Comments on: Neglected: Politics

By: Matt Randall

Matt Randall — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:53:15 +0000

I happened to look over the shoulder of the guy sitting in front of me on the MAX this morning and took in the headlines of today. While I only listened to the first 30 minutes of the debate, it was the main topic of the articles. I allowed myself to stew about this for a few minutes – shame on me – and then opened my Bible.

Psalm 46
“1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah”

There are a few things in the middle verses too that are comforting, but the first and 10th verses really struck me. Who am I putting my hope in? God is my refuge. No matter what is going on around me. Even when nations are in uproar and kingdoms fall (v. 6). Even when disasters strike and everything looks bleak. The writer of the Psalm says “be still”. Know that God is God. The Lord Almighty is with (me). What an awesome reminder!

By: Reed

Reed — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:32:08 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Michael. I agree, the call for the Christian is beyond a call to political action, although at certain times we must surely move through those channels. In the end, the key, as you say, is our duty to be just to others. It is more than charity and of course much more than apathy – it is looking into the eyes of the other and in them seeing Christ (Matthew 25).

By: Michael T

Michael T — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:20:18 +0000

I enjoyed your message and its perspective. Not just on the topic at hand but on Philippians as well — it’s my favorite work of Paul.

There’s another place in the Gospel where Jesus makes the same sort of point. In the Gospel of John he says, at 18.36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” He’s saying, I think, that he’s a king in a sense Pilate can’t begin to understand, but that we — his followers — can understand.

Jesus uses the word “basileia” here, and though it’s often translated as “kingdom” many scholars say “reign” would be better. One of them makes the point that our responsibilities as Christians far outweigh any earthly politics we might engage in:

“The heavenly reign, though it undercuts the earthly reign’s claims to be more than what it is, does not exempt Christians from the duties of all human beings to be just to others, according to the rules of temporal conduct. But it goes far beyond those rules. It treats the lowest person, the outcast, as if he were Jesus. Those who try to cram this overriding sense of duty within the structure of any state [read "party" or "program" here, or "democrat" or "republican"] are making Jesus a king in Pilate’s sense. They follow the lead of Jesus’ enemy, not of Jesus.” (Garry Wills)

Also: thanks for the background on “skuvbalon.” Made me laugh.