Anyone who is paying attention has noticed the rise in the rhetoric of politicians–all of them trying to capitalize on tragedy to push their agenda and/or candidacy. I understand and accept that. That’s what they do. They are part of a worldly system and they are acting like it.
But Christians aren’t. We have a different–and not entirely compatible–allegiance. We belong to the King, and we represent him (Paul calls us his ambassadors) to the world. Notice–we represent HIM–not ourselves. We do not represent a political party, an ideology of the world, a worldly cause, “rights” we fear we are losing, or even the cause of our own safety. If representing him calls for saying and doing things that anger the world, so be it. We speak the truth in love, but we speak the truth. We do not ally ourselves with worldly movements. Which means, if you belong to the King and are on the left wing or the right wing of American politics–you are on the wrong plane!
The truth is, the American political scene today is not compatible with the values our King has called us to. We do not hate, we love. We do not oppress, we strive for true justice. We do not retaliate, we turn the other cheek. We do not bend the truth, we speak honestly. And we do not disobey the King because something that is destined to be lost and destroyed is in jeopardy.
With all that said, may I humbly suggest a few things ambassadors of the King should be saying and doing now:
- Focus on the Gospel. Our priority is the reconciliation of those who are separated from God (meaning anyone who has not accepted the Lordship of Jesus) to God. Each of us should ask ourselves who we have shared the gospel with this week–and most of us will be disappointed in our own answers. We need to ask ourselves if anything else we say or do is detracting from the gospel. Before opening our mouths (or typing a word) we need to ask: “Is this going to further the gospel, or detract from it?”
- Love all men and women. The verb is “agape”, which means to do whatever is best for the other. So, when we talk about our rights, our values, our country (and why would a subject of the King refer to America as their country?) we have shifted the focus from God’s agenda to ours. Our life isn’t about us, our families or our country. It is about sharing the love of Jesus with those who do not know him.
- Repay evil with good. Our King, and those he commissioned to teach us how to live, universally condemned retaliation. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek. He meant it, and he lived it–as did his followers for centuries–until they began to believe they could be BOTH citizens of a worldly country (Rome) and of Heaven. Paul told us not to return evil for evil. SUPPORT OF ANY CANDIDATE OR AGENDA WHICH IGNORES THE TEACHING OF THE KING AND HIS REPRESENTATIVES IS, BY DEFINITION, REJECTION OF THE KING. So, we need to call people to peace, and focus them NOT on worldly conflicts, but on the one conflict which could result in their eternal destruction–the conflict between the unforgiven sinner and God. Believe me, when you face the possibility of your own death, you realize how little the rest mean.
- Reach out to the people the world rejects. Jesus said it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. The fact that someone is of another faith–or no faith, or is practicing sin in the world, does not earn our enmity. It means they are the ones who need the Lord the most. Ask the Lord to give you practical ways to show his love to these people.
- Speak the truth (literally live “truthing”) in love (agape). That means calling sin (terrorism) sin, and admitting reality without trying to bend it to our purpose.
There are also some things followers of the King should reject.
- Reject bigotry. All Muslims are sinners–just like Christians. All Muslims need Jesus–just like everyone else. Some Muslims are terrorists–and many Muslim extremists are. But not all Muslims are terrorists, or even support terrorism. Rather than supporting the bigotry of fearful jingoists, we should be a voice of reason–and if necessary, a shield to protect these people for whom Jesus died.
- Reject retaliation and war-mongering. The sword is given to the government to protect–not dominate. I don’t claim to be a military strategist, but I know evil people hide behind innocent people. There is a legitimate government objective in removing a military or paramilitary threat. But to do what many politicians are now suggesting would require an amazing cost in “collateral damage” (which translates to murdering large numbers of people). We would not think it reasonable for a police department to shoot everyone in an apartment building to be sure they stopped a murderer. It is no more reasonable when applied to people in another country and of another faith. This also means Christians must reject the idea that we have freedom of speech. I may feel like killing someone, but telling everyone that–and encouraging it–is unfaithful to the King. When I feel such things I need forgiveness and cleansing–not a platform to infect others with my sin.
- Reject lying, and stop ignoring lying. President Obama, Hillary Clinton, George Bush, Donald Trump and many others are lying. Do not believe lies. It is not hard to fact check and identify those lies. Stop repeating lies–even if the person saying them agrees with you on other positions. And stop supporting liars–anyone willing to lie to you and the world about something now is going to be willing to lie to you about other things later.
- Reject fear. I can’t afford to respond to you–or anyone else–based on my fear of what you might do. I can be watchful, and I don’t have to hand you a gun and say “shoot me”. But I’m not going to point a gun at you either. No one said representing the King would be safe. But we can’t be faithful to him while focused on our own safety.
A lot of people claim to belong to Jesus–and according to Jesus himself, many of them don’t. It is possible the same can be said of followers of Islam–but that isn’t my problem. I belong to Jesus, and I am talking to my fellow subjects of the King. If we allow ourselves to be co-opted by the world–especially at a time of such significance–we lose our ability to represent the King. We have to get off the plane, and represent Jesus.
Leave a Reply