I’m not a political person. It’s true. In fact, I’d say that in recent years I’ve become more and more disenfranchised by the idea of politics in general. Growing up in central Florida we were part of a group that was political. It was almost as engaging as sunday morning worship. I don’t ever remember hanging signs or putting out yards placards but I do remember the 1992 presidential elections vividly. I remember our class trying to decide who we would vote for, Bush (#1), Clinton or Perot? I remember watching my classmates get into heated arguments over the 3 candidates and I remember thinking that this was crazy.
Maybe my dislike of the frenzy that is politics is just my fear and angst of confrontation, but I’m not totally sure. When I arrived at College, a very conservative one by the way, I met a man who would encourage me to look broader. I remember taking a class with him and mentioning some issue that I thought was pretty black and white and saying that if you couldn’t get this idea then something must have been wrong with you. He had the other view! He was a man I respected, I liked, I enjoyed learning from and he had a different perspective! Oh, and he still loved JESUS as much, if not more than I did! This issue wasn’t even a big deal in the long term but that interaction taught me something – there’s always another view and there’s always something more and it’s always a good idea to listen to the challenge.
My friend started me on a journey that I gladly embrace today. He challenged me to think of the political system (whether it be in our government, jobs, families or even the church) as secondary to our ultimate allegiance. He showed me that Jesus didn’t come for my sins, but that he came for ME and he came to establish HIS Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. And His kingdom has principles that are about LOVE and GRACE and REDEMPTION and WHOLENESS and FORGIVENESS and HOLINESS. Those are a very different set of articles.
This kingdom is primary and that means to me that any real change that the society around me is going to experience cannot begin in Washington or any state capital. Change must begin with me and it must extend from a heart that is being changed into the goodness of Jesus.
I’m not saying we should avoid being involved or engaged in the political system that we
live in and are around. What I am saying is that as followers of Jesus we have to avoid the
dissension and political mayhem that we can very easily get swept up in. We need to avoid conversation that does not lead to wholeness or that is “garbage talk” (to quote the New Testament authors who vividly understood political climate changes).
Whether the party you support one or lost yesterday, I want to invite all of us into a “something more” kind of conversation. Let’s not gloat over victory, let’s not go negative over defeat – instead, let’s be the kingdom on earth as it is heaven. Let’s show a divided world what unity is really all about. Let’s show a dying world what the body of Christ truly is! Followers of Jesus, I implore you to look to the Kingdom and no empire. Followers of Jesus, engage in the broken world and extend the gift of mercy and grace – don’t sling mud. Let us witness to those who deny Jesus not through political debate but through the Life of Jesus being lived out in each and every one.
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It certainly all works out in the end if we each open our lives to Christ and let him work through us.
Thanks Lolly.
We are easily distracted from our first allegiance, I think. I'm glad you are not advocating that we be totally apolitical, but I appreciate your encouragement to avoid garbage talk. đŸ™‚
I like that you're not asking people to be completely apolitical, and I appreciate your injunction to avoid garbage talk. We all get pretty easily distracted, I think.
amen!