♱ πολιτικά ♱ (POLITICS)

The Christian's rallying call is, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ..."  from Matthew 28:19.  So what does this overarching command have to do with "politics"?  How is the word "politics" used today? And how are Christians applying that term and why does it matter?

 
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  - Ephesians 6:12 

Compared to any previous generation, many people in America say they "avoid politics". Those same people tend to be angry, shocked and confused when they realize their subjugation. 

Christians are different. Christians who ignore what's going on around them (and why) have a greater contempt for themselves - and for the gospel. It's especially problematic when these same people are indifferent to the world, and reference God's sovereignty. It's as if much of the Bible, including the Great Commission and Ephesians 6:12, didn't exist. As if believers were ordained to sit out life, earn lots of money, kick back, and watch the enemy conquer the world. These same believers would probably also deny that Jesus and the disciples were "political". These men were so politically incorrect and counter-cultural that they were stalked and murdered for it.

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."   - Colossians 2:8

Just as predicted, evil men are overwhelmingly in charge of believers at all levels of leadership and government. The godly men are absent, because Christians have had the odd and unscriptural temerity to dislike, desert, and disparage "politics". They are utterly absent. Utterly apathetic. And it's utterly absurd that so many are thoroughly captivated by money, vice and diversions. The world has become a virtually absolute physical, mental and spiritual distraction - right according to Scripture.  This condition has abrogated most believers from being "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1Cor15:58). ["Abounding" means overflowing - i.e., occupying most of one's doing and going.] 

Are believers to be an audience or an army? Or worse, can believers with so little awareness, courage, and purpose, really be saved to begin with? Are believers awake enough to know if their time and money is aiding the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness? 

 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  - James 2:14

Could it be that "politics" looks repulsive to good men because Truth and good men are effectively absent from the public square? Is that why those who control us are predominantly evil and why believers often only see "politics" as a nefarious "secular" game?  I've even heard "carnal" - yikes! Spiritual warfare is a fight to the death and you are immersed in it - like it or not. It seems to me that leaders are a common theme in the Bible - either evil or godly. Just like today. The way your society works pretty much boils down to a contest between power and money versus truth and freedom. Which side are you on? Because if you're not in the affairs of the society, you're silent voice protects and supports whomever is in charge without confrontation. And Ephesians 6:12 says it's not good.  Common sense should too. World War II-era pastor, author and Bible scholar Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”  

In pithy Texan form, Jim Hightower, a person with whom I do not otherwise agree, once said about political apathy, "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos".  Look around and watch where your your influence (and your church's lack of teaching about it) is in society. It's not good. 

Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. - John 7:43

Compartmentalization of the "secular" from the "religious" is an infirmity of the Christian Church today that stems from apathy,  selfishness, and false teaching in the Church.  "Politics" is really just the conversation of the people about the affairs of our society. Christians shouldn't just care about it,  but must also know it, understand it, pray about it, influence it, and not run away from it.  Jesus understood the cultures he confronted very well. 

If you call yourself a believer, can politics really be partitioned and separated from the Christian walk? It's how all people operate in society, and effects how believers earn, how we spend time, effort and money, how we lead, how we protect and train up our children, and is the essence of how we relate to other people and address their questions within a Biblical worldview. If believers ignore the culture and it's conversations ("politics"), I'm afraid the Lord's people are also missing facts, viewpoints and opportunities to protect, prophesy, witness, Truth-tell, and lead. 

So, "Politics" is about far more than law and public policy. But let's talk about that part of "politics" for a moment. Think about persecuted Christians in America...the lawmen, whistleblowers, bakers, florists and photographers spiritually attacked in our own "free" Country. Don't Christians feel called to affect public policy before perverse decisions are made and onerous laws are passed? Don't Christians feel called to use the debates about public policy to promote God? One of the most important speeches in Donald Trumps tenure as President was his speech about the victory of truth, a Godly America, and free exercise of religion on July 3rd 2020 at Mount Rushmore National Monument.  Have beleiveres been sitting it out waiting until all the godly people are jailed or martyred?  "I'll pray for you" has become a common but all too often empty promise. The conspicuous absence of Christians in society, leadership and positions of influence is remarkable. I wonder if prayer is too often an excuse instead of a foundation. Kind thoughts without obedience, sacrifice, and works. Ignorance, apathy and surrender aren't the Way of Christ. Jesus was a Truth-teller and master disruptor. Believers also have a Scriptural obligation to resist immoral law - and be awake and discerning enough to recognize it.  In many cases today believers must apply The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  - Romans 12:2

As you re-examine politikos in the context of Christian worldview, we believe you'll see how essential it is for our participation in society, our navigation in everyday life, our understanding of the culture (especially the scary parts that you avoid), the application of the Word (e.g.,  discernment), the doing of God's work (e.g.,  discipleship), and the  "GOing" of the Great Commission (e.g., moving from passive to active in the world).  This awareness fuels our opportunity as Christians to witness, to mature, and to carry out our earthly responsibilities for the Kingdom. 

On Religious Liberty:  Author David Closson gives 4 reasons Christians should care about politics :

1. The Christian worldview speaks to all areas of life

2. Politics are unavoidable

3. We need to love our neighbor

4. Government is supposed to restrain evil and promote good

IPeter5 warns believers to, "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  How similar is our condition compared to Eve's when, "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die!'”    - Genesis 3:4

People are enormously programmed by their society to believe what they believe. Every Christian needs to remember that the enemy (satan) rules the world, and most of the construct you believe - and maybe even use for teaching and preaching - is not God's Truth. Man's truth has been contrived and programmed into us.  Pastors can't say they are preaching God's Truth and shepherding the flock by adhering to a pietist theology - as if those things happening on earth are extraneous to a walk of faith.  What we do and think on earth is HOW we grow and apply our faith. We are commanded to be cunning as serpents because (not if) we are a target and humans are easily deceived.  This is all spelled out in Matthew 10. Just as a person has free will to stand on the railroad tracks and pray a train doesn't come, Christians have the free will to ignore discerning the world around them and recognizing the Enemy.  Through apathy and naivete, Christians are manifestly standing on the railroad tracks in danger, inert and bound-up, while the enemy has its way and God still waits on us. Are you following the Spirit's lead and stepping out to do Kingdom work that's so hard it is only possible through prayer and blessing? That's what Paul meant by "abounding in the work of the Lord" in 1Cor. 15:58.

The Bible instructs:

-  that Jesus Christ,  God and His Word are Truth

-   that we are to walk in Truth

-   that we are to discern Truth

-  that we are to expose Evil (Evil=Untruth and deception)

-   that Wisdom requires Faith + Truth, 

-   that Truth conquers Evil, as light overcomes dark.

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Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!   - Isaiah 5:20 

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol.  And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.  He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.   - 1Kings 4:29-34 NIV

Challenge Catalyst:  Read  Answers to Questions About Spiritual Warfare by David Jeremiah. Video here.