Being Political is Biblical! Ignoring Politics is not Biblical!
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’”
The adage, “There are two things you never talk about in polite society, religion and politics,” used to be considered sacrosanct. Religion should be saved for a house of worship, and politics should be saved for the voting booth. The adage made for less conflict, as if harmony was the greatest good, even in unjust times. It was harmony above all else that caused German Christians to avoid the signs of injustice leading up to the Nazi atrocities.
The religion & politics adage is not Biblical, no matter how often we treat it as such. In the book of Genesis, Joseph is more than a singer and dancer, with an Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joseph uses and manipulates the most powerful man in the world, Pharaoh, emotionally and politically for his benefit and for that of his people. David, a lowly shepherd who was the youngest, becomes a king, the highest rung on the political ladder. Even God’s blessed David is described using political means for sinful purposes by manipulating war to kill Uriah and bed Bethsheba. The examples continue throughout and become even more direct in the stories of the prophets.
Don’t even try to say, “Yes, but that is the Old Testament. Jesus wasn’t political.” The gospels intentionally bring the Messiah into the world amid the political act of taxation. Jesus’ ministry deliberately poked the beast that was the Roman Empire. Jesus’ death on the Roman cross was a political act used by God to bring reconciliation to a needy and unjust world. Christians often misquote the Apostle Paul regarding the civil authorities being called by God. Paul was building a fledging sect of Christianity around the Roman Empire. Momentary compromise does not equate to an everlasting commandment.
At different times in the Church’s life, we have strived to wisely balance moments of speaking truth to justice with necessary compromise. Compromise can be acceptable unless a governmental leadership creates an environment opposed to the will of God. In those cases, we are called to “give to God what is God’s.” In this age of open rebellion against mutual respect and compassion, you are called to choose God or Caesar. It is the Church’s call to make our decision for God clear; otherwise, too many will unintentionally put Caesar first!
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