2 Chronicles 1:10, "Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who can govern this great people of yours?"
"Wisdom is the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations." [1]
Jesus and the Powers
Today, we celebrate our nation's Independence Day, and we also find ourselves amid an election year. I've noticed many believers grappling with the intersection of faith, politics, and our nation. Throughout July, I thought we could explore these important themes together.
Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird is the best book I have read on Christianity and politics! Wright and Bird combine to give an in-depth biblical, theological analysis that goes beyond immediate political issues and elections to deeper concerns about human governments of all kinds and how Christians should relate to them.
However, while I agree that Christians should engage the public sphere, including politics, I am not convinced that we are to "colonize earth with the life of heaven" beyond building Christ's church. Yet, we should make healthy businesses and governments that contribute to the common good.
In chapter 3, Wright and Bird comment, "The Christian vocation is neither pious longing for heaven nor scheming to make Jesus king by exerting force over unwilling subjects. Instead, Christians should be ready to speak truth to power, being concerned with the righteous exercise of government, seeing it bent towards the arc of justice and fulfilling the service that God expects of governing authorities."
The kingdom of God is not of this world, but it is emphatically for this world.
We must engage politically to some extent because the kingdom of God has political implications for proclamation and poverty, justice and judgment, Congress and the Church, and love and liberty.
Christian nationalism falls short as it seeks a kingdom without a cross, pursues victory without mercy, and values God's love of power over the power of God's love. We must remember that Jesus refused to be made king by force and rejected calling upon 'twelve legions of angels' to establish His rule.
In truth, the Christian faith is meant to be a public faith for the common good, compelling us to do good, create good, and build good in both private and public endeavors.
That is why we pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, bear witness by proclaiming the gospel truth to all who will listen, and speak truth to political powers even when they refuse to listen.
