research conducted a survey on beliefs in the afterlife among Democrats and Republicans. Nearly 75 percent of Republicans believed in heaven and hell compared to 50 percent of Democrats.
The Bible is the governing document for true Christian believers and it teaches very clearly that repentance and faith in Jesus is necessary to spend eternity in heaven. Yet in the Pew survey, 65 percent of Democrats and 45 percent of Republicans who profess to be Christian believe people who don’t believe in God can still go to heaven.
In the 91-page 2024 Democrat Party Platform, God is only mentioned once, in reference to an individual’s “God-given” potential. The 28-page 2024 Republican Party Platform mentions God twice, specifically “Trust in God’s good grace” and “our Rights under God.”
Some state parties adopt specific Democrat and Republican creeds. The Democrat creed adopted by 18 states doesn’t mention God or religion at all. Republicans don’t have a central creed, but many state parties have adopted God or faith-focused language. Virginia’s short creed says, “We believe that faith in God, as recognized by our founding fathers is essential to the moral fiber of the nation.”
Study the practices of local political party meetings and events to determine their focus on God. Do they begin their meetings with prayer? Do they seek God’s wisdom or are they self-focused? If you’re a Christian, start asking political candidates to explain their faith. Do they pray and seek God’s wisdom in decision-making or are they self-reliant?
It’s imperative that this nation and its political leaders, from both parties, seek God’s wisdom in all they do. President Trump recently said, “I want to try and get to heaven,” regarding his attempts to end the war in Ukraine. While it’s admirable that he wants to do good here on earth, actions without faith and acceptance of Jesus won’t get anyone into heaven.
We should pray for all our leaders, no matter their party, to seek God’s wisdom in all they do. God can use anyone to fulfill His purpose. Heaven and hell are real, and the world would be a better place if society at-large put God, our Creator, at the center of all we do.
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