Primary election season – time for everyone to weigh in on important, weighty issues, like whether you’ve ever seen a UFO. And, as always, time to debate the role of religion in politics.
There is a large movement in Christian circles very concerned with the political process – motivating people to vote for the right candidates that will advance a Christian agenda at all levels of government. Sociologically, you can trace this movement back a ways – and from the time I was small, I always remember there being a lot of talk about electing people that will return America to her Christian roots…Since I can remember, i have heard a refrain something similar to this: “In 1962, because Christians didn’t get involved in politics, Madalyn Murray O’Hair got prayer taken out of schools and that’s when things really started getting bad.” Of course, things in American culture were already heading toward increasing secularization, and forcing public school kids to read the Bible or pray probably wouldn’t have had a major effect on that, since reciting things doesn’t necessarily mean they will transform your life. Not to mention this was decided at the Supreme Court level – while Court Justices may be appointed by Presidents based on their apparent conservative or liberal views, they have a tendency to rule according to their own thoughts and not tow a certain party’s line…but I digress…
I have been thinking about this as I have listened to the newest crop of political candidates and the associated onslaught of Christian propaganda to get us to see that one or the other is the guy that will most promote Christian values – or even is the most Christian candidate. The moment that has made me wince the most so far was in one of the youTube debates, when a fairly young video-questioner held up a Bible and said, “This will tell us all we need to know about you – do you believe this book is completely true” (I am paraphrasing him).
The underlying assumption is that if we can just get enough Christian people into positions of power, we can “turn America back to God.” I know that most people who pursue this vision do so with a sincere heart, and many do believe the path to social change is partly a political one. I know that not every Christian who is deeply concerned with getting Christian people into office is not a right wing wack-job. But I think we may be missing the point…
Jesus’ disciples didn’t have the burden of having to vote for their rulers – the Roman occupation of Israel took care of that. It was maybe that occupation that most vexed and confused the Jews of Jesus’ day – the promise of the Messiah came to be thought of as synonymous with the overthrow of their Roman overlords. Not an entirely unrealistic expectation, since God had delivered Israel from bondage many times before. And Jesus’ talk of the “Kingdom” could be mistaken for a discussion of his physical or political rulership. For sure, the people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem just before His crucifixion and the disciples themselves thought this would be the case – that Jesus would restore the physical kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6).
But Jesus’ use of Kingdom was entirely other (John 18:35-39Â is a great example – even Pilate misses what Jesus is saying, in the next breath calling him the King of Jews). Jesus makes no attempt to overthrow the government, saying to give to Caesar what is Ceasar’s when asked about paying tribute(though he was QUITE interested in taking to task the RELIGIOUS leaders). Jesus’ kingdom was a spiritual kingdom, coming in the heart of everyone who believed His message. As such, it transcends national and political boundaries, and exists even where it is banned on penalty of death. There is no need for a political authority to acknowledge or advance this Kingdom – in fact, it often advances best when marginalized, persecuted, or outlawed (as in Nero’s persecution of the early church or modern-day China). This is precisely because it is a kingdom of individual human hearts, not a political federation.
Of course, things are much easier in a country like America where Christians don’t face death for practicing their faith, and there is a legitimate concern that America’s increasing hostility toward Christian thought could lead to more restriction on the free exercise of our beliefs (such as banning the Scriptures that speak against homosexuality as hate speech). And there is, of course, the fact that God has gifted us all uniquely – some are gifted in the political and government arenas and should pursue using those gifts to God’s glory. So I am not opposed to Christians running for office or voting for people who promote Christian values or voting against anti-Christian practices like slavery and abortion. I take very seriously my responsibility to vote and to carefully weigh those choices and make considerable effort to educate myself to make the right ones.
But I AM concerned that we don’t get too invested in the idea of salvation through legislation – as I think the people of Jesus’ day may have been. The truth is that kindgoms and rulers and nations come and go, but Jesus’ Kingdom lives on in the hearts of His people. And the greatest hope we have for change is a viral campaign of sharing the love of god through Jesus with everyone we come in contact with. Changed people perpetuate a changed society, and even if their change of heart never changes the political landscape, that will be okay, because our goal isn’t to bring Heaven on earth (despite what some well-meaning but confused Christians may believe) and this isn’t our Kingdom.
I get a little concerned when I hear Christians who are afraid of what might happen in our next election. Electing the right guy and enacting the right legislation will never change anyone’s core heart issues. But the message of the Kingdom can. The Kingdom does not come on our hearts when we are forced to recite prayers in school, but when we surrender and let Jesus take the wheel (a link for my friend J). And when we compel others with our words and our lives to do the same.
I believe God is sovereign – the rulers and authorities serve at his discretion (this doesn’t mean He agrees with everything they do). I believe Jesus meant it when He said to not fear those who kill the body, but fear Him who can destroy body and soul in Hell. And I believe that my most important task is to talk to people about His Kingdom – a kingdom of ransomed hearts who belong to Him, whatever their politics. and I believe that is the real point. Jesus isn’t a republican. Or a Democrat. Or even an Independent. He is apolitical – He exists so far outside political systems they have no hold on His Kingdom. So even if you find yourself called into the political arena, I hope you see the message of Jesus transforming individual hearts as the world’s greatest hope for change – not the political process itself. And don’t forget – it’s even possible for God to use people who don’t know Him in positions of power to accomplish His will (there are about 9 billion examples of this in the Bible) , even leaders who claim Christianity can betray Christian principles (there are about 9 billion examples of this in our history), and God can use who or whatever He wants to get His agenda through (not limited to but including a talking donkey). So our prayer doesn’t have to be “God help us get the right guy elected” as much as “God, use whom You choose to accomplish Your will.”
I hope in the year of political craziness to come, our hearts will long for His Kingdom to come in the hearts and lives of everyone we know. If we spent all our time on that, I think it would ultimately have more eternal value than being obsessed with trying to convert the nation to our political point of view.
Unless of course we could find a politician who doesn’t lie. Then we might have something…
Think differently? Post it! It’ll make me think you’re listening.
