On Christians and Politics
The political sphere of our country is turbulent. The upcoming elections are undeniably important and will affect human flourishing. We are also more divided as a country than ever before, or at least I am told. In such times, it seems almost predictable that most conversations with Christians switch rapidly to politics. After such a turn in a conversation with a politically-impassioned believer, I visibly lost interest and was asked why some, such as myself, are not interested in current political controversy. The question surprised me—I try to reasonably keep myself up to date about the goings on and enjoy the occasional political conversation. Like this person, I also feel a certain amount of grief and angst about recent cultural and moral change. I do, however, think this person made an assumption and a rather critical one at that—they confused obsession with interest.
Perhaps you can relate—you are at a community group or evening with church friends when what started as edifying talk about a theological point or God’s grace somehow becomes a catalyst for talking about the latest political controversy. The conversation then goes around the circle with people increasingly chiming in with their frustration and outrage, predicting the next moral catastrophe to happen. The conversation usually ends there, with prophecies of misery! In our divided and tribalistic political context, this phenomenon is becoming increasingly common. How do you respond? Some may approach this with great excitement and others may have little interest. I often find myself trying to change the conversation or slipping away entirely. As a result, I have spent considerably less time talking about politics and started thinking about how Christians should talk about politics.
I have never left these conversations feeling joy, but rather despondency, frustration, or fear. Ought it to be so? I am not arguing that politics should be a happy conversation or that we should avoid discussing politics altogether, but I do think that Christian fellowship should be edifying. Rarely do these conversations build a Christian up, but instead revolve around increasing fear and anxiety. Isn’t it curious how little political complaining there is in the pages of Scripture? The Roman Christians were under intense persecution from the infamous Nero when Paul wrote them their eponymous epistle. Yet, instead of ruminating on their political suffering or complaining about the corruption of the republic, he wrote them:
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Christian, we have much to be hopeful for despite today’s political climate, because we have an intimate God who promises to be near His people. The King of Kings gets the last laugh and works all political whims to his perfect plan. As King David wrote:
“Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.”
— Psalm 2: 1-4
This passage finds itself given again to us in Acts 4, where Peter and John have just been reprimanded by their corrupt political leaders. They use this verse not to fuel anger but rather to fill their fellow believers with boldness to preach the Gospel ever more. Their hope was in the Gospel.
“We have much to be hopeful for despite today’s political climate, because we have an intimate God who promises to be near His people.”
Where is your hope? “The next election” has proven time and again to be a sandy foundation indeed! But it is my worry that many Christians place their hope in such things, as evidenced by what dominates their speech and what activates their anxiety. Or do we remember Jesus’ words to Pilot when he said “My kingdom is not of this world.” I am not negating the need for more Christians in positions of office, in fact I wish more would pursue such a calling. It is a different matter though where our heart lies and where our hope is in this life and the next. Indeed, our supreme goal and hope should be the reformation of our desires to God’s word and not ultimately the reformation of our republic.
Besides leading to fear, anger, and complaining, such talk is usually gossip. Gossip has the intent to make you (or your preferred political party) look good and does so by revealing the personal faults and errors of others, whether verified as true or not. And if factually not true, then we are actually spreading slander! In his same letter to the Romans, Paul informs his readers,
“God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
— Romans 1: 28-31
This is not the crowd we should join.
The politician is subject to a public life and we love to air their dirty laundry. I do not believe the Scriptural command to avoid gossip restricts only to gossiping of those within the covenant kingdom and I am not convinced we can excuse gossiping about our leaders as justified because they are under the public microscope. Be careful how you discuss anyone, including your leaders, and avoid the easy allure of gossip. Rather, pray for them as we are commanded:
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
Do we pray for our leaders? Do we pray more for the ones we like? Is our gossiping dignified? Furthermore, and perhaps more painfully, we are told to submit to them. Even in a constitutional republic with elected leaders, we are to submit.
“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”
— 1 Peter 2:13-19
These are tough callings. It is hard to bridle the tongue when morally corrupt leaders abound. Our anxieties can find themselves captured by such little things, let alone government and politics. Yet I exhort us to see that Christ is actually King and His bride need rest her eyes upon Him. Far from being a hive of conspiracy and complaint, the church and Christian fellowship is to be a haven for rest, an abode of hope, and a training camp wherein the believer is taught to rest their sights on the Gospel truth of an infinite, immanent, transcendent, omnipotent God who wields all things for His purposes. Let our speech reflect our faith and our hope.
Additional musings:
Where is the line between gossip and discussing corruption in those we are responsible for electing?
Where is the line between humor about someone and gossip?
How would applying the five solas specifically affect our conversations about politics? For example, how would an application of Sola Dei Gloria change the way we talk to fellow Christians about politics?
Note: The conversation recorded in the first paragraph was not with someone at the Village. I have noticed this phenomenon to be broad amongst believers nationally.
Cover: St Sibyl's Sermon in Roman Ruins with the Statue of Apollo by Giovanni Paolo Panini
