On Politics

     Sitting in Church today, I was extremely distracted by all the children. I had recently wrote a paper on reflecting theologically on worship services, so I sat and thought, "What is the church trying to say, by inviting children to join in the service at different times?" I realized that the local Church I attend places a very high value on children, knowing that they are the future Christian leaders in our world.

     My "ears perked up" as I recalled a distinction I had made on my last paper, regarding how different faiths spread, and that one major was is through procreation. However, Christianity also spreads "through prayer (Matt 6:5-13), teaching (Matt 28:18-20), preaching (Rom 10:14), service (1 Peter 4:11) and demonstration of love (John 13:35)."

     Today's sermon happened to be on politics, and the Christian's role. 

     1) Are we to be political or apolitical? 

     2) If we are to be political, how? 

     We examined Luke 23. In verse 3, Pilate asks Jesus if He is king of the Jews. It is important to notice, that if Jesus said no, he would be a liar, but if he said yes, he would be labelled as a threat to the empire. Jesus answers "you have said so," being "deliberately ambiguous" (to use my pastor's words). Commentators have advised that Jesus was claiming He was king, but not of an earthly kingdom.

     Later on we read that Barabbas, a convicted murderer, had been released. It is often overlooked, that because of Jesus, Barabbas was given his life back. Though Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), He also met many physical needs during his ministry on earth. We see examples of Jesus healing and feeding throughout the gospels. 

     Was Jesus himself political? 

     Jesus dealt with two types of "political" (if you will) groups. The Essenes and the Zealots. The Zealots were ready to take up arms and fight for their cause, whereas the Essenes tended to run for the hills. They had their "fire insurance," so why both engaging culture?

     Jesus taught a middle ground between both of these groups. We are to work for the well-being of others, but not at the expense of unnecessary division. We are not to be apolitical, Jesus was in fact a political figure. However, we are also not called to "outsource" our call to the government. We should be involved more so than just voting. After all, if Christianity is indeed spread by a demonstration of love and service, what better way to do that than by meeting physical needs, just as our Savior did? But we must not stop there. One relationships are formed, we must also exercise much prayer and teaching that our efforts might be productive in the cause of the Kingdom that is not of this world.

{Update}

The article I mention in my comment below.