Kingdom Politics

“[The Lord] says, ‘Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!’” –Psalm 46:10

Let’s talk a little about politics in the Church.

Consider how much time the people of God pray to the Lord for this leader or that one, throwing their energies into electing defective politicians to bring about order and security—regardless of the failure of men to establish such things (1Sa 8:20). We are so eager for rulers to fight our battles and ease our pain, foolishly placing lesser thornbushes to lord over cedars—finding only judgment instead of safety (Jdg 9:8-15). We are in a corrupt spiral of decay, and think we can change direction by just selecting a different king, rejecting the only King that matters (1Sa 8:7).

I believe it is time for us to take up spiritual arms and march into the dark places of our culture, leaning ONLY on the power of the King of kings (Rev 19:16). Because the people who march under His banner will look dramatically different than those who walk under the systems of the world (Mat 5-7).

“Many people seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.” –Proverbs 29:26

Let us discontinue our demands that government sanction prayer in schools. You go and gather around local schools and walk their hallways, lifting up the children and the teachers of the community (Psa 34:11).

Let us put an end to petitioning legislators to feed the hungry. You give them something to eat (Jam 2:16), showing them what government handouts will never be able to provide—the mercies of God (Luke 6:30-36).

Let us stop scheming to overturn a court decision that we think will magically stop child sacrifice. You be active in creating a culture of life in every sphere of influence, declaring every child a blessing from God (Eze 16:21-22; Psa 139:13) by offering up your home and resources to the orphans (Jam 1:27; Deu 10:17-18). Cry as Mother Teresa, “If you don’t want your children—Give them to me!”

Let us limit our lobbying efforts for prison reform. You go and visit those in prison (Mat 25:39-40). You venture behind physical bars as one who has been certainly released from spiritual shackles, sharing the key to true transformation and freedom (Eph 1:7).

Let us cease screaming for laws to shut out same-sex marriage. You lovingly proclaim that the law of God is superior to the declarations of men who think themselves god and call evil good (Isa 5:20). And declare loudly there is a solution to every deadly desire that plagues humanity (Gal 5:17,24), including lustful passions that must be severed lest they lead to death (Mark 9:43-47; 1Th 4:3-5; Eph 5:3-5).

Let us halt our marching to overturn systems believed to be racially motivated. We are too quick to pronounce judgment in ignorance, thinking we see a thing clearly when we haven‘t even heard both sides (Pro 18:17). We must purge our own hearts of partiality (Jam 2:1) so that we can see clearly and show compassion to another’s real plight (Luke 6:31). We must seek whole heartedly to reach all peoples, glorifying in the great beauty of God’s diverse kingdom (Rev 5:9; 7:9; 1Co 12:12). We must proclaim only Christ as the solution to the great divide (Eph 2:13-16), for only by the Holy Spirit are the barriers of understanding breached (Gen 11:7; Acts 2:1-11). Thus, we must call upon Him to change the hearts of men who cannot see past exterior flesh (John 8:15).

Let us cease demanding that retail companies and television producers abide by God’s purity standards. Not to say that we do not urge everyone to turn from evil and seek after what is good, but we have no business judging those on the outside. We are to judge those on the inside (1Co 5:12-13) in order to encourage the body of Christ to remain unstained by a sinful world (Jam 1:27).

Please understand, this is not a cry for pacifism, but an abandonment of faithless requests (Jam 1:6-8), and a plea for power-filled prayer (Jam 5:16). This is not a call to retreat from the political sphere of our nation, but an effective advance within the workings of a more powerful kingdom mindset.

“For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.” –1 Corinthians 4:20

We have been playing the endless game of the world, a trap of trying to sandbag our temporary shelters against a tidal wave of symptoms rather addressing the source of the storm. A Heart of stone will not bow the knee—and so we have but ONE Hope of calling any nation to be “one nation under God” (Eze 36:24-27).

And if we are God’s children, if we follow Christ, we are exiles in this world (1Pe 2:11). We should act and pray like it (Jer 29:4-7). Consider how our cultural pledges have compromised our devotion to our higher calling and divided our loyalty (Luke 16:13).

What would it look like if God’s people in this country would see their true citizenship in heaven (Phi 3:20)? What would it look like if the Church sought to bring our culture together under Christ, instead of seeking to unify people in the flesh as nebulous “Americans”? What would it look like if instead of casting ballots, the people of God cast all their cares upon Christ (1Pe 5:5-7) and pleaded with the King of the universe daily for the nation (1Ti 2:1-2)? What if instead of seeking to give power to weak men standing on broken platforms, we walked in the power and authority given to us as disciples (Luke 10:19)? What if we stopped trying to form “a more perfect union” utopian here on earth and sought to build only God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness (Mat 6:33)?

What if we truly saw ourselves as ambassadors of Christ (2Co 5:20) and not affiliated or committed to any earthly platform or party? For how often have God’s people throughout history allowed themselves to be manipulated by selfish men consumed with their own ambitions and agenda by them promising to advance godly principles? King Jesus needs no political party to gain ground. We should be committed to being salt and light to the world around us (Mat 5:13-1-16), seeking their spiritual prosperity and peace with God (Jer 29:7; 2Co 5:18).

What would it look like if we stop playing political games to force upon the citizenry of this country holy legislation, and instead focused on our own obedience (1Co 5:12), praying for the heart transformation of our enemies (Mat 5:44)? Why should we desire the spread of godless democracy? We should be devoted first and foremost to the spreading of the greatest of news that King Jesus reigns above all powers (Isa 52:7)—even “We the People.”

Oh, that the church would humble itself, recognize its short-sighted view, and profess its limited understanding. Why do we cling to anything but the truth of your word (John 17:17)? Why do we so arrogantly proclaim we have the physical solution to spiritual problems, when we see but only a piece of the puzzle, and only its back (Ecc 3:11; 10:13-15)? Why are we so assured of our judgments over the unseen intentions of others (Mat 7:1; 1Co 4:3)? Why are we so confident in our information based on godless news sources (I’m talking about all of them), boasting of “facts” that have no basis in truth (John 14:6)? Why are we so compelled to take sides in cultural debate, choosing between idols (Jos 24:15), and declaring allegiance to Pharisees or Sadduces, neither of whom please God (Mat 16:6)? We highlight the error of one-side, and become blind to the offenses of the other. For while we think we see a spec in our neighbor’s eye, we are still blind to the log in our own (Mat 7:3-5).

So let us stop our striving and set our eyes only upon Christ. For only if our vision is filled with His glory can we see clearly the way ahead.