I have been writing and teaching a lot lately on faith in politics. My last post on this topic generated some really good discussion. Several weeks ago, I asked each member of our church Family to read through the Scriptures and come up with their thoughts and questions about faith and politics. Today, I wanted to post an email from my friend Marion. Marion was born and raised in Germany, and now lives here in the United States. I really appreciate her take on faith in politics as she read through the book of Matthew.
OK, I got the book of Matthew open and my thinking cap on
First of all, I really liked how you distinguished institutions from communities yesterday! [read here for more]
I think for me as a Christian it is challenging to live FOR God’s Kingdom while living IN this world. I don’t know if that makes sense…
When I see so many Christians in the grip of social and political angst, I wonder what fuels our fears:
Is it the fear of loss of control or do we worry that without our interference, God won’t be able to handle whatever situation we are concerned about (such as gay marriage).What a small box I put my God in sometimes!
If I believe in His Providence, then I also must submit to it and accept, that no matter how bad things like abortion, genocide, war, world hunger or disease are (just to name a few), they are ALL part of His good purpose and will, part of a plan so big, we will never wrap our brains around it.
But when I accept that, I must also realize that He will fulfill that plan with or without my assistance and involvement in political causes, no matter how noble they are.
But does that mean we should just stand by and watch, turning Christianity into a “spectator sport”?Does God’s Kingdom begin with and in me and if so, shouldn’t I be politically involved for “biblical” reasons??
I read through the book of Matthew and looked at how Jesus always makes a distinction between the Heavenly Kingdom and the world we live in, between laws and rules made by men and God’s Laws.
I think Jesus wants us to be aware of that distinction and when confronted with worldly issues such as taxes and laws set forth by the pharisees, He always seems to point away from those worldly dilemmas by pointing through Himself upward to God and the Kingdom He serves, making sure we understand that God’s Kingdom is not of this world.
These are the passages I read: Matthew 6:33-34; 15:1-9; 18:24-26; 22:18-21 and Luke 20:45-47
The world is God’s footstool and Heaven His throne. Nations, societies and their laws and political environments, cultures and rulers are raised and taken down by our God and for His purpose. The world as we know it is destined to die along with abortions, wars, pollution, global warming and disease.
That is why I need to put my faith and hope in Christ and the everlasting Kingdom He will come to establish here on earth, not in presidents, political parties, social causes or changes in man-made laws.
If given the chance, I will speak out and try to make a difference but I will not validate my faith in Christ with political activism.
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