5 posts tagged “christianity”
In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..." is the often repeated introduction to a number of parables. Wheat and weeds, mustard seeds, hidden treasures, pearls, and nets. All qualify as metaphors for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Wheats and weeds. In this parable, Jesus uses a common agricultural problem to demonstrate the nature of his kingdom - the infestation of weeds in the garden that seem to spoil that which God has provided. God blesses us with something good - our relationships, our health, our community, our church - and we find out that it has somehow gone terribly wrong. Should we just cut our losses and move on or continue to do the hard work of living in the midst of, well, weeds?
This parable has particular application with much that goes on in Christian and conservative politics. Here we are establishing a perfectly good political agenda and empire when danged if those milk toast moderate squishes don't screw the whole thing up. How are we every going to see the completion of the Republican revolution with RINOs like Ahnold, and McCain getting all the press?
In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches to live in the midst of the weeds and moderates. Why? Because the field is the Lords, not ours. He knows who is in control and that, at the harvest, justice will be done and the Righteous Judge will separate the good and the bad.
Kingdom politics seems to indicate that we would do well to accept that fact that we are to live and operate in the midst of the weeds and moderates. Let us then pray for those with whom we rub elbows so that, in the final day, they would join with us in the harvest.
pol·i·tics 
[pol-i-tiks] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun (used with a singular or plural verb)
| 1. | the science or art of political government. |
| 2. | the practice or profession of conducting political affairs. |
| 3. | political affairs: The advocated reforms have become embroiled in politics. |
| 4. | political methods or maneuvers: We could not approve of his politics in winning passage of the bill. |
| 5. | political principles or opinions: We avoided discussion of religion and politics. His politics are his own affair. |
| 6. | use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, etc. |
| 7. | (initial capital letter, italics) a
treatise (4th century b.c.) by Aristotle, dealing with the structure,
organization, and administration of the state, esp. the city-state as
known in ancient Greece. |
This is the definition of the word politics from Dictionary.com. I wanted to re-check the definition of politics to be sure that nothing in it's definition is contrary to an orthodox understanding of faith. You see, some people in their understanding of faith, politics, or both believe they are oxymoronic or diametrically opposed to one another. They see Jesus and the influence and work of government as incompatible. I don't see it.
To me, politics is amoral like accounting, music, sports, engineering, or any number of professions. And, like any number of professions, it can be used to glory God - or not. I have known wonderful Christian politicians and those who work in politics who are completely consistent in the walk with Jesus.
So what is the deal with politics and its compatibility with faith? If you say: "Look at how we currently do politics. How can you find any Christian virtue in it?" Then I say: "Stop considering unbelievers as unbelievers and start considering them pre-Christians."
Is there no possible world where we as Christians can do better in our witness for Christ in the area of politics and policy? This is not to say that I desire an American theocracy. Just that Christians come to portray a version of political discourse and involvement that brings honor to Jesus.
Someone explain to me why I can't be engaged in the political and a Christian?
1 Timothy 2:1-4 reads as follows: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
This is what 1 Timothy 2:1-4 means to me:
We are encouraged to pray for everyone, especially our elected leaders.
When we pray for our elected leaders it affects our community in wonderful ways.
Praying for our elected leaderst is a form of worship to God.
God desires the salvation of all men and the above works toward that end.
Therefore, praying for our elected leaders builds community, worships God and promotes evangelism.
I believe that the democratic process is truly an enlightened form of government. It is a process that was unknown in the time of Paul and Augustine - not to say that their wisdom does not apply - but that we can look at some of their admonitions about mixing the godly and temporal through that lens.
I also believe that democracy is impacted by the eternal in the same way that kings and rulers of the Bible were impacted. Therefore, our democratic form of governing is subject to the redemption of Christ. It is not inherently evil or sinful.
Some Christians believe that engaging in the political process is somehow not compatible with Christianity. They believe that some line exists that Christian must not cross - that it makes us who are spiritual sullied in the things of this world.
Where is this line that followers of Jesus must abide? Why can't a Christian run candidates, engage in political discourse and even lobby fully in the Spirit and without sin? What is it about the political process that puts limits on a spirit filled Christian?
I was having a conversation with a friend and asked them if their church had a citizenship or salt and light ministry. "Oh, no," they said, "Our pastor makes sure to keep politics our of everything. He believes it is devisive."
I replied, "I wonder what he thinks of me: a spririt filled Christian making politics his vocation and ministry? Maybe I don't really exist."
Now I can understand how some would criticize the models of political involvment that currently exist for Christians. I can also understand that its hard to deal with things that, done poorly, can be divisive. But I reject the notion that politics- particularly in our democratic system - is somehow inherently unredeemable and therefore, it is unfit for the Christian community or part of our corporate life.
With respect to redeeming politics, it specifically takes those who carry the Gospel within them to redeem this system that is often far from the ideal. It takes those who are committed to Christ to build relationships with those with their hands on the wheels of politics to introduce them to the one who created freedom and equality. It takes us, in all our broken-ness and forgiven sin to wade into the gray and let the Spirit shine its light. For only then will we really see and operate politically in all the fulness of what the democratic system was designed to be.
Democrats are seeking to promote Christianity whithin their party. Today, David Whilhelm and other Christian Democrats launched FaithfulDemocrats.com (keep trying - its getting a lot of hits). As the Washington Post reports, FaithfulDemocrats.com seeks to "give religious Democrats
'the moral support and some language they can use.'"
It is intersting that Whilhelm and others feel the need to promote Chrisitianity in the Democratic party. This is a party that has been demonstribly hostile to Christianity and a party whose Christian members mostly belong to denominations that are significantly shrinking.
Faithful Democrats are good at some cleaver phrasing: "Jesus rode a donkey - not an elephant." "God is not spelled GOP." And "Jesus was an illegal immigrant." Never mind the bad theology - these are funny.
Faithful Democrats face the same challenge as Christian organizations on the right. Do they seek to pull the party into a Christian ethos? Are they just acting like a "me too" for those on the Right? Or is this an attempt to dress up the party and appeal to the religous that are disaffected with the Republican party?
The challenge for Christians on both the Right and Left is the call of Christ to redeem our world - including the political and governmental. What this means for Christians is to engage the political parties from the perspective of ministry and mission. How can Christians serve the parties with which they affiliate and how can they work to effectively promote the Gospel within the party and its activities?
Nonetheless, it is refreshing to see Christians in any party seeking to distinguish their voice and make it relevent in their party. The ultimate question is: Relevant to whom?
