Jesus Is Not Running for Office

 

“The church is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

For the next several days, I'm risking life and limb by applying the concept and practice of asking "What Would Jesus Do?" to some divisive, hot-button issues in our current culture. 

We're going to be asking "What Would Jesus Do?" about politics, immigration, poverty, education, and environmental issues.  

No, I haven't lost my mind. 

If we're going to follow Jesus, we need to talk about these kinds of things and wonder together how Jesus would approach them.  

These devotionals won't be about choosing a political side; they will be about standing with Jesus, wherever Jesus would be standing.  

Jesus shows us by example that there aren't easy answers to the social ills that we are so divided over.  Instead, he encourages us to ask better questions.  

And so, right off the bat, I want to talk about politics.  

Politics matters.

Government decisions affect real people. Laws can protect or harm. Leaders can promote justice or exploit power. 

Christians shouldn't pretend politics is unimportant.

But we shouldn't confuse politics with the Kingdom of God.

Jesus lived in an intensely political world. Rome occupied his homeland. Herod ruled through violence. Religious leaders possessed significant social power. Different Jewish movements argued about how God's people should respond.

Jesus refused to fit neatly into any of their categories.

Instead, he continually asked a deeper question:

What does God's Kingdom look like?

When his disciples became fascinated with power, Jesus told them that earthly rulers “lord it over” others.

“But it shall not be so among you.” He told them.  

Instead, greatness would be measured by service to others.  

That gives us a helpful way to practice WWJD in our political lives.

Before asking, “What does my party say?” we can ask:

Who will this decision affect?

Who possesses power?

Who doesn't?

Are people being treated with dignity?

Does this promote justice?

Does it protect those who are vulnerable?

Am I seeking the common good—or merely victory for my side?

And perhaps most importantly:

Am I becoming more like Jesus in the way I engage people who disagree with me?

Christians can faithfully reach different conclusions about complicated political questions. But contempt, cruelty, dishonesty, dehumanization, and the worship of power should trouble us regardless of who practices them.

Jesus didn't teach his followers how to win elections.

He taught us how to love neighbors, serve rather than dominate, tell the truth, defend the vulnerable, make peace, and seek God's Kingdom.

Our political convictions matter.

But they must never become the lord of our lives.

That position is already taken.

(Scripture References: Matthew 20:25–28; John 18:36)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, keep me from placing any political party, leader, ideology, or nation above my allegiance to you. Give me wisdom to seek justice, humility to listen, courage to resist abuses of power, and love for those with whom I disagree. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Where has my political identity become too closely connected to my Christian identity?
2. Which teachings of Jesus most challenge the way I approach politics?
3. How could I engage someone who disagrees with me in a more Christlike way?