Dear GCI Family and Friends,
Was Jesus political in his message and actions? It’s an interesting question for the interesting times in which we live.
When challenged about paying tribute (taxes) to Rome, Jesus wisely stated, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21 NLT). I like that he included tithes and offerings for the work of God. But the kingdom he was declaring was more than rules and behavior.
It is informative that Jesus prioritized the announcement of a new, spiritual kingdom rather than to offer in-depth commentary about Ceasar and the Roman government, or the local client kings (Herod the Great and his dynasty). In contrast, Jesus frequently criticized corruption among the Jewish religious leaders. He cited hypocrisy, pride, and legalism as visible shortcomings (unacceptable behavior for leaders who represent the Triune God). The Old and New Testaments confirm that religious leaders are held to a higher standard. Jesus called this out.
Christ’s proclamation about the kingdom of God and its spiritual nature challenged the power of governmental structures and confronted the moral dilemmas of the religious order. The kingdom of God is about people not power. Jesus’s desire is to draw all people to himself and reconcile them to God. This is the heart of the kingdom message and salvific work of Jesus through the incarnation, the atoning death on the cross, the glorious resurrection on Easter and the ascension to the Father, where he awaits his return in glory.
Good to know. I’d also like to see addressed the time members might spend promoting their candidate. If promoting a candidate takes up a large amount of personal time each week, and specifically more time than promoting their Christian faith, they may want to reconsider who their allegiance is to. (I’m not talking about small amounts of time spent privately between members, but it can get to be too much if that time is at, before, or after church activities and/or church sponsored events.)
Great Points!
Thank You…
Thank you for the clear message of Jesus & Politics. My only question is should churches give guidance on not who to vote for, but whether voting choices should be in alignment with Christ heart & principles? In other words, shouldn’t all the issues of life, including voting be examined under the lens of the Word- Jesus? When we vote we are rendering to “Caesar” what is Caesar’s in this world, and that is the authority to act on, suppress and create laws. Case in point, there were church members, law abiding German citizens who fully embraced the Holocaust. Another example, the church in England & what became Christian Churches in America and it’s members embraced the transatlantic slave trade to build America, enacted horrific laws & treatment to maintain slavery. Even when freedom came to Black slaves, Jim Crow laws that suppress their humanity were embraced by Christians. Bottom line should the Church have a position to give guidance & direction to it’s members regarding voting in light of being followers of Christ?
Thank you for your time to listen.
Pray to God for guidance and go Vote
Thanks for touching on this timely subject. Would not the belief be that an individual Christian would know to support someone with moral integrity and common sense, if for anyone? Any other persuasion could come from the Holy Spirit as God knows things we could never know in this age. Prayer is this arena would not be out of bounds. We are encouraged to pray for those in authority as they can impact our ability to live godly lives, built on love and prayers that the word of the Lord may find free course. We all have to guard against our own righteousness here, as well as elsewhere in the spectrum.
Amen!!
I think it is important that we engage without being ingrained. If we truly love Jesus, we will seek HIM for what and how much we are to do and do it – in all matters of life. We are not given a religion. We are given a dynamic relationship. Daniel, Lot, Joseph many of the prophets were all called to represent the Kingdom of God, and did so through the kingdoms of men. Even though, Jesus refocuses us on the invisible government of the Holy Spirit, He did have his commentary on the immoral practices of and abuses by civic leaders. In fact, was this not John the Baptist`s capital crime, calling out Herod and his wife`s violation of the Law of God?
Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust and seek Yahweh`s direction in all things and to not lean on stitched together human convictions. I think this includes political choices and involvement.