Mention the word “politics” today and immediately folks begin thinking in terms of partisan loyalties and party policies and platforms. The word “politics” evokes a great deal of emotion and of late seems to bring the worst out of us (I’m not immune to blood pressure increases when the topic of politics is raised within my hearing).
The hard truth is we can’t avoid thinking about politics today given the constant bombardment of the 24-hour cable news networks, numerous political blogs and publications, and exposure to social media platforms on which folks love to air their political views. But, for Christians I think it is important that we think and talk about politics in much a healthier and different way.
I have been told more times than I can count that there is no place in the pulpit for politics and that I should be silent on the subject in my sermons. Agreed! If we are talking “partisan” politics.
According to Mark’s Gospel Jesus first preached the emergence of the “Kingdom of God” (1:15). Now, unless I’m wrong, the kingdom of God (rule of God) is what the world would look like if God was in charge. So, from the outset Jesus preached a form of politics that wasn’t partisan (as we would think of it today) but rather was a God-inspired form of politics.
In a recent Facebook post (there are some good ones now and again) pastor Josh Scott reminded us that the resurrection indeed had political implications. Scott points out that the word “resurrection” actually means “to be raised up” rather than just being resuscitated back into a flesh and blood existence. In other words, Easter represents a God-instigated “uprising” in order to push Jesus’ vision of God’s reign on earth forward (“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”).
Easter represents an uprising of significant importance for the whole world. It far exceeds and transcends all worldly politics that is so power-driven, partisan-based, and so divisive. God raised up Jesus following the world’s rejection (crucifixion) of His kingdom here on earth and His vision of a peaceful, just, and egalitarian world order.
The dye has been cast and it began on that first Easter Morning! So when I hear the word “politics” this is what is triggered in my faith-driven imagination. This is why I believe the topic of a God-inspired politics cannot be totally eliminated in my writing nor in my preaching.
When I hear the word “politics” today I hear “the empire of God” in a world that is so divided, so torn apart by conflict and war, so unjust both socially and economically, and so short-sighted by worldly partisan politics and imperfect political ideologies. When I hear the word “politics” I envision a new Empire, the Empire of God rather than an imperialistic empire driven by economic greed, militaristic chest-thumping, and unjust social structures, all powered ironically by the thirst for power itself.
When I hear the word “politics” I am reminded that God operates from a platform of abundance as opposed to one of scarcity (which characterizes much of partisan politics today).
Peace be with you!
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