Faithful Engagement: Navigating Politics with Jesus' Teachings

Summary

In today's conversation, we delved into the complex and often contentious intersection of faith and politics. Recognizing the discomfort that politics can bring into a church setting, the focus was on equipping followers of Jesus to engage thoughtfully and faithfully in political discourse. The current political climate is increasingly polarized, and as Christians, our conduct during these times reveals where our true confidence lies. It's crucial to remember that our ultimate purpose is not to secure political power but to reflect the teachings and character of Jesus.

The way we engage in political conversations can either affirm or undermine our faith. Many people, both inside and outside the church, are skeptical of Christians because they perceive a disconnect between what we profess and how we act, especially in political matters. This skepticism is often fueled by an "election infection," where fear, anxiety, and contempt for opposing views overshadow our commitment to love and mercy. Jesus offers a different path, one that prioritizes people over power and relationships over political victories.

Throughout history, Jesus navigated a politically charged environment without aligning with any particular group or compromising his values. Instead, he introduced a new way, a movement that transcended political affiliations and focused on the kingdom of God. This movement, known as "the way," was characterized by love, mercy, and justice, challenging the status quo and offering a radical alternative to the power struggles of the time.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to engage with the world without becoming like it. This means participating in civic duties, like voting, but not placing our ultimate hope in political outcomes. Our hope should remain in God, who is sovereign over all. By doing so, we demonstrate that our faith is genuine and that we truly believe in the teachings of Jesus. Our engagement in politics should reflect our commitment to love and serve others, embodying the values of the kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways:

- Confidence in God, Not Politics: Our political engagement should reflect our confidence in God rather than in political candidates or parties. When our conversations and actions reveal a shift in confidence from God to political figures, it undermines our witness as Christians. Our ultimate purpose is to reflect Jesus, not to secure political power. [33:50]

- Symptoms of Election Infection: Fear, anxiety, and contempt for those with opposing views are signs that politics may have taken an unhealthy hold on our hearts. As Christians, we must guard against allowing political obsessions to overshadow our commitment to love and mercy. [36:37]

- Jesus' Alternative Way: Jesus navigated a politically charged environment by offering a new way that transcended political affiliations. This way prioritized love, mercy, and justice, challenging the status quo and offering a radical alternative to the power struggles of the time. [46:07]

- Engage Without Emulating: We are called to engage with the world without becoming like it. This means participating in civic duties, like voting, but not placing our ultimate hope in political outcomes. Our hope should remain in God, who is sovereign over all. [01:08:25]

- Winning People, Not Arguments: Our focus should be on winning people to Christ, not winning political arguments. By prioritizing relationships over political victories, we reflect the love and character of Jesus, demonstrating that our faith is genuine. [01:23:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [31:38] - Politics in the Church
- [32:34] - A Different Approach
- [33:50] - Confidence and Purpose
- [35:14] - Skepticism and Hypocrisy
- [36:37] - Election Infection Symptoms
- [37:54] - Willingness to Lose Relationships
- [38:46] - Jesus' Political Context
- [39:38] - Political Groups of Jesus' Time
- [41:03] - Zealots and Extremists
- [42:18] - Hellenists and Secularists
- [42:46] - Romans and Imperialists
- [43:36] - Choosing Sides or Compromising
- [46:07] - Jesus' Alternative Way
- [49:13] - The Subversive Kingdom
- [50:18] - Church and Political Parties
- [51:41] - Jesus' Diverse Followers
- [52:06] - Confronting Legalism
- [55:01] - Mercy Over Sacrifice
- [56:06] - Justice and Freedom
- [57:55] - Non-Violence and Love
- [01:00:18] - Peaceful Coexistence
- [01:03:12] - Salt and Light
- [01:04:26] - Sanctification and Truth
- [01:06:50] - Separatists and Purity
- [01:08:25] - Engage Without Emulating
- [01:10:09] - Divine Authority and Civic Responsibility
- [01:15:16] - Salvationist Mantra
- [01:20:38] - Prayer and Participation
- [01:23:54] - Winning People, Not Arguments

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 14:6 - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
2. Matthew 5:13-16 - "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world..."
3. Matthew 22:21 - "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus mean when he says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" in John 14:6? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about Jesus offering a new way that transcends political affiliations? [46:07]

2. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls his followers the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world." How does this imagery relate to the sermon’s call for Christians to engage with the world without becoming like it? [01:08:25]

3. How does the sermon describe the symptoms of "election infection," and what are some examples given? [36:37]

4. According to the sermon, how did Jesus interact with the political groups of his time, and what was his approach to engaging with them? [39:38]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might Jesus' statement in John 14:6 challenge the way Christians engage in political discourse today? What does it mean to follow "the way" of Jesus in a politically charged environment? [46:07]

2. What are the implications of being the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" in the context of political engagement? How can Christians maintain their distinctiveness while being actively involved in civic duties? [01:03:12]

3. The sermon mentions that Jesus did not align with any political group but offered a new way. How can this perspective influence a Christian's approach to political conversations and relationships? [46:07]

4. How does the concept of giving "to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s" apply to modern-day political engagement for Christians? [01:11:45]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your recent political conversations. Have they reflected your confidence in God or in political figures? How can you ensure your discussions align more closely with your faith in Jesus? [33:50]

2. Identify any symptoms of "election infection" in your own life, such as fear or contempt for opposing views. What steps can you take to guard your heart against these tendencies? [36:37]

3. Consider how you can prioritize relationships over political victories in your interactions. What practical steps can you take to win people to Christ rather than arguments? [01:23:54]

4. How can you engage in civic duties, like voting, without placing your ultimate hope in political outcomes? What practices can help you keep your hope anchored in God? [01:08:25]

5. Think of a political issue that you feel strongly about. How can you approach discussions on this topic in a way that reflects the love, mercy, and justice of Jesus? [46:07]

6. Reflect on your social media presence. Does it reflect the teachings and character of Jesus, especially in political matters? What changes can you make to ensure it does? [37:54]

7. How can you actively demonstrate being the "salt and light" in your community, especially in politically divisive times? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [01:03:12]

Devotional

Day 1: Confidence in God Over Politics
In today's polarized political climate, it's easy to place our confidence in political figures or parties. However, as followers of Jesus, our ultimate confidence should be in God. When our conversations and actions shift our confidence from God to political figures, it undermines our witness as Christians. Our purpose is not to secure political power but to reflect the teachings and character of Jesus. By maintaining our confidence in God, we demonstrate that our faith is genuine and that we truly believe in the teachings of Jesus. [33:50]

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you placed your confidence in political figures or parties instead of God? How can you shift your focus back to trusting in God's sovereignty today?

Day 2: Guarding Against Election Infection
Fear, anxiety, and contempt for those with opposing views are symptoms of what can be called "election infection." This occurs when politics takes an unhealthy hold on our hearts, overshadowing our commitment to love and mercy. As Christians, we must guard against this by prioritizing our faith and the teachings of Jesus over political obsessions. By doing so, we can engage in political discourse thoughtfully and faithfully, reflecting the love and character of Jesus. [36:37]

James 3:17-18 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent political conversation you had. Did fear or contempt overshadow your commitment to love and mercy? How can you approach future conversations with the wisdom and peace that come from above?

Day 3: Embracing Jesus' Alternative Way
Jesus navigated a politically charged environment by offering a new way that transcended political affiliations. This way prioritized love, mercy, and justice, challenging the status quo and offering a radical alternative to the power struggles of the time. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embrace this alternative way, focusing on the kingdom of God rather than political power. By doing so, we reflect the love and character of Jesus, demonstrating that our faith is genuine. [46:07]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: How can you embody the values of love, mercy, and justice in your daily interactions, especially in politically charged situations? What steps can you take to prioritize the kingdom of God over political affiliations?

Day 4: Engaging Without Emulating
As Christians, we are called to engage with the world without becoming like it. This means participating in civic duties, like voting, but not placing our ultimate hope in political outcomes. Our hope should remain in God, who is sovereign over all. By engaging in this way, we demonstrate that our faith is genuine and that we truly believe in the teachings of Jesus. Our engagement in politics should reflect our commitment to love and serve others, embodying the values of the kingdom of God. [01:08:25]

1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

Reflection: In what ways can you engage in political discourse without emulating the divisive tactics of the world? How can you ensure that your political engagement reflects your commitment to love and serve others?

Day 5: Winning People, Not Arguments
Our focus should be on winning people to Christ, not winning political arguments. By prioritizing relationships over political victories, we reflect the love and character of Jesus. This approach demonstrates that our faith is genuine and that we truly believe in the teachings of Jesus. By focusing on relationships, we can engage in political discourse thoughtfully and faithfully, reflecting the love and character of Jesus. [01:23:54]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Think of a recent political argument you had. How could you have prioritized the relationship over winning the argument? What steps can you take to ensure that your future interactions reflect the love and character of Jesus?

Quotes

1) "The way we conduct ourselves and the conversations that we have around politics and the issues plaguing our country, right, facing our country, it reveals, those things reveal a lot about where our confidence, truly lies. And I think this is the most important election of our lifetime because I hear way too many followers of Jesus putting all of their eggs in the basket of a candidate who at best is going to maybe have four years, eight years, and we'll move on. And so I think there's a lot more at stake here because the way we conduct ourselves, the way we think about this, the way we talk to other people about this reveals where our confidence is. It reveals where our confidence really lies. It reveals what our real purpose is." [33:50] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Listen, you've spent more time reading people's platform than you have God's Word. You spend more time dialoguing about that, and you're trying to do more to campaign to get people into your party, whichever party it is, than you are about getting somebody to church or to follow Jesus or anything else. And so something has shifted, and it shows up in your heart. If you say, well, that's not me. Listen, let me just tell you the symptoms of the election infection, okay? Here are the symptoms. Deep fear about the outcome. Anxiety. I'm not able to really sleep, not to be able to calm, not to be able to focus, having to check the phone for the latest updates, for the little things, whatever it may be, right? Contempt. One of the symptoms is contempt for anybody on the other side of the issue, whatever it is. Like contempt, you know, disdain. Disgrace. Disgust, right?" [36:37] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "You see, Jesus gave us a better way to be politically engaged by pursuing people rather than positions of power. And the purpose for which he, he called people to follow him. It's people. He said, if you follow me, I'll make you fishers of men, not people in office. Right? And we're willing to compromise or to jeopardize and even just kind of get rid of that purpose for this other purpose. And it's if you don't support who I support, unfriend me now." [38:46] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Jesus gives us a better way. And here's the thing. When he comes onto the scene, Jesus didn't choose a side or compromise. But he offered an entirely different alternative. It was called the way. Now, he didn't call it that. People around him started calling it that. And then actually whenever he ascended back to the Father after death and resurrection and ascension. When his followers continued to kind of perpetuate his message and continue operating the way that he operated. They started calling those people the people of the way." [46:07] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "You cannot win people you're at war with. And you cannot win people when all you're doing is trying to blame them for all the problems in the world. They may be responsible for all the problems in the world. But you don't win. You don't win people. You don't win people into the party of Jesus or to Jesus when you're constantly communicating that you're at war with them." [59:28] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Our platform is that we are to be in the world not of it. In other words the platform is engage. And participate. But don't emulate. And see that's the problem when I look at how a lot of churches are handling this. A lot of pastors are handling this. And why it's so different over the last decade. Is because we're doing it just like they do it. We've gotten engaged and participate in the political process that we can't tell the difference between a campaign rally and a church service. And we're emulating it. And he says don't do that." [01:08:25] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "I want you to vote but I don't want you to put your hope in the person or party you vote for I don't because here's the thing some people have been saying well there's only one candidate on that issue and that's the only one that and you come to find out they're not even that firm on that issue and they're not even that committed to that issue they're just saying what they need to get your vote so I want you to vote but I don't want you to put your hope in the person of the party that you vote for we say well then why would we vote here's why we vote because God works through people he most often works through people and he's always given an invitation to participate in his redemptive activity and we should all be working to create a culture and a society that is best for all people that will give them a glimpse of thy kingdom come and all that and so therefore we do vote and we do take the opportunity to create culture and shape culture and do all that we can to influence the culture towards the kingdom of heaven a lot of people don't have that opportunity I want you to vote I just don't want you to put your hope and all your eggs in the basket of the people of the party you put your hope in because come on if there's anything I've learned in the short life I've lived they all let us down and all of them have limited power it can only do so much" [01:20:38] (82 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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