Readings for today: Psalms 47-49, Acts 26
We live in deeply divided political times. Not only here in America but around the world. The tribal impulse lying deep in the heart of every person is breaking out in violence across the globe. Democrats vs. Republicans. Progressives vs. conservatives. Left wing extremism vs. right-wing extremism. Fascism vs. communism. Authoritarian regimes vs. populist uprisings. The conflicts are often ethnic, religious, and socio-economic. Each class vying for power. Each tribe jockeying for control. Each party seeking to dominate the other. The rhetoric is heated and often hateful. Political opponents are often cast as traitors and enemies of the state. Violence is subtly or not so subtly encouraged. Fear has been weaponized. Anxiety has been conscripted. Shame has been employed to devastating effect in the cause of ideological purity.
What’s a Christian to do? How should a Christ-follower respond? Well, I love how the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” What is Paul talking about here? He’s talking about using a gentle answer to turn away wrath. He’s talking about confronting violence by turning the other cheek. He’s talking about addressing hatred with love. He’s talking about overcoming hurt and pain with forgiveness and grace. Now some might call Paul naive. Some might consider him a Pollyanna. Some might argue you have to fight fire with fire lest you be consumed. But Paul’s no stranger to abuse. Paul’s no stranger to injustice. Paul’s no stranger to pain and suffering. Furthermore, even a cursory reading of the Book of Acts shows how politically savvy Paul could be whether it was arguing in front of the Sanhedrin or before the Areopagus in Athens or attempting to convince King Agrippa to place his faith in Christ or ultimately in his appeal to Rome. Paul used each and every trial to proclaim Jesus and he never resorted to underhanded or manipulative tactics to achieve his goals.
What shaped Paul’s approach? What gave him the confidence to stand fast when the temptation would be to use whatever means necessary to preserve his own life or the lives of those he loved? It was his confidence in God. Paul was a Pharisee. He had the Old Testament memorized. From birth, he had been raised to believe and to trust in the sovereignty of God. I imagine when Paul found himself on trial before political or religious authorities, he may have even recited the words from Psalm 47 to himself…
“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!”
What would happen if we truly believed God ruled the nations of the earth? What would happen if we truly lived as if God were seated on His throne? How would it change the way we live, the way we interact, the way we engage politically if we had complete and utter confidence that though earthly kingdoms rise and fall, the Kingdom of God endures forever? Friends, love of country is a good thing, it simply cannot become an ultimate thing. Political engagement is a good thing, it simply cannot become a cage match to the death. Standing up for what you believe is a good thing but not if you are standing on the backs of those who may disagree with you. Ideological purity leads to idolatry when we forget that it is God who sits on the throne of the universe.
Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 50-52, Acts 27:1-26