Political Piety

Remember When I Started a Blog a Year Ago?


Clearly, my undergraduate years were spent grossly underestimating the time-consumption of teaching within the public school system. Nonetheless, it's probably better this way, because now I'm one year older and wiser (somewhat against my will)!


So this morning I was reading an article written by Bill King of the Houston Chronicle assessing the behaviors of Christians in regards to pushing political agendas. I thought it was pretty insightful.  He basically describes two extreme types of believers: the closed vault cowardly christian who never speaks of his faith, and the loud mouth jerk who tries to shove christianity down everyone's throats via political infiltration. King says, and I agree, that a biblical christian falls under neither extreme.


The article, along with some of my own studies on the matter, has led me to come to a few conclusions:


Jesus loves PEOPLE, not politics.

**Let's be honest, many Christians, including myself, are arguing so hard politically because we have been lazy spiritually. If people don't know Jesus, it's the church's fault, not the government's. It's time to take responsibility, because the blame game is getting us nowhere. **

King says it this way, "But [Jesus] also adamantly refused to start a political movement. He famously tossed the Pharisees' Roman coins back at them, telling them to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's." He declared before Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world. He did not form any political action committees or hold any political prayer rallies. He did not foment revolution or cozy up to officialdom. He did not lobby lawmakers to legislate the people's morality. Instead he appealed directly to our better nature, seeking to change hearts, not laws." 
This is not to, in any way, say that our Messiah did not create some waves during His physical time here. However, his focus was not to change the government, it was to change people. I've said this before, and I'll probably say it a million more times: NO ONE truly changes their heart or mind because a complete stranger is screaming hateful and belittling remarks about their belief system at them. It.does.not.happen. Speaking as a representative of the population of overly stubborn people, if anything, this kind of behavior only makes my own resolution stronger and closes my ears to any future discussions on the given topic. 


Even a perfunctory knowledge of history will tell you that forcing religion via government is ineffective. 
This is true for many reasons, but this I believe to be the primary.
A change of governmental policy does not necessarily indicate the change of a politician's heart on the matter. It certainly does not guarantee an invocation of compliance on the part of the masses. Instead, religion imposed by government breeds bitterness and resentment as well as stirring the rebellious nature within our hearts to which we all, as fallen people, are prone. The book of Romans says that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. 1 John 4:19 says that the only reason we love God is because he first LOVED us. Ultimately, it's the Holy Spirit's revelation of God's goodness that changes hearts. 


So, what should we do?
(I'll just say that as I was reading the King article, I had multiple tabs open and accidentally switched to a "Reasons to Neuter" page. Had I not caught this mistake, the following insights may have been VERY different.)


1. Know the truth. Read the Bible. Ask God to show you people the way He sees them. Repeat as needed. 


2. Focus on the people, not the policies. 
This is not to say you should endorse political agendas that spit in the face of biblical truths, but remember that poor governmental policies are often a reflection of a heart problem. If you despise abortion, stop yelling at your senator, and go love a pregnant girl. If you think gay marriage is extra-biblical, care for your gay friends. Love them. Treat them like people because that's what they are.  Dwell on the Bible's definition of true religion: "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:26-27

3. Understand what love means, BIBLICALLY. 
Keep in mind, BIBLICAL love does NOT mean that you just tell people whatever they want to hear (what scripture calls "tickling the ears" 2 Tim 4:3) but rather that you are truthful with people in a loving way. (Ephesians 4:15) Coddling people's feelings is not more important than honoring and loving God Himself. 


4. Put down your picket signs and go to work! 
My question is how a person would possibly have time to take care of their family well, spend time with the Lord daily, love and help the lost and/or needy, AND cause an uproar about politics. I suppose if you have time to do it all well and to the glory of God, then more power to you, but if any of the other areas are suffering, prioritize. The Bible says that this is how we make a real difference: "And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." 1 Thess. 4:11-12 


Chron. Article: http://www.chron.com/default/article/King-An-assessment-of-being-a-Christian-at-2418713.php

Mark Driscoll's- The Tolerance Rant