The Politics of Jesus

Was Jesus involved in politics?
In the broad definition, politics is the life of the city (Greek: polis) plus the responsibilities of the citizen, or the art of living together in a community. Hey, I bet you can guess where this is going to go! The narrow definition is the science of government, and is concerned with development and adoption of legislation. So, in the narrow sense, Jesus was not directly involved in politics. In the broader sense of the work, his entire life and work was political. Jesus came to share the life of the human community, and he sent his followers into the world to do the same.

The values of the Kingdom he proclaimed were and are radically different from the values of the world. The politics of Jesus always challenge oppression and are characterized by justice.

If Jesus was involved in politics, why weren't his followers politically active in government?
Some were. Consider Zaccheus, whose story is told in Luke 19. He was a corrupt tax collector who, after encountering Jesus, gave half his possessions to poor, and repaid four times the amounts he had cheated people.

It's also important to remember that Jesus's earliest followers operated during a totalitarian regime. Would the disciples have been politically active in the government if they had lived in different circumstances? Yes! The first followers didn't abolish slavery, but subsequent generations are very proud to have done so.

Why do some people oppose the connection of church and politics?
There always will be people who, for very good reasons, are hostile to the church being politically involved, both from within the church, and without. When a government or system seeks to subvert the church to a cause that is not consistent with the politics of Jesus, the results can be horrifying. Consider the efforts of Hitler to force the church to support the Nazi regime. The church cannot afford to give loyalty to a system that is not in conformity to the gospel.

Is global change really possible?
Absolutely. Listen to the song of Mary. This is the song of a young, unmarried, pregnant woman who claims that God can do powerful things, through people just like her. Mary was a part of a change that began in one woman, and moved through Nazareth, Galilee, Judea, Samaria, and beyond.

Yes, human beings are fallen creatures, and there is great danger in the connection of church and politics. And yes, we should continue to be the salt of Cary, of Raleigh, of Holly Springs, and the earth.

Global change is possible, and in fact, it has happened already. Consider the rising standards of hygiene and health care, the increasing respect for women and children, and the availability of education. There is a clearer recognition of human rights and a growing concern for the environment. Global change has already begun.

So what should we do?
In 1 Thessalonians 1 Paul is sending encouragement and appreciation to the church there, who have been getting God's work right. "You [have] became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. …your faith in God has become known everywhere…They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven..."

Serve and wait. An interesting combination of being busy, and being still, isn't it? It's like raising children – you work so hard, but you can't make them grow up any faster, you just have to wait for that part.

What has God given us to work with?
Four gifts:

1. Our minds. We are rational, intelligent creatures, not mules. Jesus followers are to be mature in our thinking, not babies.

2. The Bible. Not so we can whack people over the head with it by proof-texting or endless arguing. It is our job to grasp the great themes, to hear the hope, and name it to all around us.

3. The Holy Spirit. Who will open scripture to us, and empower us to apply it in our lives.

4. The community of God's people. Here's where we can do our best thinking, where we can encourage one another in service, and help each other to wait. The fact that we are so different from one another is a great safeguard against tunnel vision. We are diverse, and diversely gifted. This is the way God intended for us to live. This is our politics.

What are Angels?

Origins and Purpose of Angels
The Bible doesn’t give us much information about the origins of angels. They show up throughout scripture, but are not the focus of the story. Their primary purpose seems to be as attendants to God's throne (Daniel 7:9-10, Isaiah 6, Revelation 8:2-5, Luke 1:19, and more) and as messengers of God (Luke 1:28, Exodus 3, and more). They are a medium of God's power, and carry out God's missions.

What about evil Angels?
The Bible is clear that evil does not exist in a relationship of equality with good (dualism). Evil angels are depicted, but they in no way an equivalent power to God. Evil is a result of the trait of free will that both the angels and humans have.

Where do we get Guardian Angels?
We see guardian angels a lot in scripture. In the Old Testament, God sends angels to protect the Hebrew people during their exodus from Egypt, to lead the people to the promised land, and to destroy hostile tribes in their way (Exodus 23:20-23). Probably the most well-known reference is Psalm 91:11 where it is says, "[God] will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone…"

Hallmark Angels are Lame
People have made angels creatures of sentimentalism and pathos, but this is about as helpful as the popular image of "gentle Jesus, meek and mild" in his perfectly clean and pressed white robes. The scripture doesn't show us images like this, but rather depicts angels as creatures who are powerful and often terrifying or overwhelming, holy but not without sin.

So what is all this to me?
There's so much mystery when it comes to the ways of God and angels. Perhaps our best response to the presence of angels has to do with listening (for messages God sends through angels), being thankful to God (for protection and communication), and even enjoying and joining in the praise of the heavenly hosts.

The image is an oil painting by Ralph Siriani titled "Angel" (1990).