I'm 'across the pond' in the UK so don't pretend to have any grasp on what I sense as the depth of the 'politicisation' of faith in the US (please correct me if I'm wrong). There are some parallels to the UK though, but more broadly in the sense of the growing cultural polarisation between the political 'left' and 'right', the loss of 'centrist' politics and the truth (for surely truth it is) that politics should serve the people. But from from a Christian perspective, isn't political allegiance irrelevant, even missing the point of the gospel. Was Jesus political? I don't believe so. He was certainly perceived as threatening the political and theocratic order, so much that it got Him killed.
If we truly identify as 'Christian' then are we not called to be above politics? As with you folk in the USA, we in the UK will have a General Election towards the end of 2024 (interestingly, 50% of the world's population will be called to vote in numerous nation elections this year) and yes, I will vote.
but not out of any allegiance to any political part...rather , I will vote for my local candidate who most, in my view, mirrors the Spirit of Christ.
I can't help but wonder how many of those who seek to follow The Way of Christ, who hunger and thirst for Christ to be formed in us in order to better serve the King and the Kingdom, to sow seeds of shalom in the little bit of the world we find ourselves, have forgotten, or even not realised to any great degree, that we are 'aliens and strangers' here, that 'here we have no continuing city,' we are primarily 'citizens of heaven', not the USA or thr UK or wherever we find ourselves.
We are in exile here on this earth; yes, we have a sacred mandate to 'seek the peace and prosperity of this city into which we have been brought into exile'; but I do not believe we have any mandate to pick purely political sides. There are no sides in my view...only Gods's will. May it be done...
Alternate viewpoint: Politics bifurcate the people, but it isn’t supposed to be so amongst Gods people (1 Cor 1:10), especially when Jesus taught them to pray for Gods kingdom to eliminate these intractable problems that humans cannot solve (Lords Prayer). Because after all, humans thinking they can govern themselves independent of God is Eve snatching the apple over and over again. Political neutrality and full commitment to siding with Gods kingdom would do better to guarantee peace amongst believers.
As a Jew who believes that Jesus is the Messiah, I've had give up much for my belief. I had to study scriptures deeply, and have done so for 52 years--I started when I was 16. I needed to know that I right in giving up rabbinical judaism for Yeshua. I spent many years influenced by very conservative christians.
But I found so many inconsistencies between what Jesus taught, and what they practiced. I saw how they would find loopholes to commands of Jesus by making them far more complicated than the simplest interpretation. For example, "Do not judge." would always be responded, "but I judge with a righteous judgment". Ignoring the context which says to not judge by appearances.
The final straw for me was when I flew across the country to meet my spiritual mentor who showed me his garage. It was a literal arsenal. Cases and cases of assault weapons and ammo filled it like a warehouse.
That and never being accepted as a Jew who believed in Jesus. Every church I ever attended tried to make me gentile. They didn't accept the Jewish part of me. They never accepted me as one of their own. I was always an 'other'.
So I studied on my own, and have come to understand that what Jesus wants from us is for us to treat others with kindness and love. If I brought up the commandment "love your neighbor as you love yourself," somehow they always took offense--that it wasn't the whole gospel or the real gospel.
They were all about doctrine and dogma. But not about loving your neighbor, unless it was the person sitting next to them in the pew. They were also very politically active, and believed that if you weren't on their side politically, you were somehow in sin.
I believe that there are true believers--people who not only believe in Jesus, but strive to do as he teaches and commands--in both parties.
When Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, the decision will not be made by political affiliation, nor by religious creed, but by how one treats others, especially the marginalized and the needy. (Matthew 25:31-46)
"For us preachers, Tim said, the longer it takes people to figure out our party affiliations and voting records, the more likely it is that we are preaching Jesus." Yes.
How would this be different if Jesus participated in a democratic republican form of government? Most of history has been and is totalitarian where things are more "cut and dried"--gray areas very limited. His message and mission would be the same but how might it have been differently delivered?
Also mindful of the tension in a discussion of “religion” and earthly “politics.” For Jesus is King of Kings—which is nothing if not the eternal pinnacle of a Political position. Yet without human partisanship.
I feel strange when politics comes up in conversation, whether it is a private one or a public sermon. I was a political animal some time ago, but I found it to be too frustrating. The leaders, whatever the stripe or colour, make promises galore during the electioneering, reneging on them when they achieve power. Let me give a prophesy (though in the flesh and not the Spirit)…The kinds of changes needed by governments. States, and jurisdictions, will not be accomplished by political means. Period. Full stop.
“ As far as we can tell, Simon remained a Zealot and Matthew remained a tax collector, even after they started following Jesus “. … is this so ? Surely the most we can say about that is that scripture is inconclusive, although perhaps we could also say following a Rabbi was seemingly logistically incompatible with being a tax collector, and also an active Zealot, although Simon could of remained philosophically one. What do you think ? It’s just that I have never come across that assumption.
Great piece though, will definitely be sharing it.
I don't think that there was always great friendship amongst the apostles, at least prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit. For the issue of who should be the greatest amongst them was constantly raised, even at the Passover, or last supper! (Luke 22:24-30) See also Matthew 20:18-28 Matt 18:1-4, Mark 9:33-41, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 9:46-56,
Jesus answered their desire for domination over others by saying:
You know that the rulers of the gentiles (non-Israelites) exercise dominion over them, and they who are great exercise authority over them. However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your slave; even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, .... (Matt 20:25-28)
In ancient Israel God's governmental structure was shown as being neither left nor right wing, but family and tribe based, with God as the Captain of the host.
In times of peace the government was very dispersed, with leaders or 10's, and 50's and 100's and 1,000's being the way decisions were made, but during times of war they united as one body of fighting men under one physical leader. (Exo 18:18-24)
The structure of a king as a physical leader of the nation, with a large standing army and lots of other bureaucratic groups, was not God's way of ruling his country. 1Sam 8:1-22
You can see this when Samuel was told by God to give the people the King that they wanted- for they had not rejected Samuel as Judge, but they had rejected God. 1Sam 8:7
Service, love and faith in God is the foundation of good government.
Hi Scott...I really enjoy your posts. Thanks!
I'm 'across the pond' in the UK so don't pretend to have any grasp on what I sense as the depth of the 'politicisation' of faith in the US (please correct me if I'm wrong). There are some parallels to the UK though, but more broadly in the sense of the growing cultural polarisation between the political 'left' and 'right', the loss of 'centrist' politics and the truth (for surely truth it is) that politics should serve the people. But from from a Christian perspective, isn't political allegiance irrelevant, even missing the point of the gospel. Was Jesus political? I don't believe so. He was certainly perceived as threatening the political and theocratic order, so much that it got Him killed.
If we truly identify as 'Christian' then are we not called to be above politics? As with you folk in the USA, we in the UK will have a General Election towards the end of 2024 (interestingly, 50% of the world's population will be called to vote in numerous nation elections this year) and yes, I will vote.
but not out of any allegiance to any political part...rather , I will vote for my local candidate who most, in my view, mirrors the Spirit of Christ.
I can't help but wonder how many of those who seek to follow The Way of Christ, who hunger and thirst for Christ to be formed in us in order to better serve the King and the Kingdom, to sow seeds of shalom in the little bit of the world we find ourselves, have forgotten, or even not realised to any great degree, that we are 'aliens and strangers' here, that 'here we have no continuing city,' we are primarily 'citizens of heaven', not the USA or thr UK or wherever we find ourselves.
We are in exile here on this earth; yes, we have a sacred mandate to 'seek the peace and prosperity of this city into which we have been brought into exile'; but I do not believe we have any mandate to pick purely political sides. There are no sides in my view...only Gods's will. May it be done...
Alternate viewpoint: Politics bifurcate the people, but it isn’t supposed to be so amongst Gods people (1 Cor 1:10), especially when Jesus taught them to pray for Gods kingdom to eliminate these intractable problems that humans cannot solve (Lords Prayer). Because after all, humans thinking they can govern themselves independent of God is Eve snatching the apple over and over again. Political neutrality and full commitment to siding with Gods kingdom would do better to guarantee peace amongst believers.
As a Jew who believes that Jesus is the Messiah, I've had give up much for my belief. I had to study scriptures deeply, and have done so for 52 years--I started when I was 16. I needed to know that I right in giving up rabbinical judaism for Yeshua. I spent many years influenced by very conservative christians.
But I found so many inconsistencies between what Jesus taught, and what they practiced. I saw how they would find loopholes to commands of Jesus by making them far more complicated than the simplest interpretation. For example, "Do not judge." would always be responded, "but I judge with a righteous judgment". Ignoring the context which says to not judge by appearances.
The final straw for me was when I flew across the country to meet my spiritual mentor who showed me his garage. It was a literal arsenal. Cases and cases of assault weapons and ammo filled it like a warehouse.
That and never being accepted as a Jew who believed in Jesus. Every church I ever attended tried to make me gentile. They didn't accept the Jewish part of me. They never accepted me as one of their own. I was always an 'other'.
So I studied on my own, and have come to understand that what Jesus wants from us is for us to treat others with kindness and love. If I brought up the commandment "love your neighbor as you love yourself," somehow they always took offense--that it wasn't the whole gospel or the real gospel.
They were all about doctrine and dogma. But not about loving your neighbor, unless it was the person sitting next to them in the pew. They were also very politically active, and believed that if you weren't on their side politically, you were somehow in sin.
I believe that there are true believers--people who not only believe in Jesus, but strive to do as he teaches and commands--in both parties.
When Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, the decision will not be made by political affiliation, nor by religious creed, but by how one treats others, especially the marginalized and the needy. (Matthew 25:31-46)
Who did Yashua Messiah and His learners vote for!
"For us preachers, Tim said, the longer it takes people to figure out our party affiliations and voting records, the more likely it is that we are preaching Jesus." Yes.
Come on somebody!!!
Those changes will never be fully realized. Politicians are people elevated by people thus imperfect.
These aryon nation guys ask me to teach a Bible class so I did. Everything was fine until I told em Moses was married to a black woman
Good read, and very appropriate for our times. I pray that more people begin to share the faith, even while not sharing the politics. 🙏
How would this be different if Jesus participated in a democratic republican form of government? Most of history has been and is totalitarian where things are more "cut and dried"--gray areas very limited. His message and mission would be the same but how might it have been differently delivered?
Great message.
Have always loved the Response given to Joshua.
“No. I Am.”
Also mindful of the tension in a discussion of “religion” and earthly “politics.” For Jesus is King of Kings—which is nothing if not the eternal pinnacle of a Political position. Yet without human partisanship.
Perfect Politics, if you will.
I feel strange when politics comes up in conversation, whether it is a private one or a public sermon. I was a political animal some time ago, but I found it to be too frustrating. The leaders, whatever the stripe or colour, make promises galore during the electioneering, reneging on them when they achieve power. Let me give a prophesy (though in the flesh and not the Spirit)…The kinds of changes needed by governments. States, and jurisdictions, will not be accomplished by political means. Period. Full stop.
“ As far as we can tell, Simon remained a Zealot and Matthew remained a tax collector, even after they started following Jesus “. … is this so ? Surely the most we can say about that is that scripture is inconclusive, although perhaps we could also say following a Rabbi was seemingly logistically incompatible with being a tax collector, and also an active Zealot, although Simon could of remained philosophically one. What do you think ? It’s just that I have never come across that assumption.
Great piece though, will definitely be sharing it.
Thanks Scott
I don't think that there was always great friendship amongst the apostles, at least prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit. For the issue of who should be the greatest amongst them was constantly raised, even at the Passover, or last supper! (Luke 22:24-30) See also Matthew 20:18-28 Matt 18:1-4, Mark 9:33-41, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 9:46-56,
Jesus answered their desire for domination over others by saying:
You know that the rulers of the gentiles (non-Israelites) exercise dominion over them, and they who are great exercise authority over them. However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your slave; even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, .... (Matt 20:25-28)
In ancient Israel God's governmental structure was shown as being neither left nor right wing, but family and tribe based, with God as the Captain of the host.
In times of peace the government was very dispersed, with leaders or 10's, and 50's and 100's and 1,000's being the way decisions were made, but during times of war they united as one body of fighting men under one physical leader. (Exo 18:18-24)
The structure of a king as a physical leader of the nation, with a large standing army and lots of other bureaucratic groups, was not God's way of ruling his country. 1Sam 8:1-22
You can see this when Samuel was told by God to give the people the King that they wanted- for they had not rejected Samuel as Judge, but they had rejected God. 1Sam 8:7
Service, love and faith in God is the foundation of good government.
Wonderful message. I sure needed to hear it!!
So good! Thankyou for this.