Editorial: Faith, politics and the true Kingdom of God

In case you missed it, it’s election season in America. As a result, everything from shoes to graduations, even Bibles and churches, has been politicized. It’s just the most recent version of the long-running tension between faith and politics.

Pilate struggled between what he knew to be true and what he thought was politically best. He knew Jesus was innocent. He also knew Jewish leaders would not accept acquittal. So in an act of historic cowardice, Pilate deflected responsibility to the crowd. Should he release Jesus or Barabbas?

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The choice was not simply between two prisoners. The choice was between radically different understandings of God’s kingdom. Barabbas represented the well-worn desire for power, violence and control. Jesus offered something different: justice, love and mercy.

Today’s church faces a similar choice. If we are not careful, we risk reducing the Gospel to little more than a tool of partisan battle rather than upholding it as God’s power to save. We are tempted to toss parts of Scripture toward political opponents while overlooking its impact on our lives.

Hear David French discuss how Christians should exhibit the fruits of the Spirit as they engage in politics in this episode of The Christian Chronicle podcast.

Consider a typical Sunday. The opening prayer asks God to “lead this nation back to you,” and we disagree on whether the country was ever with God. The sermon addresses what it means to bear God’s image, and we wonder whether the preacher is attacking abortion or treatment of “illegal aliens.” And if Bible class happens to land us in the Sermon on the Mount, we sit on edge, wondering if talk of lust and divorce is code for the LGBTQ debate or the accusations against a particular candidate.

And then comes the conversations in the foyer or over lunch. “I don’t see how anyone can call themselves a Christian and vote ____” (insert party affiliation or candidate here).

“Whether we admit it or not, politics are dividing the church. We have allowed our politics to shape our faith, rather than letting our faith shape our political engagement.”

Whether we admit it or not, politics are dividing the church. We have allowed our politics to shape our faith, rather than letting our faith shape our political engagement. The Gospel is political by nature, but not in ways playing out this year or in any other election cycle. The Gospel should make people of every political persuasion take note.

The problem is not in voting for this party or that party, this candidate or that candidate. Neither is it choosing to abstain from voting at all. The problem is the idolatrous trust placed in any party or candidate.

The real sin comes when the church delegates our responsibility of being a “City on a Hill” to a nation or leaders whose goals are power, wealth and control rather than justice, love and mercy.

When the church gathers for worship, we declare to the world that Christ alone is King! That is what defines our fellowship.

“The real sin comes when the church delegates our responsibility of being a “City on a Hill” to a nation or leaders whose goals are power, wealth and control rather than justice, love and mercy.”

When Pilate offered the crowd a choice, they chose to keep doing what had always been done. They voted yet again for the failed approach of violence, force and hatred over the true Kingdom of God.

What if the crowd could know what we know — that the true Son of the Father would soon rise from the dead? Would they have chosen differently?

And yet, we do know. God help us make the better choice.

JEREMIE BELLER is opinions editor for The Christian Chronicle. He is dean of Bible and director of church relations for Oklahoma Christian University. He serves as the congregational minister for the Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.

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