Thoughts on the Election
Yesterday, in a historic election, Barack Obama was elected as President of the United States. Some have reacted to this event with exuberant joy, enthusiasm, and hope. Others have displayed anger, and fear. Still others aren’t quite sure what to make of things.
For the past few election cycles, there’s been a lot of talk about the “evangelical vote.” And this year was no exception. In conversation with Christian friends, the election and politics have weighed prominently in the discussion. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But I think it’s important for Christians to realize that our hope does not lie in politics, elected officials, or legislation. Our hope lies in Jesus. He is the change we need (I almost said “Change we can believe in,” but that’s too hokey).
Philippians 3.20 tells us that our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior. I think that Christians need to remember this, and to locate their primary citizenship in heaven, rather than the United States.
The election is over. Our country has chosen a President. But remember, this is not our home. We just happen to live here. This election is not our hope, it’s just the way certain decisions get made in our country. Our hope is Jesus. Our message is his gospel. It’s time to get busy once again. Let’s let our leaders do their job. And let’s be sure we do our job.
Posted by: Gene Schlesinger
well said. Even I can agree with that. However Gene, one question, you say “let’s be sure we do our job,” but what IS our Job?
Our job is to preach Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2.1-5).
NOT to support the Republican Party.
NOT to support the Democratic Party.
Christ and his gospel.
Dear Gene,
While I agree that our ‘job’ is to preach Christ and his crucifixion, I think that we have many many more responsibilities in this earth as Christians. And if the ONLY thing we do is preach Christ and him crucified, then we are not true disciples of Christ. We would be missing most of the picture, and only focusing on one relatively little thing. This question of “what is our Job” has such a large and complex answer that it can’t be summed up with just a few verses of Corinthians.
Christ’s crucifixion AND RESURRECTION is like the exclamation point at the end of a very long sentence that was/is Jesus’ life and ministry. We as Christian leaders do ourselves, our siblings in Christ, and the rest of the world a grave disservice by focusing only on that punctuation. Here are some other things that are a part of our ‘job’ and particularly how our ‘job’ relates to political parties.
**What does The LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8b
**Humanity’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy God for ever.
Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11
Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4
**To be an example to the rest of the world.
Matthew 5:14
**To feed the hungry, cloth the naked, provide shelter to the homeless, heal the sick, and serve the Least of these.
Matthew 25:31-46, plus other countless stories in the bible where Jesus does likewise, and instructs the disciples to do likewise.
**We are directed by Christ to follow our political leaders, submit to their rules, and in short pay our taxes, as well as follow God’s rule, and give to God what is God’s
Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25
Separation of Church and State as the Constitution reads means that the Govt. can’t tell the people what religion to be. Most have read that to also mean that the Religion can’t tell the Govt. what to be, but that is an inaccurate reading. We have a Christian duty to tell our Govt. what to be. Read the Jonah story, the city isn’t saved until the King (the political leader) repents and follows God. This means that if our leaders aren’t going in the right direction, the followers have no hope.
Furthermore, if you look at all the values and ideologies of various types of government: Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Monarchy-ism (I think I just made up a new word), and even dictatorships, which of those forms of Governments most closely matches Jesus’ values and ideologies, and Biblical theologies?
When Jesus came as a human 2000 years ago he spent a lot of his time railing against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, and fighting against the Roman empire, Essentially Jesus was against the Govt. and working to invoke social change and change in the sinful Govt. and economic systems. If Jesus were walking around the earth today as a Human, what types changes would he work for?
I think he would rail against capitalism above all things, because capitalism is based on a system of human sin and greed. The fundamental ideology behind capitalism is “I’m goanna get mine, and do what is best for me. And you do what is best for you and we will all get along.” (I could go on here, but I don’t want to get on too much of a tangent)
We as follower of Christ are to imitate his actions, and to rail and rebel against sinful govt. and economic systems that are racist, sexist, bias against the poor, and work as an Christian community for social change. So in a way we are required to support the political party that most closely matches that goal. And if there isn’t a party doing such, then we need to start one.
And truthfully, now that George Bush has single handedly sunk the GOP, now might be a good time to form a new political party, that is aimed at implementing the social change that Jesus preached about 2000 years ago.
–Liberal mined reader.
“because capitalism is based on a system of human sin and greed”
A system is not sinful. People are sinful. Capitalism doesn’t speak for itself and say I am greedy and love things. People say I am greedy and love things. Don’t blame the wrong source—sinners not systems are to blame.
“I’m gonna get mine, and do what is best for me…”
Sounds more libertarian than republican—but beyond that I know selfish greedy filthy rich dems, rep, ind who have this mind-set. Why? Man’s tendency is to look out for self before others regardless of party—it is they way it was well before any present day governmental system appeared
Liberal minded reader,
I really appreciated your post. And, here’s the part that may come as a surprise, I by and large agree with you AND think that my earlier comments were correct.
The gospel is a much broader message than just “my personal relationship with Jesus” or whatever. It has implications that are personal, legal, social, economic, political, environmental, cosmic, etc. We are embodied people, who live in a physical world, and Jesus came to redeem all of God’s good creation, not just individual souls. Colossians 1.20 gives us a picture of this cosmic work on the cross, where Jesus reconciles all things on earth or in heaven to God by his blood on the cross.
To take racism as an example, when I truly understand the gospel, that I am saved by grace alone by Christ’s work (and that people of other races are too), then I cannot be a racist any longer…I am truly no better than anyone (in fact I’m worse than many). And that means that I myself will fight against all forms of racism.
Preaching of the gospel that does not lead to social change is not preaching the full gospel. At the same time, the gospel is not social change. We don’t just want to make things better, we want them to be made better by the gospel of Jesus, which is the true solution to every human problem.
You cited so many strands of biblical evidence…yet, if as Jesus says, the Bible is all about him and his work (Luke 24.37; John 5.39), then that means that all those strands of evidence are ultimately part of his work. And so, to rightly preach those texts is to preach Christ crucified.
At the same time, I would argue that the church’s (as an institution) official function is to proclaim the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name, and point to how this changes everything. It is the job of the church (as individuals) to go into their respective fields and to work out the implications.
And on economics (especially capitalism), the Bible doesn’t give us a specific blueprint for any economic policy (whether capitalist, socialist, communist, or what have you). It does, of course, show us that God wants us to eliminate cycles of oppression (which the Jubilee functioned to do)…and this means that an absolutely free market is problematic. But within such confines, the specific economic theory is not really a biblical question (though John Milbank’s arguments on the development of capitalism in his book Theology and Social Theory are worth a read). We are at liberty to develop an economic system that we think best benefits humanity and honors God.
That being said, systems are indeed sinful much of the time. Take racism for example. It’s a systemic aspect of our society, and it’s somewhat inescapable. And the sinful impact of it is greater than the sum total of individual racists. Liberals (and I’m using this term in its classical sense, which includes both democrats and republicans) who tend toward the political left tend to talk about systemic sin to the point of ignoring personal sin. Liberals who tend toward the political right tend to talk about personal sin to the point of ignoring its systemic aspects. Jesus confronted both. His church should confront both.
Derek Webb says that he’s heard two great lies, “In the day you eat the fruit of the tree you will not truly die. And that Jesus Christ was a white middle-class republican. And if you want to be saved you have to learn to be like him.” I would add to this that he also was not a democrat.
The work of Stanley Hauerwas is an interesting place to go for how to envision the politics of the church. I’d recommend it without endorsing everything he has to say.
Gene,
So much of what you said rings true in my ears.
“where Jesus reconciles all things on earth or in heaven to God by his blood on the cross.”
“Preaching of the gospel that does not lead to social change is not preaching the full gospel.” –Amen to that brother!
“go into their respective fields and to work out the implications.” –Amen, amen, amen! That is the fun part. ‘Work out the implications’ could not be more open ended and leaves much room for Christ’s followers to adapt and stretch the Gospel to confront the issues they face every day. This facet of the Gospel is part of why it was important 1800/1900 years ago when it was written, why it was important 1000 years ago, and why it is important today, and tomorrow.
“Systems are indeed sinful much of the time…. [more stuff about 2 types of sin]…. church should confront both.” –if only all Christians agreed with you (sorry Jeremy), and didn’t focus too much on individual sin or rely so much on guilt and fear as a way of speaking the Gospel.
“God wants us to eliminate cycles of oppression” –Yes, God does. And God often chooses victims of oppression to be God’s prophets, agents of change, and liberators.
While all of those things above are good, and I’m sure we could expound upon them endlessly and truly flesh out their meanings—especially working out the implications—the part I’d like to focus on next is as follows: “the gospel is not social change. We don’t just want to make things better, we want them to be made better by the gospel of Jesus, which is the true solution to every human problem,” Right the Gospel is NOT social change; but, the gospel is a story, a story about God’s Son and Word, a story of Social Change told through the life and ministry of a man who was executed by the Govt. for enacting said social change. I am not as good with names and quotes as you are Reverend, but I did here once this quote by a Duke Professor, “The greatest mistake American Christians ever made was to read the Bible and expect not to be changed by it.”
You and I could argue for years about ‘What’ the Gospel is, but I hope we both agree that the Gospel changes humans when they properly interact with it, either by hearing it, receiving it, repeating it, understanding it, preaching it, and above all, living it. However, I think it is a stretch to say that Jesus is the true solution to every human problem. If my VCR breaks, is Jesus going to fix it? If a college student has a big test coming up is Jesus going to just give out an ‘A’? If leave the iron on the floor and burn the carpet is Jesus going to fix it? If the weather is bad and what I had planed to do outside that day gets canceled, what is Jesus going to do?
There are so many problems in this world small and big that to just lay out the blanket statement “Jesus is the answer” is not only inaccurate some of the time, it is extremely frustrating. You said the Bible doesn’t give us a specific ‘blueprint’ for any economic policy, well the Bible doesn’t give us a blueprint for anything really, except how to build and Ark (Gen 6:14-16) or construct the temple (Ezekiel 41), but so often I have heard preachers and Christians claim that the Bible was God’s plan for our lives, or a map on where to go, or literally a ‘blueprint’ for humanity. Well I disagree, the Bible does give us important lessons on how to live, and it does give us, if not an exact blueprint, then at least the beginnings of a framework of economic policy. Numerous times the Greek Scriptures mention clear ideologies that inform how were should construct our economy.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.,
Matthew 18:23-34, Parable of the unforgiving servant
Matthew 25:14-28, Parable of the talents
Exodus 20:10, keeping the Sabbath
Luke 13:14-16, Jesus heals on the Sabbath
Genesis 28:22, Jacob vows to tithe to God
Nehemiah 3, the rebuilding of the temple was done by the people, but it was for the Govt. also, the people worked first on building the part of the wall closest to them.
Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Matthew 25:40-45 serving the least of these.
I could go on. But the summary of it all that is that we are not just at ‘liberty develop an economic system’ we are REQUIRED to develop one that serves and honor God AND THEN benefits humanity.
The values of Robin Hood—take from the rich, and give to the poor—are more biblical then capitalists and corporations that exploit 3rd world countries. But, more often then not I see religious people avidly supporting politicians that want to cut taxes for the wealthy, and end welfare like programs that redistribute the wealth. Or I see faithful Christians who give generously to their church but leave a $2.00 tip at a restaurant on a $40.00 tab, when their server is a poor single mother. Or I see persons on the street in my neighborhoods going door to door asking “are you saved?” but they avidly support laws, and politicians who oppress and persecute gays and minority groups. I see too often that people get stuck on small trivial issues like abortion, or same sex marriages, or birth control, and they only support candidates that share those values, when the politicians other values, like social justice, keeping the Sabbath, or ending oppression are all out of whack.
I guess Gene after all my ranting, my question is this, how do we faithfully follow Christ, when there are so many Scribes and Pharisees calling themselves Christians? How do we break away from that identity and hypocrisy and the agendas the Christian right promotes, but still be Christian? How do we rebel, as Jesus did, against the sinful systems (and sinful people promoting those systems) that govern our world?
You say we are to preach Christ’s crucifixion, here I go, yeah Jesus died for our sins, but he wasn’t executed by the Romans for our sins, he was arrested by the Romans and executed because he was rebelling against them and the Religious leaders of that time. So if we are to live our lives like Jesus Christ, who should we rebel against today? If Jesus was a human in the 21st century, what national govt. would execute him?
–Liberal Minded Reader
Luke11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.”
First, I should say, I’m uncomfortable with the notion of “living” the gospel. I know what people mean when they say that, usually. But I think it’s important to remember that the gospel is good news. It is a report of historical events. It is not good advice, or a good lifestyle. We need to remember that the gospel is about what Jesus has done to redeem his people. Then there are implications to be lived out. But they, themselves are not the gospel.
As to Jesus being the solution to problems. There are a few ways to go about that. First, we acknowledge that many problems arise because we live in a fallen world. This affects even our ability to develop technology (e.g., VCRs). While Jesus isn’t going to reprogram my electronics, I do believe that in the eschaton, we will have a perfected world, where VCRs do work properly. Likewise, only in a fallen world, would your roommate be ignorant enough to leave the iron on the carpet. That particular iron mark may always be there, but the new heavens and the new earth, which come to us from Jesus, will be free from such problems. And the other thing to address is that Jesus also helps us to reassess what qualifies as a problem. He relativizes our need to catch our favorite TV show, have a carpet without an iron shaped burn on it, or have our plans go unhindered by the weather. When the gospel grips us, it’s ok that it’s raining when I wanted a hike. These may not be solutions of the sort that we are prone, in our fallenness, to desire, but they are answers nonetheless.
And I agree, the Bible is not a blueprint or rulebook (except for the genre specific examples you mentioned). It’s a story. The story of God’s Creation, its fall, and his quest to restore all things to himself through his Son. When Christians read it as a law book, or an encyclopedia, or a socio-economic-political blueprint, problems arise.
I would disagree that abortion and homosexuality are small issues. The sanctity of human life and God’s design for human sexuality are very important. I agree, though, that they are not the ONLY issues. I suspect, though, that most Christians who vote for the sorts of politicians you mentioned, are doing so because they support those politicians’ positions on the “moral” issues like abortion and homosexuality, rather than their economic policies (which I believe are also moral issues). Just like I hope that you vote in support of the social justice positions of the politicians you support, rather than in support of their views on abortion. Whether or not you agree with those priorities, people have to follow their convictions, and Romans 14 calls us to respect each others consciences (that goes both ways, though. So “values voters” need to respect Christians who vote differently than they do).
And, yes, there is a lot of Phariseeism out their masquerading as Christianity. I detest legalism. But I find that Jesus calls me to love legalists and Pharisees. If I am correct in my views, it is not because I am smarter or better. It’s because of God’s grace. Therefore, I cannot take a posture of superiority towards them.
And, here again, we come to Jesus being the answer. The cure for Phariseeism is the proclamation of the gospel. Pharisees and moralists need to hear the truth that we are reconciled to God by grace through faith, and not by works of the law. They need to hear of the multifaceted work of Jesus that drives us to social justice as well as personal morality. Until they are gripped by the reality of grace, they will always be Pharisees. And this is the solution to those on the far left. When they see how seriously God takes sin, they can no longer have a cavalier attitude towards it. This cost the Son of God his life! How could we promote it or even just wink at it?
And faithful Christians must be the change they want to see. You don’t like the Christian right’s neglect of social justice? Then promote social justice in the name of Jesus. You don’t like the Christian left’s soft-pedaling of other serious moral issues, or lack of emphasis on conversion? Then faithfully proclaim the work of Christ and the exclusivity of his claims. But don’t choose one or the other. Both are biblical. Both flow from the gospel. The church emphasizes one at the expense of the other to her peril.
I had make a few minor adjustments to your quote, but otherwise it is a really good, and simple statement of faith.
“The Bible is a story. The story of God’s Creation, its fall, and God’s quest to restore all things through Jesus Christ, God’s Son. When Christians read it as a law book, or an encyclopedia, or an exact account of history, or a socio-economic-political blueprint, problems arise.”
So Gene, in the words of the President Josiah Bartlet, “What’s next?”
-liberal minded reader
What’s next is that Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.18-20)
Next, the church lives through the implications of the powers of the Age to Come breaking in to this present evil age, and seeks to follow her Lord’s commission…which includes tireless work for social justice.
But ultimately, what’s next is the New Heavens and New Earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3.13). What’s next is the eternal state, where all that is broken will finally be made right, on the basis of Christ’s work on the cross.
I meant what are we going to talk about next….