Faithful Engagement: Navigating Politics with Grace

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the intersection of faith and public life, emphasizing the importance of cultivating habits that align with the teachings of Jesus. As Christians, we are not only spiritual beings but also citizens of our respective countries, and our engagement in civic life should reflect our faith. The conversation with Michael Ware highlighted the challenges many face in navigating the political landscape, especially when it becomes a source of division rather than unity. We discussed the tendency to treat politics as entertainment, which can lead to emotional reactions without meaningful action. This habit can distort our spiritual formation, turning it into deformation if left unchecked.

We also touched on the impact of political disagreements within families, noting how passive-aggressive behaviors can harm relationships. It's crucial to approach these interactions with grace and understanding, avoiding the temptation to engage in divisive rhetoric. Silence was proposed as a powerful habit to adopt, reminding us that our opinions do not define us and that we are more than the sum of our political positions. This practice can help us detach from the constant barrage of information and focus on what truly matters.

Furthermore, the concept of anonymous service was introduced as a way to serve others without seeking recognition. In a world where public acknowledgment often drives our actions, serving quietly can reveal our true motivations and align us more closely with the humility of Christ. By stepping away from self-promotion, we can find joy in genuine acts of kindness and service.

Ultimately, the call is to live out our faith authentically in every aspect of life, including our civic engagement. By adopting these habits, we can bring the spirit of Jesus into our public lives, fostering a culture of love, joy, and peace.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith and Civic Engagement: As Christians, our spiritual life is intertwined with our civic responsibilities. Engaging in politics should not be seen as a distraction but as an opportunity to reflect Christ's love and justice in the public sphere. [03:23]

2. Politics as Entertainment: Treating politics as a form of entertainment can lead to emotional reactions without meaningful action. It's important to be mindful of how we consume political content and ensure it informs rather than inflames. [04:11]

3. Family and Political Disagreements: Political disagreements can strain family relationships, especially when passive-aggressive behaviors are involved. Approaching these situations with grace and understanding can help maintain unity and love. [06:28]

4. The Power of Silence: Silence can be a powerful reminder that our opinions do not define us. It helps us detach from the constant flow of information and focus on what truly matters, fostering a deeper connection with God. [08:05]

5. Anonymous Service: Serving others without seeking recognition aligns us with the humility of Christ. It challenges us to examine our motivations and find joy in genuine acts of kindness, free from the need for public acknowledgment. [09:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Introduction to the Event
- [01:10] - Michael Ware's Background
- [01:46] - The Role of Habits
- [02:14] - Challenges in Civic Engagement
- [02:58] - Habits of Concern
- [03:23] - Faith and Public Life
- [03:56] - Politics as Entertainment
- [04:43] - Emotional Reactions to News
- [05:28] - Family and Political Disagreements
- [06:58] - Passive-Aggressive Behaviors
- [07:25] - The Habit of Silence
- [08:34] - Anonymous Service
- [09:46] - Summary of Key Habits
- [10:12] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
2. Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
3. James 1:19 - "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

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#### Observation Questions
1. What are some habits mentioned in the sermon that can lead to spiritual deformation if left unchecked? [03:23]
2. How does the sermon describe the impact of treating politics as entertainment on our emotions and actions? [04:11]
3. What behaviors are highlighted in the sermon as harmful to family relationships during political disagreements? [06:28]
4. How does the sermon suggest silence can help us in our spiritual journey? [08:05]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being a peacemaker in Matthew 5:9 relate to the sermon’s discussion on political disagreements within families? [06:28]
2. In what ways does Philippians 2:3-4 challenge the idea of anonymous service as discussed in the sermon? [09:18]
3. How might James 1:19's advice to be "quick to listen, slow to speak" apply to the sermon’s emphasis on the power of silence? [08:05]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our civic engagement and our faith? How does this align with the teachings of Jesus? [03:23]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own habits of consuming political content. How can you ensure that it informs rather than inflames your emotions? [04:11]
2. Think of a recent political disagreement you had with a family member. How could you have approached it with more grace and understanding? [06:28]
3. Silence is suggested as a powerful habit. How can you incorporate moments of silence into your daily routine to foster a deeper connection with God? [08:05]
4. Consider a recent act of service you performed. How might you approach similar acts in the future with a focus on humility and without seeking recognition? [09:18]
5. Identify one area of your civic life where you can more authentically reflect the love and justice of Christ. What specific steps can you take to make this change? [03:23]
6. How can you practice being a peacemaker in your community, especially in situations of political tension? [06:28]
7. What is one passive-aggressive behavior you recognize in yourself during disagreements? How can you work to change this behavior? [06:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Civic Responsibility
In the intersection of faith and public life, Christians are called to reflect Christ's love and justice in their civic engagement. This means that our spiritual life is not separate from our responsibilities as citizens. Engaging in politics should be seen as an opportunity to bring the teachings of Jesus into the public sphere, rather than a distraction from our faith. By doing so, we can contribute to a society that values love, justice, and peace. [03:23]

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

Reflection: How can you actively reflect Christ's love and justice in your civic responsibilities this week?


Day 2: Mindful Consumption of Political Content
Treating politics as entertainment can lead to emotional reactions without meaningful action. It's important to be mindful of how we consume political content, ensuring it informs rather than inflames. This means being intentional about the sources we engage with and the way we respond to political news. By doing so, we can maintain a balanced perspective and avoid the pitfalls of reactionary behavior. [04:11]

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure your consumption of political content is informative rather than inflammatory?


Day 3: Grace in Family Disagreements
Political disagreements can strain family relationships, especially when passive-aggressive behaviors are involved. Approaching these situations with grace and understanding can help maintain unity and love. It's crucial to engage in conversations with an open heart, seeking to understand rather than to win an argument. By doing so, we can foster healthier relationships and reflect the love of Christ in our interactions. [06:28]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: How can you approach a family member with whom you have political disagreements with more grace and understanding this week?


Day 4: The Transformative Power of Silence
Silence can be a powerful reminder that our opinions do not define us. It helps us detach from the constant flow of information and focus on what truly matters, fostering a deeper connection with God. By practicing silence, we can create space for reflection and spiritual growth, allowing us to hear God's voice more clearly in our lives. [08:05]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Reflection: How can you incorporate moments of silence into your daily routine to deepen your connection with God?


Day 5: Joy in Anonymous Service
Serving others without seeking recognition aligns us with the humility of Christ. It challenges us to examine our motivations and find joy in genuine acts of kindness, free from the need for public acknowledgment. By stepping away from self-promotion, we can experience the true joy of serving others and reflect the love of Christ in our actions. [09:18]

Matthew 6:3-4 (ESV): "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Reflection: What is one way you can serve someone anonymously this week, and how might this practice transform your understanding of service?

Quotes

"as Christians we also are um citizens and folks watch this summer in the United States some are in different countries in the world uh in our own country when I've talked to pastors the last couple of years been really hard because often they feel like they've discovered through coven through the polarization that's happened politically uh servicing of racial Injustice we have another video that's very disturbing right now um that it seems like a surprising number of people even in churches identify more with a political party or identity than they do with Jesus" [00:02:01]

"well the first thing I'd say is that these these things are not distractions from the spiritual life we need to care for the whole person yeah and the Socialist part of the person and the political is part of the social and so if we sort of try and move these things to the side as distractions from formation what they'll become is actually areas for deformation" [00:03:13]

"I think some people uh treat politics and look at Politics as a form of entertainment and so they stew in content in which they have no intent of actually acting on and which actually if they were honest with themselves aren't really informative but do get their emotions um and so um you need to be careful and attentive to whether it's um reading the newspaper and how you're reacting to that or uh having cable news on more often than you should" [00:03:53]

"this isn't to say we don't want to avoid all news this isn't saying we're going to sort of insulate oneself but be attentive and invite people who you trust in your life to have the authority to be attentive to those Dynamics uh with you" [00:05:08]

"we were talking about the way that politics is um creating conflict within families particularly between parents and children and she said you know it's not the disagreement with that that that Stokes The Divide um uh sometimes and what she was seeing in her practice quite a bit um was the inability of uh uh of either the parent or the child uh to stop going back to the site of disagreement" [00:05:46]

"especially this is especially harmful through like passive aggressive through a little like through little like you're killing these walls little like um side comments that aren't even meant to engage but I meant to like poke and pride and that can be that could a that does something to our spirit um and then sort of in our relationships there's there's something um disregarding about it that we want to be careful about" [00:06:18]

"silence is a a reminder to us that our opinions and our political positions do not and will not save us um and we have a culture right now where many people feel um compelled to sort of make their position known on everything at every opportunity and silence is a way to both so I think it addresses that issue I think it also helps us to um remember that we are not just the the sum of the various inputs and information streams that uh are in our life" [00:07:27]

"Anonymous service clearly I I advise this particularly for those um in Civic life that have sort of Civic vocations but I think this is more this relates more broadly and Anonymous service is important um because in politics is so much about taking credit and being seen as being on the right side of issues so that even people uh so you know uh a tragedy happens or a conflict happens and people will post on their Facebook well you know I donated too and that's a that's I'm on the right side of the first issue" [00:08:30]

"what does it feel like to support a cause without someone knowing about it um and you really get to see like what your motivations are it's I mean people will get a charge out of announcing a political or sort of advocacy issue and they they will they think that the charge is from doing a good thing uh but if they take away the credit or sort of the public proclamation of it they find oh where is that charge I'm still doing the good thing maybe the charge I was getting wasn't from the good thing" [00:09:11]

"stop using entertainment as politics to make yourself feel Superior stop jabbing other people in your life that you disagree with shut up and uh instead of promoting yourself do something nice serve other people without broadcasting it" [00:09:42]

"we hope that this series helps you build some new habits in your life to help you grow spiritually one day at a time and we want to hear from you throughout the series if you have questions you can put them in the comment box wherever you're watching or you can email us or text us and at the end of the series we're going to sit down with John and talk about some of your questions for more resources you can visit become new DOT me and to spread the word you can hit subscribe share this video with a friend or give us a review on podcasts wherever you're listening" [00:10:24]

"remember love is happy for me now go live go have some Joy thanks Michael yep hi I'm Tim thanks for joining us you mean so much to us as a community and we hope that this series helps you build some new habits in your life to help you grow spiritually one day at a time" [00:10:12]

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Transcript
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