Chaotic Politics and a Whole Lot of Jesus

If you haven’t noticed, our political landscape is kind of nuts.

For some, the ongoing chaos, confusion, and child-like behavior on all sides of the aisle can leave us cynical, apathetic, and hopeless. Yet, others are motivated to become more proactive and vocal - as if there is a war to be fought and prizes to be won on every issue, both moral and amoral.

So, where does that leave us?

Here are five starting points to faith and politics. Note that these are high-level starting points for consideration - not a "how to". Spoiler Alert: they will all point us back to Jesus, the ultimate hope.

Starting Point #1: Politics will not save us. Jesus already has.
No amount of moral legislation saves people. At best, it can curb behavior, convict wrong doing, and encourage obedience through power and control. Romans 3:20 says that through the law, we become conscious of our sin. Simply put, the law can not save people.

That's worth saying again: no amount of legislation - as good, wholesome, or morally correct as it might be can save people.

But, Jesus can. And, he has. When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son [Jesus], born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship [citizenship]. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Starting Point #2: Jesus welcomes little children. He doesn't scare them off.
Romans 2:11 declares that God shows no favoritism. The Bible does not suggest that God has a political party or a specific political candidate. Meaning... God is not a Republican. God is not a Democrat. God is not a Libertarian. God is not even an Independent. And, any party, ideology, or person that claims Jesus as "solely their guy"  is (as pastor/author Andy Stanley puts it), "scaring the children".

Jesus is everybody's guy. . . especially those who don't think He's their guy. God will always be for all people. And we teach that to children from an early age, don't we? So, when they hear that Jesus is one party's or one candidate's guy (albeit, I trust that it's unintentional), they're left confused (at best) and angry (at worst).

Starting Point #3: Jesus frees us to be intimately involved in all areas of life - including politics.
We don't need to be 100% right. We don't even need to be 50% right. We have a Savior who was 100% right for us so that we can live in religious and political freedom that is guided by our faith-based conscience.

The gospel frees us from needing to win every argument. It frees us to be involved in areas of life such as politics with conviction knowing that when we do get it wrong, we can admit it and find unity in something greater and deeper than our human agreement. The gospel is the solution to our anger over the chaos, brokenness, and confusion within our politics. In the words of Paul: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15).

Starting Point #4: Christ-followers engage the political landscape with a different message.
Often times what makes politics so volatile today is a "2-D" liberal/conservative messaging. Jesus is neither liberal or conservative. But, what if gospel-centered Christians live in a different dimension? In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul says that he is free and belongs to no one. He has become all things to all people for the sake of the gospel so that He might share God's blessings.

That's a very different message than the liberal/conservative agendas. That means you - Christian liberals (yes, there are many!) and Christian conservatives (there are many of you, too!) have a bigger message than your platform. It's a better message than universal health care, lower taxes, better trade agreements, or anything to do with immigration and human rights. The message is that human dignity matters just as much human life. Protecting wealth is just as important as feeding the poor and providing services to underserved. People of privilege do have an upper hand which brings a higher responsibility. Indeed, Luke 12:48 says, Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.​

Starting Point #5: Christians offer a distinctively different hope.
Even Jesus' disciples expected Jesus to save them from Roman occupation. While they were expecting President-Elect Jesus to restore Jerusalem with authority, power, and rule - to make everything right again; Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). You can imagine the excitement of hope being sucked out of the room when he said that.

Here's the point. Jesus brings a different hope - and we carry His hope into our politics. An earthly politician is limited in the hope they can bring. They will not ever legislate morality to the level of Biblical standards. They will never bring hope in the way that Jesus, alone brings.

Jesus has already brought peace in his own kingdom way - not through edicts or decrees, but through His death on the cross. Jesus has already legislated morality to God's standards through his sacrifice for the sin of the world. And if we need proof, we have an empty grave that brings peace, eternal life, and a perfection that only God can give.

Final Thought... for now: Take a deep breath. God has this. He has had every government, every leader, every election, every piece of legislation, every thing in all creation in the palm of his hand since the beginning of time. There have been times of conviction and discipline as well as times of peace and prosperity. But, in all times - in moments when it feels like death and in the moments when life feels almost perfect - we can be confident that neither death nor life, angels nor demons, the present or the future, nor height or depth, or anything in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. For we are more than conquerers through Christ who saved us (Romans 8:31-39).

So, go... you're free to be active in politics - wherever your Holy Spirit-filled conscience may lead you. Remember that Jesus is the hope of the world - not you... or any political ideology or human being. And, because Jesus is crowned Lord of All, He's already got this.

​He's got you, too.

See you Sunday as we share $133,000 of God’s Generosity with 24 mission partners (9:30 and 11:00 services, only). Come and learn how you can be a part of what God is doing around our region and world. There is much to celebrate! Love you more than you know. -pt