Was Jesus political?

Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your minds,

so that you may discern what is the will of God—

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, I was just down in the States to officiate at my nephew’s wedding. Everything went well and, I hear, so did the worship on Sunday. Well done, youth!

Apparently, traveling down to the States is a political act now. We made it down and back relatively unscathed but I’ve started hearing stories about others traveling who didn’t fare as well. Every newscast I hear has the latest developments from the White House.

For me it raises the question, If politics is all everyone is talking about, should we be talking about it in church?

First of all, some terminology clarification…

Politics is the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area. In broad terms, politics is how the polis (people) govern and manage themselves.

Partisan is a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.

As a pastor, it clear to me that I am not called to be partisan. I believe it is very problematic if I were to endorse a particular candidate or party. That is not my role as a pastor.

Politics has to do with how we relate to one another, provide for another, and treat one another. In my reading of the gospels, Jesus was very political. He challenged systems that excluded and dehumanized people (lepers, women, Gentiles, “sinners”). He modeled power with (servanthood) instead of power over (like that of kings). He advocated for those who were poor, in prison, homeless, and hungry. All of this could be seen as explication of love your neighbour as you love yourself.

For me, it gives me a couple of lenses to view actions or decisions through:

1.       Is FEAR or LOVE at work?

The primary command that Jesus gives is to love. Throughout his life, he refused to pick up the weapon of fear to force anyone to do anything. Out of love, he invited people to live lives of love. If fear is being used, then it is the opposite of love.

2.       Is it COMPASSIONATE?

The most common sense definition of compassion is the Golden Rule, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is the willingness to consider how one’s actions might impact another and then to act in a loving way. It is loving one’s neighbour in action.

For me, these criteria or lenses help me to begin to sort out for myself what might be pleasing to God and, conversely, what might be working against God’s will. This kind of discernment is by no means easy. We live in a complex world and there is a long history of Christians having big disagreements about what might please or not please God. In a previous blog, I’ve talked about polarities mapping as a way of acknowledging the positive aspects of people who want to argue a different position.

Right now, it seems like it is easy to live in an echo chamber. Whatever one thinks, one can find a website or group to say things that reinforce one’s viewpoint. It is no small part of the polarization that is happening in society.

More than ever, now is a time where we need to be conversing about the big issues society and humanity is facing… in a respectful, faith-informed way. The inquiry into What is God’s desire? is life-giving.  The key to conversing is that it is both speaking AND listening. If we can’t get together in Church with a common commitment to discern God’s will and talk about these hard things… then where will we?

In seminary, they called this conversation, Ethics… Given who Jesus was, what he taught and modeled, how then as his followers are we to live?

Peace,

Pastor Phil