Time Magazine Marco Rubio Cover: Anointing Him as a 'Savior' Rightfully Annoys Christians and Rubio

Impact

It is always dangerous to call someone a "savior." Especially in politics when the implication is that one person has the ability to keep a party from collapsing like a stack of dominos. TIME magazine's cover for its February 18 edition states," The Republican Savior: How Marco Rubio became the new voice of the GOP.” This cover title is both absurd and presumptuous. No one agreed more than Marco Rubio himself.

Rubio responded with a tweet, "There is only one savior, and it is not me. #Jesus." With this reply, Rubio is absolutely correct. There is only one savior and it is not him. For that, I think Rubio should be applauded. He acknowledges that there is one who is Lord over him.

The problem with all of this is the implication that Rubio by himself has the capacity to singlehandedly save the GOP and with it the nation. While he has been lauded as of late as the antidote to Barack Obama and he will be giving the Republican response to the State of the Union address on Tuesday, this premature anointing of him is too much too soon. Not to mention it's sacrilegious.

The Republican Party is desperately trying to seek relevance in a nation that no longer resonates with its values. House Speaker John Boehner said Rubio is, "one of the most inspiring and dynamic leaders." He also added that Rubio's "family’s story is a testament to the promise and greatness of America." I have no doubt that he is an exceptional leader, and would make a fine president. But being president and a savior are not one and the same. 

Rubio's Hispanic heritage has him at the forefront of potential candidates for the 2016 GOP nomination. The GOP is desperate to get back the Hispanic vote and sees Rubio as a key to this demographic that they lost in both 2008 and 2012. Also, Rubio will deliver his GOP response address in both English and Spanish, with the hopes that this might sway Hispanics.

Will it work? It's doubtful it will have an impact. Right now, Rubio is at the center of immigration reform as part of the bipartisan "gang of eight." Any talk of a potential presidential run might be in the back of his mind and other's in the GOP, but there are more important issues at stake right now. 

The press and politicos in general are always wanting to tag someone as the next leader. Especially now, when the GOP is treading on dangerous ground. To call Rubio a "savior" is a slam to Christians. It's also offensive to him, since he cannot possibly live up to an outlandish ideal. Evangelical Christians supposedly had a savior in George W. Bush, but he proved himself to be just another mortal.

President Obama is showing the world that he isn't anyone's savior. Even if Rubio becomes president one day, he will just be another picture on the wall. Another fallen mortal man who got elected president.