more fire

Recently I’ve been concerned with the unsavory relationship between politics and religion in America, especially since we are in the midst of an election season and all the (political and religious) peacocks have their feathers flared. (i.e. Last year Pat Robertson made a death threat to a foreign leader and Jerry Falwell is still condemning unsaved sinners). As far as I can remember, Christians are not called to judge those outside the body of Christ. We are called to suffer for them and to be willing to lay down our lives for them as Christ did for us.

Christians are citizens of the Kingdom of God and subject to Him. Basically, we are foreigners in this world. We’re here for only a season and we are supposed to obey the laws of this country just as we would obey the laws of any country in which we are a visitor. But, regardless of a nation’s laws, we must remain faithful to God and, even if we are persecuted, we must pray for the heads of nations just like Paul did in prison and Christ did on the cross. A follower of Christ must believe that prayer is more powerful than voting.

Like Christ, we must chastise the pharisees, false prophets and those that cause division in the body of Christ. Like Christ, we must love the sinners of the world so that they might come to the throne of grace and receive God’s mercy.

We are not called to be political provocateurs. If we do become involved in the politics of this world we will (to put it in King James jargon) be unequally yoked. Christians are not called to spread democracy or any other type of worldly government. Nowhere in scripture does it say Christ was pro-democracy, pro-socialism or pro-communism (let alone a Democrat or Republican). Christians are called to further establish the Kingdom of God by allowing Christ to love others through them. Instead of voting to criminalize unwed mothers who are considering abortion, we are called to love them, even bleed for them. Instead of cursing gay marriage, Christians should work to sanctify their own marriages. Instead of donating money to right wing political causes, take a homeless person to lunch and if he asks why you did this for him tell him “Because God loves you.” Pray for peace in Jerusalem, but also pray for peace in Beirut, Baghdad and Pyongyang.

We must stop calling ourselves conservative Christians and take up the radical charge Christ has given us. Christ was not a conservative. It was the conservative establishment that crucified Him. He was, in actuality, a radical, a real revolutionary. As citizens of the Kingdom of God we must abide by the radical laws that God has ordered us to follow. Christ said to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22: 36-39). If we really obeyed this commandment we would see revival not only in our churches but in our neighborhoods and across nations.

Nowhere in scripture does it say Christ was pro-democracy, pro-socialism or pro-communism (let alone a Democrat or Republican).

In regards to worldy politics, I’m unable to find Christ’s agenda in scripture. In fact his only agenda was to bleed for others. Simon the Zealot (who, it is assumed because of his title, was part of a guerilla terrorist group that tried to reclaim Israel by force) and Matthew (a tax collector and pawn of the Roman state) were both Christ’s apostles. They came from complete opposite ends of the political spectrum. In fact, the Zealots sometimes assassinated tax collectors to make a political statement. But Christ called them both to follow Him and to spread the Good News. And never in scripture do their political differences come up. Praise God that we have a merciful saviour who loves us regardless of where we come from.

This world, polluted by Satan and our own sin, encourages arrogance, sexual immorality, and contention. Vanity is emulated in the media and blasphemy is considered a common part of the English vernacular. God’s commandments are stricter than the world’s social norms. 1 John 3:15 says that if you curse your brother, you’re a murderer. And in Matthew 5 Jesus says that if you lust after a woman you’ve already committed adultery in your heart. In the same chapter Jesus commands “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” This is a far cry from making death threats against your enemies and judging those lost in sin.

Like Christ, we must chastise the pharisees, false prophets and those that cause division in the body of Christ. Like Christ, we must love the sinners of the world so that they might come to the throne of grace and receive God’s mercy. More fire.