Pondering a thought on faith and politics

Pondering a thought on faith and politics today, and it has left me thinking of how little has changed in some ways since Christ's day.

Christ's disciples wanted Him to establish an earthly kingdom, to be a militant messiah and overthrow the much hated Romans. He told them (and the Pharisees) in Luke 17:20-21 that the kingdom was of a spiritual nature. He reiterated this to Pontius Pilate during His trial; His way was not the way of war and blood, or of coercion and politics. It was a hard, and bitter I think, lesson for His ambitious disciples to learn. They wanted God to answer things in just their way, not in a manner of gentleness and meekness.

Today, even though believers have the Holy Bible to read and study, concordances to ponder and research, tomes of theology to pore through...many believers are still focused on making a "Kingdom of God" here on earth...if not through force, then through politics. It is as if they are trying to repeat the disciples struggles and heart ache as they realize God's way is a different way. God's way is above our political scrums.

It is one thing to have a political viewpoint and then go vote; but so many today are claiming God endorses their party's platform, and thus their own personal political viewpoint, and those who disagree are wrong, sinful or stupid. (I am seeing a distinct lack of Christian love, understanding and compassion in this realm.) God's people aren't meant to be focusing all their time and energies trying to force an earthly Kingdom of God here in the good ol' USA; we are meant to be spreading the Gospel and God's love to all corners of our neighborhoods, communities and the world. We are meant to aim for higher things than name-calling, angry discourse and political taint. Because....when you step back and look at it, both main parties in this country fall far short of God's "platform" and neither are righteous. Both parties have liars, exploiters, sexually immoral and hateful people among them. Both parties are of this world, and thus are dingy and heavy with the world's baggage.

We, as believers, are meant to think on things "lovely and pure." Politics surely isn't that. We are to help bring the Good News of Christ's abundant love and sacrifice to the lost and hurting, not use our personal "platforms" in life to shout out political arguments. (It is one thing to have a good, civil discussion amongst people concerning politics, but people don't do that- they hold onto their standard and then shout it out to the world- either through facebook posts, emails, angry encounters with neighbors.) We are meant to be feeding the hungry, visiting and aiding the elderly, seeking out the broken and hurting to offer solace, to stand up for the vulnerable and to show our joy in the Lord.

If we are known more by our political posts than by our love of the Lord, what does that say about our priorities? What does it say about who we really serve?

So step back a minute- realize you can't by embracing your political platform create God's kingdom in the here and now- that's not how God works. God can take care of setting up His earthly Kingdom when He's ready. We are meant to be doing the footwork- to show His love, to reach out, to care. Consider that your political focus is taking away from your focus on God, and probably driving wedges in between you and some of your friends and family. (I'm pretty sure politics is a tool of the devil actually- it divides people, causes anger, inspires lying, can be corrupted by money and ignores the weakest....it surely isn't of God!)

Don't let politics become your master, it offers nothing but what the world can give, and promises a life of discord and agitation. The Lord God has invited you to help build His Kingdom instead- one based on love, compassion and joy.

Be blessed friends, and be a blessing to someone else.

-Beth Butler