The Political Fray

Posted by Jonathan Brink

July 22, 2008

I wrestle with politics. I am part of the poly, yet I don’t really want to end up looking or feeling like a tick. And so in this political season I am seriously asking what role I am playing.

I’m not one to dismiss what happens in politics as simply some grand empire looking to oppress us, even though it contains that possibility. I don’t see the Empire as an entity unto itself, but a reflection of humanity’s brokenness doing exactly what brokenness does. It looks to build protective mechanisms (laws) and structures (governments) to enact those laws. We elect leaders who we hope will take care of our concerns, but are constantly pressed against collective special interest groups who can essentially control the whole process so a few get special treatment. This is not surprising to me. It is the system that history teaches us.

So what is my part as a follower of Jesus. Do I cast my vote hoping some great politician can rise above the political fray and lead us to the promised land? No. But I will cast my vote as a civic opportunity but I won’t place so much hope in one or a few people. Will I do everything I can to get involved in the political process, hoping to create some shift in people’s expectations, policy and outcomes. No. But I will listen to how God wants me to love my neighbor.

You see I do want to participate in the polity for the sake of building a kingdom that looks like humanity. I want to participate in an alternative polity that reveals His kingdom. I want to hopefully, through love and trust, reveal His kingdom that resides within the world around us. This has always been the power of Christianity, to reveal an alternative message. And this message is always bent towards sacrifice. It is bent towards transforming the world around us, beginning with loving my neighbor.

Because this has always been what made community great, the willingness for people to love in sacrifice. And it is my judgment that people want leaders who ask them to sacrifice. This has always been what made America great.

When I look at the life of Jesus, I see a man who was participating. But his participation was not directed by those in political leadership (religious or civic). He was motivated by His Father’s mission to restore the world around him. And not every nook and cranny, but the part that His Father was calling him to. He had a note to play and he played it well.

This seems right to me. I want to participate in that little space that I am designed for and called to. I don’t want to solve the world’s problems, only the ones that God calls me to. And right now He’s calling me to love.

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This post is part of a Synchroblog. You can find the full list of participants at the bottom.

Phil Wyman rants about The Talking Points of Presumption
Lainie Petersen considers Questioning the Citizen Diety
Adam Gonnerman explains The Living Christ’s Present Reign
Sonja Andrews Won’t Get Fooled Again
Mike Bursell at Mike’s Musings
Sally Coleman at Eternal Echoes
Steve Hayes on God’s Politics
Matthew Stone at Matt Stone Journeys in Between
Steve Hollinghurst at On Earth as in Heaven
KW Leslie tells us about God’s Politics
Julie Clawson at One Hand Clapping
Dan Stone at The Tense Before
Alan Knox asks Is God Red, Blue, or Purple?
Beth Patterson writes about Learners inheriting the earth: the politics of God
Erin Word discusses Hanging Chad Theology

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Alan Knox

You said this so much better than I did. You're right that Jesus did not participate in the civic or religious agendas of his day. Instead, he kept to the Father's "agenda" - working his will and his mission. That's the call to all of us who follow Jesus as well.

-Alan

Tyler Braun

I love how you worded this. Jesus being a man who participated but in a different way. I really resonate with that. Nice post.

Jonathan Brink

Thanks Alan and Tyler.

Phil Wyman

Jonathan,

We held our Pub Theology Night tonight, and considered what you ponder here. What is our part in this political environment? What is God asking me (not the other) to be and do. Thanks for framing this in that manner.

Beth Patterson

Hi Jonathan--
Thanks for this thoughtful post--
Are you familiar with Richard Rohr's video series, 'A Crisis of Faith'? It's 4 or 5 films that explore the western crisis...and 2 of them are really good. The one that your post reminds me of is called 'Portrait of a Radical'. It's too long to put on a YouTube, but someone might be able to find a way to link it as a video--in the meantime, here's a YouTube trailer on the series (A Crisis of Faith). The films are excellent, and 'Portrait of a Radical' especially, as it helps us explore the radical nature of Jesus--in his apolitical stance!

Thanks again for your thoughtful blog--
Beth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eckllq7kMvc