Five Theses on Politics and Religion

Five theses on politics and religion:

1. The gospel is political. The word political comes from the Greek word politikos, which means civic or public. Politics is about how we live together in groups. The Bible is full of commandments, prophetic visions, and parables that address that very issue. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is a political statement!
2. The gospel is not partisan. The kingdom of God is neither the Republican Party at prayer nor the Democratic Party in stained glass. We all fall short (Rom.3:23).
3. Christians of good faith and conscience can and do disagree with each other about politics. The scriptures require interpretation and application. None of us do that perfectly. Our understanding is limited by the fact that we’re finite creatures. It’s further limited by the sin that clings to us as long as we live in this world. What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself when it comes to the nitty gritty details of immigration policy, or school redistricting, or allocating scarce tax dollars to a variety of worthy programs? The devil’s in the details, so treat the Christian who disagrees with you with charity.
4. “Fear God; honor the Emperor” (1 Peter 2:17). One of our Presbyterian confessions states that, until the kingdom comes, God has provided for governments to keep the peace by the threat and use of force. The church has a higher calling: to witness to God’s kingdom and to remind both voters and elected leaders that all of us are accountable to something higher than a President, a party platform, or a set of public policies. The Church abandons its mission when it tries to impose God’s kingdom by force, and the State and its officials abandon their mission when they act as though they are accountable to no one but themselves.
5. It’s not the end of the world for Christians if our preferred candidate loses. We will also curb our enthusiasm if our preferred candidate wins. We Christians can love our neighbors as ourselves by voting, serving on juries, paying taxes, contacting our elected leaders, and volunteering—all the while holding the outcome of this work loosely. Why? Because we also love the Lord our God with our whole being. In the end, the victory belongs to God, not to us.

Blessings, 

Marvin