Politics
Eugene Peterson's little book "Reversed Thunder" has an insightful chapter about faith and politics—two things you're not supposed to talk about in polite company! And yet, for nearly a year, we've already been ramping up for the 2012 presidential election, with news of this candidate or that almost every day (and Christians lining up behind their candidate of choice). So Peterson's comments got me to thinking about the way Christians do politics.
Peterson draws a contrast between the politics of "Rome" (the secular world) and "Jerusalem" (the Christian person). It's not that the Christian should not be involved in the political arena; quite the contrary. God loves this world and we are wrong to abandon it. We really are "citizens of two kingdoms," with our first allegiance being the Kingdom of God. But we're still called to make an impact in this world, the kingdom of "Rome." The question is how we should go about it.
In the last twenty to thirty years, Christians have generally adopted the tactics and techniques of "Rome." We've gotten very good at using "scare tactics" just like the politicians do in order to convince "you" to see things "my" way. We grab for power and "assassinate" our opponents (not literally, but certainly we engage in character assassination and morality questioning). Using language from the book of Revelation, Peterson suggests, "Killing the opposition is the sea beast's way of solving its problems. It is not ours. Ours is endurance and faith" (pg. 125).
We exercise that endurance and faith, Peterson suggests, through three distinctly faith-filled actions. First, we worship. This reminds us who, ultimately, is in charge of the universe, let alone our little corner of it. We worship the one who reigns and will reign, to remind ourselves that whatever happens here is NOT the last word or the final outcome. The second activity is preaching. At its best, preaching is announcing God's reign, reminding us of the truth found in the Scriptures and leading us all to live in a way that is counter to "Rome," a way that undermines the very values "Rome" stands for. Preaching reminds us that God is in our midst, not just as a distant memory but as a present reality. And third, we live moral/holy lives, lives that reflect God's values and not our own, and certainly not the values of "Rome" which are often (usually) opposed to "Jerusalem" and the King who reigns over all. We are like "leaven in the loaf" (Matthew 13:33), changing the world not through power or force but through love. And love, Jesus suggests, is the most powerful political force of all.
Endurance and faith—can we choose to exercise those instead of power and coercion? Not only in the world of politics...but in everything we do?
Let the one who has ears to hear...listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Peterson draws a contrast between the politics of "Rome" (the secular world) and "Jerusalem" (the Christian person). It's not that the Christian should not be involved in the political arena; quite the contrary. God loves this world and we are wrong to abandon it. We really are "citizens of two kingdoms," with our first allegiance being the Kingdom of God. But we're still called to make an impact in this world, the kingdom of "Rome." The question is how we should go about it.
In the last twenty to thirty years, Christians have generally adopted the tactics and techniques of "Rome." We've gotten very good at using "scare tactics" just like the politicians do in order to convince "you" to see things "my" way. We grab for power and "assassinate" our opponents (not literally, but certainly we engage in character assassination and morality questioning). Using language from the book of Revelation, Peterson suggests, "Killing the opposition is the sea beast's way of solving its problems. It is not ours. Ours is endurance and faith" (pg. 125).
We exercise that endurance and faith, Peterson suggests, through three distinctly faith-filled actions. First, we worship. This reminds us who, ultimately, is in charge of the universe, let alone our little corner of it. We worship the one who reigns and will reign, to remind ourselves that whatever happens here is NOT the last word or the final outcome. The second activity is preaching. At its best, preaching is announcing God's reign, reminding us of the truth found in the Scriptures and leading us all to live in a way that is counter to "Rome," a way that undermines the very values "Rome" stands for. Preaching reminds us that God is in our midst, not just as a distant memory but as a present reality. And third, we live moral/holy lives, lives that reflect God's values and not our own, and certainly not the values of "Rome" which are often (usually) opposed to "Jerusalem" and the King who reigns over all. We are like "leaven in the loaf" (Matthew 13:33), changing the world not through power or force but through love. And love, Jesus suggests, is the most powerful political force of all.
Endurance and faith—can we choose to exercise those instead of power and coercion? Not only in the world of politics...but in everything we do?
Let the one who has ears to hear...listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
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