What Doing Politics Biblically Looks Like
Politics are interesting for Christians. When the Bible was written, there was no voting for your representative. Whoever was the Roman Emperor was the ultimate leader.
In America, we vote for our leaders and are encouraged to participate in political movements. Paul and the other biblical writers never had this luxury. But that doesn't mean the Bible can't shape our lives, particularly when it comes to politics.
Let me lay out some Bible passages that help us understand how we--as Christians--are commanded to live, with application to politics. The first few you may have heard before. The last few are a bit deeper...
pray for your leaders
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."
-- 1 Timothy 2:1-2
It's just that simple: pray for your leaders. Lift them up in prayer, even if you don't agree with them or didn't vote for them. It doesn't matter who is in charge...they're going to need it.
be submissive to those in power
"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good."
-- 1 Peter 2:13-14
"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work"
-- Titus 3:1
To submit to someone in power is to recognize their authority to make decisions, even if you don't agree with them. Teenagers sometimes struggle to submit to their parents. In the same way, some citizens struggle with submitting to authorities. Do you remember the Not My President movement that started shortly after President Trump's election? Like it or not, this is not a biblical response, even if you dislike Trump or his policies.
That said, we are called to obey God first and foremost. We should not submit to authorities if it means disobeying God. He is our ultimate allegiance. Always. If our leaders are ordering us to do something that is wrong, we should be civilly disobedient. But if not, we are to recognize their authority over us and submit.
Because in the end, it's not about who has earthly authority. It's about displaying the Gospel.
be graceful to all
"[remind believers] to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people."
-- Titus 3:2
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
-- Colossians 4:6
Being graceful is extremely hard in today's cultural climate. But at the end of the day, this is what makes us stand out. How do you personally do in this area? Do you speak evil about leaders, or those in power, or political figures you don't agree with? Do you quarrel? Are you gentle, even when politics get you riled up? Do you show courtesy toward all people, even if they're an easy target? Are you just generally gracious to talk to?
Being gracious is super hard. Everyone's got an opinion on Obama and Trump (and as of this week, Kavanaugh and Ford). But being gracious is what we're called to. It makes people see that we are different than the world when we exude grace in our interactions.
keep your impulses in check
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."
-- James 1:19
Has something in politics ever come up in conversation and it triggers something inside you that makes you angry? James says to resist the anger. Instead of spewing rage in response, we are to have self-control and listen. To every issue, there is another side. If we lead with rage, we just drive a wedge between us and those who may disagree, hampering our witness for the Gospel.
This week, a brother I contract with at work started venting about the Kavanaugh confirmation. He got so worked up and angry, he started shaking. He later apologized for how he handled himself, and he hasn't brought it up since. But it was a good reminder to me why we're called to self-control.
Don't be the person people avoid because you have a short fuse; be known as the one who listens and lives Christ out in grace.
demanding your personal freedom can destroy your testimony
"All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."
-- 1 Corinthians 10:23
The Apostle Paul points out many times in his letters that there is a whole category for "not sinful, but hurts our witness". In his day, a hot Christian topic was eating meat sacrificed to idols. Some Christians thought they were free to eat this sacrificed meat, and others thought it was a sin. Paul takes an interesting stance: eating meat sacrificed to idols is not sinful, but those who don't have a problem with eating it should not flaunt their freedom in front of those who do. Essentially Paul says: exercising your spiritual freedom publicly is not worth division in the body of Christ. He advises to publicly abstain for the sake of unity.
The lesson for us? Pick your battles. There are eternal things more important than your freedoms in this life. Be mindful of how you come across to others. Don't let politics get in the way of being a witness for the Gospel. Your words and actions have an eternal impact.
God isn't democrat or republican
"When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?' And he said, 'No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, 'What does my lord say to his servant?'”
-- Joshua 5:13-14
A few months before the 2016 election, a disturbing news article emerged. A man driving a tow truck refused to tow a disabled woman who had been in an accident. The reason? She had a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker and he said he felt the Lord told him not to tow her. (He was also partly concerned he might not get paid.)
He missed the mark that day.
Besides not understanding the point of Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan or the basic principle of the Golden Rule, he missed another big idea: God does not take the label "Republican" or "Democrat".
In Joshua 5 above, Joshua saw the Angel of the Lord and wanted to know which side of the battle he was on. What he didn't realize is that God doesn't pick human sides. Rather, it is our responsibility to align ourselves with God and his Word.
Most Christians I know are also politically conservative. In fact, the Religious Right has a reputation for calling Christians to fight for politically conservative things. The downside of this is that many people assume God and Republicans go together, and that you can't be a Democrat and a Christian at the same time.
This is outright false. And when Republicans screw up, it's viewed as a reflection of Christianity (and makes it extra difficult to debate an atheist, trust me).
To be clear, the Bible does speak directly to a small handful of political issues. But when it comes to a whole party's platform, God is neither Red or Blue. He's God. And it's on us to make sure we're on His side, not the other way around.
humans are not our enemies
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
-- Ephesians 6:12
It's tempting at times to think that some people are evil incarnate. I have heard people talk like this about Obama, Trump, socialists, communists, nationalists, and white supremacists.
The truth is, none of them are our enemies.
Like Paul says in Ephesians 6, our battle is not against people. It's against the intangible dark spiritual forces that have overcome them. "But you don't know what these people have done!" you might say. Just keep in mind that Paul says this after having more injustice done against him than we'll ever experience. He realizes the truth: that were it not for the grace of Jesus Christ, we too would be blind, lost and spiritually dead.
Humans are not our enemies. They are enslaved, and need the Gospel to be set free. The real enemy is Satan. Don't confuse "enemies" with "casualties" when you talk about politics.
don't let the world force you into its mold
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
-- Romans 12:2
We live in a world that is constantly clawing at our minds and trying to force us into its mold. It wants to tell us what we should be angry at, what to be disgruntled about, and what to be scared of. This is especially true of political parties. Republican voices rage against "Lib-tards" who are looking for government handouts. Democrat voices incite fear that conservatives will destroy America.
Don't give in.
These political forces use scare tactics and reductionistic pigeonholing to win your allegiance and make you think like them. When we allow ourselves to be influenced by talk show hosts, political commentaries, and social media personalities, our thinking becomes shaped by man and not by God.
Renew your mind with Scripture every day. Turn off CNN or Fox News, who tell you how to think about things you don't have any control over anyway. Recognize who is trying to make you think and feel a certain way to further their agenda, and counter it with the truth of God's Word.
At the end of your life, God's not going to ask you if you were a good Republican or Democrat. If you're a Christian, you will be judged by what you do for His Kingdom. Don't let the world keep you from getting eternal rewards. Don't be enslaved by the world. Be transformed by God's Word and the Spirit.
glorify God with your conduct
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
-- 1 Corinthians 10:31
"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him...and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
-- 2 Corinthians 5:9, 15
Everything we do, we should strive to bring God glory. This includes politics.
The point of our life is to point others to Christ. Paul tried to be all things to all people, so that by all means he could help save some (1 Cor 9:19-23). If you are conservative, do you point liberals to Christ? If you are a Democrat, can you carry out the Great Commission among Republicans?
If the way you talk about politics, or anything else for that matter, turns people off to Jesus, then you need to change something. You don't make an eternal impact by venting about political frustrations or fiercely debating your party's views.
If you want to hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant" when you get to heaven, then be a good steward of what God has given you. Look at every area of your life and ask, "does what I'm doing glorify God?"
here's the bottom line
We're entering midterm election season. Things are heating up. The world wants to make you to react the way it wants. Take back control. Don't be enslaved to any system of thought outside of Jesus' Kingdom. Do what makes an eternal impact.
Your vote matters, but your conduct matters more.
In America, we vote for our leaders and are encouraged to participate in political movements. Paul and the other biblical writers never had this luxury. But that doesn't mean the Bible can't shape our lives, particularly when it comes to politics.
Let me lay out some Bible passages that help us understand how we--as Christians--are commanded to live, with application to politics. The first few you may have heard before. The last few are a bit deeper...
pray for your leaders
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."
-- 1 Timothy 2:1-2
It's just that simple: pray for your leaders. Lift them up in prayer, even if you don't agree with them or didn't vote for them. It doesn't matter who is in charge...they're going to need it.
be submissive to those in power
"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good."
-- 1 Peter 2:13-14
"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work"
-- Titus 3:1
To submit to someone in power is to recognize their authority to make decisions, even if you don't agree with them. Teenagers sometimes struggle to submit to their parents. In the same way, some citizens struggle with submitting to authorities. Do you remember the Not My President movement that started shortly after President Trump's election? Like it or not, this is not a biblical response, even if you dislike Trump or his policies.
That said, we are called to obey God first and foremost. We should not submit to authorities if it means disobeying God. He is our ultimate allegiance. Always. If our leaders are ordering us to do something that is wrong, we should be civilly disobedient. But if not, we are to recognize their authority over us and submit.
Because in the end, it's not about who has earthly authority. It's about displaying the Gospel.
be graceful to all
"[remind believers] to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people."
-- Titus 3:2
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
-- Colossians 4:6
Being graceful is extremely hard in today's cultural climate. But at the end of the day, this is what makes us stand out. How do you personally do in this area? Do you speak evil about leaders, or those in power, or political figures you don't agree with? Do you quarrel? Are you gentle, even when politics get you riled up? Do you show courtesy toward all people, even if they're an easy target? Are you just generally gracious to talk to?
Being gracious is super hard. Everyone's got an opinion on Obama and Trump (and as of this week, Kavanaugh and Ford). But being gracious is what we're called to. It makes people see that we are different than the world when we exude grace in our interactions.
keep your impulses in check
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."
-- James 1:19
Has something in politics ever come up in conversation and it triggers something inside you that makes you angry? James says to resist the anger. Instead of spewing rage in response, we are to have self-control and listen. To every issue, there is another side. If we lead with rage, we just drive a wedge between us and those who may disagree, hampering our witness for the Gospel.
This week, a brother I contract with at work started venting about the Kavanaugh confirmation. He got so worked up and angry, he started shaking. He later apologized for how he handled himself, and he hasn't brought it up since. But it was a good reminder to me why we're called to self-control.
Don't be the person people avoid because you have a short fuse; be known as the one who listens and lives Christ out in grace.
demanding your personal freedom can destroy your testimony
"All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."
-- 1 Corinthians 10:23
The Apostle Paul points out many times in his letters that there is a whole category for "not sinful, but hurts our witness". In his day, a hot Christian topic was eating meat sacrificed to idols. Some Christians thought they were free to eat this sacrificed meat, and others thought it was a sin. Paul takes an interesting stance: eating meat sacrificed to idols is not sinful, but those who don't have a problem with eating it should not flaunt their freedom in front of those who do. Essentially Paul says: exercising your spiritual freedom publicly is not worth division in the body of Christ. He advises to publicly abstain for the sake of unity.
The lesson for us? Pick your battles. There are eternal things more important than your freedoms in this life. Be mindful of how you come across to others. Don't let politics get in the way of being a witness for the Gospel. Your words and actions have an eternal impact.
God isn't democrat or republican
"When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?' And he said, 'No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, 'What does my lord say to his servant?'”
-- Joshua 5:13-14
A few months before the 2016 election, a disturbing news article emerged. A man driving a tow truck refused to tow a disabled woman who had been in an accident. The reason? She had a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker and he said he felt the Lord told him not to tow her. (He was also partly concerned he might not get paid.)
He missed the mark that day.
Besides not understanding the point of Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan or the basic principle of the Golden Rule, he missed another big idea: God does not take the label "Republican" or "Democrat".
In Joshua 5 above, Joshua saw the Angel of the Lord and wanted to know which side of the battle he was on. What he didn't realize is that God doesn't pick human sides. Rather, it is our responsibility to align ourselves with God and his Word.
Most Christians I know are also politically conservative. In fact, the Religious Right has a reputation for calling Christians to fight for politically conservative things. The downside of this is that many people assume God and Republicans go together, and that you can't be a Democrat and a Christian at the same time.
This is outright false. And when Republicans screw up, it's viewed as a reflection of Christianity (and makes it extra difficult to debate an atheist, trust me).
To be clear, the Bible does speak directly to a small handful of political issues. But when it comes to a whole party's platform, God is neither Red or Blue. He's God. And it's on us to make sure we're on His side, not the other way around.
humans are not our enemies
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
-- Ephesians 6:12
It's tempting at times to think that some people are evil incarnate. I have heard people talk like this about Obama, Trump, socialists, communists, nationalists, and white supremacists.
The truth is, none of them are our enemies.
Like Paul says in Ephesians 6, our battle is not against people. It's against the intangible dark spiritual forces that have overcome them. "But you don't know what these people have done!" you might say. Just keep in mind that Paul says this after having more injustice done against him than we'll ever experience. He realizes the truth: that were it not for the grace of Jesus Christ, we too would be blind, lost and spiritually dead.
Humans are not our enemies. They are enslaved, and need the Gospel to be set free. The real enemy is Satan. Don't confuse "enemies" with "casualties" when you talk about politics.
don't let the world force you into its mold
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
-- Romans 12:2
We live in a world that is constantly clawing at our minds and trying to force us into its mold. It wants to tell us what we should be angry at, what to be disgruntled about, and what to be scared of. This is especially true of political parties. Republican voices rage against "Lib-tards" who are looking for government handouts. Democrat voices incite fear that conservatives will destroy America.
Don't give in.
These political forces use scare tactics and reductionistic pigeonholing to win your allegiance and make you think like them. When we allow ourselves to be influenced by talk show hosts, political commentaries, and social media personalities, our thinking becomes shaped by man and not by God.
Renew your mind with Scripture every day. Turn off CNN or Fox News, who tell you how to think about things you don't have any control over anyway. Recognize who is trying to make you think and feel a certain way to further their agenda, and counter it with the truth of God's Word.
At the end of your life, God's not going to ask you if you were a good Republican or Democrat. If you're a Christian, you will be judged by what you do for His Kingdom. Don't let the world keep you from getting eternal rewards. Don't be enslaved by the world. Be transformed by God's Word and the Spirit.
glorify God with your conduct
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
-- 1 Corinthians 10:31
"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him...and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
-- 2 Corinthians 5:9, 15
Everything we do, we should strive to bring God glory. This includes politics.
The point of our life is to point others to Christ. Paul tried to be all things to all people, so that by all means he could help save some (1 Cor 9:19-23). If you are conservative, do you point liberals to Christ? If you are a Democrat, can you carry out the Great Commission among Republicans?
If the way you talk about politics, or anything else for that matter, turns people off to Jesus, then you need to change something. You don't make an eternal impact by venting about political frustrations or fiercely debating your party's views.
If you want to hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant" when you get to heaven, then be a good steward of what God has given you. Look at every area of your life and ask, "does what I'm doing glorify God?"
here's the bottom line
We're entering midterm election season. Things are heating up. The world wants to make you to react the way it wants. Take back control. Don't be enslaved to any system of thought outside of Jesus' Kingdom. Do what makes an eternal impact.
Your vote matters, but your conduct matters more.
Whoa nelly! This post is very helpful! Thanks for your thoughts David. Joy and I have started talking about politics more as the midterm election nears. I can't wait to read your post more thoroughly and share with her. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteRemy
Good stuff. Thanks.
ReplyDelete