Jesus & Politics | Introduction

INTRODUCTION | Preparing our church for the 2024 Election

I was asked last year “What are you doing to prepare/disciple your church for the 2024 election season to give clarity and unity?” 

This series on Jesus & Politics is not in a vacuum. It is part of how we have been intentional discipling the whole year with our sermon series and classes:

• We started the year with the book of Ruth about how God cares for the brokenhearted and provides for the marginalized. 
• In winter we did The Story of Everything to be rooted in God’s grand narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration, in Jesus Christ. 
• During our winter EQUIP Nights we studied Nancys Pearcey's book “Love thy Body” to talk frankly and deeply about sexuality, life, abortion, gender, etc. being remind we are holistic people Mind, Body, and Soul and that our understanding of our theology and biology should impact our politics. 
• In spring we preach through 2 Timothy being reminded we have the race of being faithful to the Gospel above everything as we pass on a legacy of faith to the next generation. 
• This fall we did a series in Proverbs to help us understand the lenses of foolishness and wisdom considering reverence of God. The world has purpose and design so we should align with the word, will, wisdom of God in all things including How we understand and engage with Politics.

Navigating a Politically Charged Landscape

“This is the most important election of our lifetime!”  “The fate of the country and our democracy is at stake!
“You cannot be a Christian and vote for _____ !” “I couldn’t go to a church where there are people who voted for ___!” “Jesus was the first socialist!” “America is a ‘Christian’ Nation!” “(X)Want’s Tyranny!”
 
I’ve heard all of these in the last several years.  From traditional media to social media, sports and streaming services, social science and climate science, every aspect of how we participate in the public square seems to be influenced by a political message or position. The church in America is not immune to our highly politicized culture. It seems people are either eager to co-opt Jesus and the church for the advancement of their political goals or pretended that somehow religion and politics do not have an impact on one another. How are we supposed to effectively navigate politically in this environment? There is so much pressure to engage, so many landmines to avoid, and so much temptation to check out of politics all together. So rather than remaining silent in the face of contradictory and incendiary language or to shout over opponents, let us have a civil discourse around the two topics we are told we are supposed to ignore. Let’s about talk Jesus & Politics.

JESUS | The Central Figure of History  

Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, is THE central figure of history. This is not hyperbole. Across nations, continents, languages, and cultures our world has literally counted every year in relation to Jesus arrival in history. During his 33 years in 1st century Judea, Jesus never held political office, owned land, or led an army, yet he was an unmatched revolutionary consistently calling people repent of sin and join the Kingdom of God. The only crown Jesus wore was made of thorns. It was placed on His head during a coronation of humiliation before his state sponsored execution by the Roman government working in tandem with the religious elites of the day. The Romans mockingly labeled Him, “King of the Jews,” as he hung on their cross. To the religious, Jesus’ crime was claiming to be God and the promised “Messiah” of God’s people. The word “Messiah” or “Christ” is a comprehensive term including BOTH Savior AND King, meaning the identity of Jesus (God the Son) has both religious and political implications for everyone created by God.

POLITICS | Politics is Power

Politics is power. Specifically, how power governs people in various sphere of influence. Politics is the debates and conflicts around how power and policies will be used to further human flourishing. Paradoxically, Politics both reflects and reenforces our societal and culture norms. It can serve both as a mirror to who are now, and a window to where we are headed. We live in a culture where every arena of society infused with political overtones driving various agendas. Because Politics involves power and people, how it is used and stewarded matters greatly. For disciples of Jesus Christ, our motivation for faithful political engagement should be driven by reimagining the familiar rallying cry “For King and Country”.
 
WHICH KING? 
 
“Didn’t we fight the Revolutionary War with England to not be subject to a king?” 

Yes and no. While no longer subject to the King of England, everyone is subject to the authority of King Jesus. From the first garden to the final city the Bible consistently describes the royal identity of Jesus as King of the Universe.

Revelation 19:13,16 | He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. . . . On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. - 

If Jesus is not only a King, but THE King of Kings, then how we respond to Him is an inherently political statement. We will either rebel against Jesus as King in favor following a lesser king or queen (usually ourselves) OR we will respond to Jesus with the worship and reverence He deserves. If we desire Jesus as our savior, then we must also pledge allegiance to Him as our King. Other figures can command our respect, obedience, and even at times captivate our attention. However, it is King Jesus who we must continually recognize as our greatest authority and the one whom all our actions flow FROM and allegiance and affection flows TO.

WHICH COUNTRY? 

“I live in the United States, I am an American, how does that impact my politics?” 

When Jesus was before the Roman Governor Pontus Pilate facing execution and being interrogated about His identity as King of the Jews, He responded with this:  John 18:39 | Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” How do Christians, subject to King Jesus understand our citizenship and show appropriate patriotism, when His Kingdom is “not of this world?”

As Christians WE ARE:

1: CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

Philippians 3:20 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

If we are “in Christ”, then our citizenship, our primary and preeminent allegiance, and homeland is Heaven. God also determines the times and places in which we live, and we are called love the people and places in which we live. If you live in the United States in this season it means you have a charge to love, care for, be concerned with, and faithfully engage with the affairs of America in a unique way.

2: AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

2 Corinthians 5:20 | Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  

While we called to seek the welfare of the places and communities God has called us to live in, we have, in a sense, a “dual citizenship”. Our primary citizenship is in Heaven, but we are also concerned right here and right now living as “Ambassadors for Christ”. He is our King, we are representing and inviting people to experience the life and love of Heaven (Our Country). This has an impact on one’s eternal destiny AND their current place of dwelling. It means our church is an “embassy” where citizens of any country or nation are invited in and welcomed to learn, hear, see, and experience the beauty, truth, justice, and mercy of God’s Kingdom and our King Jesus. While an ambassador for Christ, we also enjoy the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in America, this is our secondary citizenship. While secondary it is still highly significant. Therefore, we work, live, and vote in ways that promote the flourishing of all people we have an opportunity to impact.

While our greatest longing is for heaven we also desire, pray and act for God’s Kingdom to be realized “on earth as it is in Heaven”. This means we serve our King by loving our country and our communities here and now. This is difficult because all nations and governments are flawed.

We will look more deeply at that in Part I | Psalm 2 | Rage & Laughter.