specific to my political writings, let me share some of my sentiments. i definitely am not in the business of trying to change anyones mind, including yours. you are Spirit-led and very educated…and i really respect both. i do believe that God has given us governments (some good, some bad, some a little of both) and God can use either for His Kingdom purposes. i believe, as Jesus instructs, to give to “Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is God’s.” i believe that we ought to pray for our leaders, as Timothy says. i believe that it is good and appropriate for followers of Jesus to participate in civil service (as long as it looks like Jesus in everything they do)…and that we ought to participate in the civil process (again…as long as we look, act, and behave like Jesus). i completely agree with your statement around Paul using his Roman citizenship for the testimony and advancement of the Kingdom message, and i am reminded of the Apology of Justin Martyr when he made his case that Christians ought to be viewed by the Roman government as good citizens that hold the highest morals.

where i begin seeing a problem with contemporary Christianity and its relationship with government…is when it begins looking, acting, and behaving in ways that don’t look like Jesus. if we are the Body of Christ in the world, ought we not look and act like it…even when it is difficult or even when it is not politically correct, or even if it means that we lose the battle? ought we not stand up for life in any and all situations (abortion and war)? are we not the first fruits of new creation? bringers of peace and reconciliation? bearers of a new convenant? those who do not fight against flesh and bone…but against the powers and principalities of evil (through prayer and fasting)? i am more interested in a person learning to follow the way of Jesus and taking on his yoke…than trying to convince someone to be a conservative or a liberal. i want conservatives and liberals to die to the old ways, nail their sins to the cross, and follow the way of Jesus through the gift of the Holy Spirit. we have to be open to the idea that both political conservatives and political liberals can be followers of Jesus…does that mean that i necessarily agree with either…no…just that i trust Jesus to transform all of us sinners into his likeness. and it may take some of use longer than others….and i am ok with that.

i am not sure that i necessarily agree with your assertion of the “false analogy.” now, i will say that you are a lot more educated than i, so i completely respect your position, and agree that Jesus lived in the most (i believe) oppressive dictatorship in history, and we certainly don’t. but just because there were cultural, governmental, or political differences between the Roman Empire and the United States, do you think that Jesus would be anything less than consistent in who he was, what he was trying to do, and how he would do it? if in the United States, would Jesus be obsessed with candidates, elections, and policy? honestly…i don’t know, but i would think that the smear campaigns, large sums of campaign cash, and half truths would make him sad. that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that he would be happy about in the United States, but he would really be sad by our consumerist obsession, our individual greed, our passe’ attitude toward life, our retaliation in war, our shallowness and love for the flesh, etc. but i am still not sure that Jesus would be interested in reforming our governmental system or putting his faith and trust in candidates…as much as giving people an alternative to the kingdoms of this world.

here is the thing…i do love the United States. i believe that it has done great things and will continue to do great things…because it is the people and the people are great, hard-working, and sincere in this country. but we know from scripture that Satan is the god of this age and of the Kingdoms of the world (ephesians 2:2, luke 4:5-6, john 12:31, colossians 1:13, 1 john 5:19, 2 corinthians 4:4). we know that every Kingdom that has ever existed has been prone to war and corruption, and sadly, it happens even when Christians have good intentions and get in power. we are all still human and the systems that we are a part of will always turn from God. this is not a defeatist attitude…it is a realistic attitude. we know that Satan is working overtime to pull all the Kingdoms of the world together under his authority. God, through Jesus, initiated His Kingdom (Reign) in the hearts and minds of His children and that Kingdom can not be seen or destroyed.

Jesus breaks into our time/space history and begins establishing the Kingdom of God. that is why he talked about is so much. why did Jesus come to earth? he says in luke 4:43 that the reason he came was to “preach the Kingdom of God.” to announce that a new order has come…that there is freedom… liberation… hope… love…etc. he spent his time talking to people in parables helping them understand what the Kingdom of God looks like. it looks like a mustard seed..growing wildly and out of control. it looks like yeast in dough…growing and expanding. it looks like treasure in a field..beautiful and what we long to have. it looks like turning the other cheek, not resisting evil, going the extra mile, giving your shirt and jacket, loving your neighbor AND enemy, etc.). the Kingdom of God has broken into history to destroy the works of Satan and to reclaim what is rightfully God’s (the account of the Strong Man that Jesus talks about in Matthew). we, as his children, pillage and plunder by taking back what is God’s. we are bringers of heaven on earth (your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven), we are the firstfruits of new creation. we are the embodiment of the new covenant. we are ministers of reconciliation (restoration). we are the body of Christ in the world. AND if all of that is true…we look, act, behave like Jesus in any and all situations…and work to expand this new order of His Kingdom right now. we begin living in the present as we will in the future.

things are going to get bad (and are getting bad) in this world…and people will be looking for an alternative to the politics and corruption in the Kingdom of the world. the Kingdom that we have to offer is one that gives life to the fullest, that gives us peace and let’s us be content in any and all situations, that lets us love our friends and enemies to the point of death, that offers forgiveness and healing, and that unites us in Spirit and Truth.

so…at this time in history…are we good citizens…yes! ought we vote and obey our leaders in government (as long as it doesn’t compromise our Kingdom lives)…yes! should we give to the government what is the governments and to God what is God’s…absolutely. is it ok for followers of Jesus to participate in politics…of course…as long as it looks like Jesus. BUT our main responsibility is to the Kingdom of God. preparing ourselves for the great wedding between the bride and the bridegroom. preparing this place for his entry. where he can be welcomed as Lord…and we will be his Kingdom people, and where peace, justice, and mercy will reign.

revelation 11:15 says that, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. He will rule for ever and ever” christ will once and for all make all things new again. no longer will death have a sting. He will wipe away every tear from every eye. the lion will lie with the lamb. God will be with man…and we will be His people.

that is what we work for…that is what we hope for. my hope is not in the kingdoms of this world…but in the continually inbreaking Kingdom of God. we patiently and eagerly await the consummation of all things. until then…we fight with prayer and fasting…we love self-sacrificially…we are controlled by a mighty Holy Spirit…and we become the ONE body of Christ in the world together.

peace…love…grace…

brandon

Because the King does not vote.

I like how N.T. Wright puts it– that the whole point of Paul’s proclamations in the New Testament was to say that Jesus is Lord of the world and Caesar isn’t.

i believe that you are right when you say that Christians align with a particular party because of pragmatism. i would say that is exactly the problem. becoming a disciple of Jesus and following his way is NOT pragmatic. in fact…it is unconventional and should not make sense to the wisdom of the world. you see…it doesn’t matter if either party “upholds the gospel” because God does not need them to. what God needs is for people who have died to their old ways and the ways of the world…and who have been made into a new creation by the working of the Holy Spirit…and for this people embrace their Kingdom identity and bring His Kingdom of earth as it currently is in heaven. i understand that the way some Christians translate that sometimes is by saying, “that is what we are doing by supporting the Republicans because they oppose abortion.” then how does a Christian Repulican reconcile killing our enemies in war? like i wrote to sarah in an ealier reply:

“why is it that political Christians are much more likely to defend/preserve a particular political party than to defend/preserve the way of Jesus? for instance…there are elements of each major political party that looks nothing like Jesus…yet we attack the other side as if it is not Christian. from a Kingdom perspective…God wants to preserve life. so…it doesn’t matter if it is by stopping abortions OR killing people in combat or war. if we view things from a Republican perspective…we need to support the war (even though Jesus would have us turn the other cheek, not resist evil, forgive 70×7, and love our neighbors AND our enemies). BUT…if we view things from a Democratic perspective…many times it means supporting a woman’s right to choose (abortion). Death is not part of God’s original plan for His good creation…but a result of sin. we should protect and preserve ALL life. if we choose parties and view life through those lenses…we limit the beautiful Kingdom perspective that exceeds all human standards, perspectives, stances, and persuasions.”

when i say that i support life…so i oppose abortion…people want to call me a “conservative” or “Republican.” and when i say that i support life…by opposing the killing of our enemies in war…people call me “liberal” or a “Democrat.” and these are Christians who try to label! we have to quit identifying ourselves and our morality with groups, political parties, etc. we are a KINGDOM…and our Lord is Jesus Christ! nothing more…nothing less. it is not conventional…or pragmatic. it is a new reality that confounds the wisdom of the world and of this age. it is the only way to hope, peace, and life.

thanks for your comments!!! what a great and encouraging way to press all of us on this journey with Christ.

brandon

While I certainly agree that neither party upholds the truths of the gospel particularly well, I am registered Republican because I have come to the conclusion that it is more important for me to be able to participate in the Republican primaries than the Democrat ones (besides the Democrats are fundamental liars since we don’t live in a democracy and we do live in a republic).

Also while the desire would be to address all of the issues plaguing our world simultaneously, some issues are more grave than others. In our country, in our time, the single most important issue is abortion. Once we can overcome that discussing other issues will be much easier.