I became a Christian in the late 80’s. Historically this was the time that the “Moral Majority” movement was in full swing. The moral majority was a reaction to what many religious and political leaders believed was the decline of the moral culture in America. Proof of this decline was the legalization of abortion and the removal of prayer from public schools. As a new Christian, I remember campaigns to educate churches on how to vote. Soon I assumed that if you were not Republican than you probably were not a Christian. Republicans defended the life of the unborn. I can remember many of my Christians friends puzzled on how anyone could be a Democrat and still be a Christian. In those early years of my Christian walk I was convinced that Jesus would certainly endorse those of the Republican Party. Right? Just as strongly as I felt Jesus would endorse Republicans over Democrats I have found Democrats who are convinced that Jesus would be on their side. Many of my Democrat friends believe that issues such as civil rights, the poor, and the underprivileged are people that Jesus would want to serve. Hence Jesus would certainly endorse those of their party.
So, who would Jesus endorse? Even though Christians for years have used their beliefs and influence to promote different candidates and political parties I believe that this question really is not a good question to ask. Here is why this is not a good question. Jesus himself was silent on the political matters of his day. Jesus seemed to show very little interest in who was running Rome and what policies they were enacting. Now to say Jesus was not political would not be right either. Jesus was very political. His politics though were focused on the Kingdom he was starting. When Jesus started preaching in what we know today as the Sermon on the Mount, his message was not a message for believers to leverage power to get things done in their home countries. Jesus was literally starting a new government. He was starting a Revolution! He would become their King and those who accepted this Kingdom would become his subjects. Jesus said to seek his Kingdom as top priority. He gave instructions on how to live within this new kingdom and how to treat one another. Jesus was not so much concerned that Rome obeyed his teaching as he was concerned that his community would obey his teaching. Jesus was not trying to make Rome a better place to live but wanted his people to know that the Kingdom was the better place.
Jesus is neither for the politics of the Republican party or the Democrat party. These parties belong to a fading World. Jesus is for his party, the Kingdom. The Kingdom was his new community of redeemed people. A new humanity who would live life according to what he taught on the Sermon on the Mount. Certainly, as followers of Jesus we can vote what we believe might be the best candidate for this fading World, but we must recognize that neither party stands for God. Ultimately no politician or political party will solve the World’s problems. Only Jesus has done that through his work on the cross as he restores all of humanity. Today I recognize that there are many godly people in different political parties. No party can encompass all that the Kingdom encompasses or promotes. Hence believers should respect and love other believers in different parties than the one they are in. They should learn and share from one another and ultimately only have allegiance to Jesus. What party does Jesus endorse? The answer is his party, the kingdom.
Comments