Much has been
brewing in my brain for the last months concerning assaults, refugees and all
sorts of reactions to the two. I know that many have written about this and that
more will do so. Here are my questions and thoughts for/to myself.
Don’t
conflate your faith with your politics
We
have a task
Solve
the problems of the world
My faith is not my politics
My politics
should be informed by my faith, not the other way around. It is not my politics
which should dictate how I feel about certain Biblical principles. When I hear
someone say that the Bible teaches that we are to love our neighbors, love our
enemies, do good for all – and my first reaction is to wonder what this
person’s political slant on the topic is – then I need to beware. My allegiance
is to my King, not my country, not my party, not my State and not even to my
football team.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. ... Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus (Matthew 5:44-45, 48)
It is good that my faith impacts what I
decide to do in my daily life. It is correct
that my beliefs should have an
influence on what I consider to be good, valuable, moral, correct. But let it
be then so: my faith impacts my politics. This is a truth – I will never find a political party that is
good in every way as it should be according to my faith (if my faith is in
Christ Jesus). And, I don’t really think that is what I want. Isn’t that what
bothers most people about some Muslim countries? That they are a theocracy
instead of a democracy?
I do live in a kingdom, but although it
is here now on this earth (and should be impacting this earth as well) it is
not of this world. My King is the King of kings. He is a dictator and puts up
with no other trying to be monarch beside Him. I do not belong on the throne,
Jesus does. And what He says is most important, above all. Could it be that I
have allowed my faith, my daily life with Jesus to be dulled by my politics
(whatever they are)?
Politics is an
imperfect tool for what we as Christians want to accomplish. Laws and politics can only
affect actions of people regressively. Jesus Christ affects the heart and
changes how we think, which truly changes what we do. It is this change that we
wish to see in the world. Evangelism is a precise tool, wielded by a mighty,
loving King through us as His followers.
A task to keep I have...
What a beautiful
song and what a truth. As a child of the King I have been given a task (and so
have you). My task is not to make sure that everyone in the world votes in a
democracy. My task is not to feed the world, or even to make sure that the
earth continues. Of course these things are impacted by my task, as well they
should be. But I have a specific task (as do you). My task is to live
obediently for Jesus Christ and to be part of His body, bringing as many people
as possible into the redemption of the blood of Christ.
There are worse
things happening in this world than ISIS. There are worse things happening than
global warming. There are worse things happening than cancer. People are dying
eternally. And my Father does not want that to happen! “Well, why doesn’t He do
something about it then?” He is. He came and died for us all, rose from the grave
and lives now in us through His Spirit. Now He is working through us to
sanctify – make holy – this world full of people. God is using me for the most
important task there is: letting people know how they can be saved eternally.
And sometimes I
lose sight of that task. I get sidetracked into the fear of what is happening
in the world. I forget that God knows what is happening and He can use even me
in these circumstances – if I will allow it. Will I allow it? At this moment
God is bringing all sorts of opportunities and dropping them at my feet – I
don’t even have to go looking for them. Will I keep to my task?
Solve the problems of the world
Where we live,
there is a high rate of radicalization among the young muslim population
(compared to other countries). People are worried about bringing more
terrorists in to the country. How can we combat this radicalization, everyone
asks. “Stricter immigration laws!” “More jobs!” “Integration courses!”
“Acceptance and multiculturalism!”
How
can I as a Christian think that any of the problems in society are going to be
solved without Jesus Christ? Do I really think that I can combat corruption in
the banking world by asking the banks to re-write their rules of engagement and
be nicer? Do I really think that stricter rules will keep killers from finding
ways to do what their evil minds think of day and night? The book of Proverbs
tells me different.
Does that mean
that we should not have laws or that we should and can do nothing? Not at all. But isn’t it true that if I were to focus on bringing people
to Christ that those people would apply the good of Christ, the grace and
righteousness that comes from the King, to their daily lives as well – in the
bank, in government, in their daily lives? I truly do
believe that God is mighty, able to change murderers into saviors. I have seen
it happen before.
So, if we truly
want to react to radicalism, we should be focusing on how we can bring Christ
into this milieu. And look! God is bringing people to us! So now, shouldn’t we
be looking at how we can use this opportunity to preach the Prince of Peace? Is
that politically correct? Of course not! But I truly want to solve the problems
of the world.
And why has it
taken this to wake me up? There have been refugees before. There haven been
opportunities before. Was I sleeping? Then no more. It took persecution to wake
the first Christians up to their task. They fled Jerusalem as refugees. But
everywhere they went they preached Jesus Christ
Those who had been scattered
preached the word wherever they went.
