Discipling Our Politics
I recently came across an article titled “The Top 10 Problems Facing Pastors Today.” I was not surprised by #1, which was “job-related stress,” or #2, which was “feelings of loneliness and isolation.”
I was dismayed, however, at #3. It was “political and cultural divisions.” In these politically charged days, pastors often feel forced to choose between picking a side or staying silent, both of which are losing options.
While there is no quick fix to this problem, there are some thoughtful leadership articles on how pastors can deal with political and cultural tensions. For example, The Gospel Coalition published an article entitled Why We Need the Church to Disciple Our Politics by Matthew Hawkins.
He proposes that pastors should address political issues from a biblical perspective. “Rather than avoiding politics for the sake of discipleship, might we try applying discipleship to our politics?”
Partisan or Silent Churches
Hawkins begins his piece by noting that the two most common models for how churches engage the political realm are either partisanship or silence.
Hawkins states, “Partisan churches are comfortable associating with one political party. They advance Christian ends with extrabiblical, and sometimes unbiblical, methods.”
On the other hand, “Silent churches rightly reject the partisan model but embrace a kind of quietism, resulting in silence on political issues about which Christians really do need moral and scriptural guidance.
“This silent church model emphasizes a desire to focus on evangelism and discipleship. But members of the silent church may be no less politically polarized since our consciences are still discipled by everything other than the church.
“When our church remains silent, virtually all our opinions about how Christians should engage politics come from influences other than Scripture and the guidance of our church.”
Discipling in the Way of Jesus
Yet, the fact is, the Word of God is more than adequate to disciple believers across the behavioral and political spectrum. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Living Bible renders it this way: “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.”
Notice that last phrase: “…to do good to everyone.”
That being the case, Biblical mandates like loving our neighbor, loving our enemies (!), controlling the tongue, and turning the other cheek are ripe for application to self-governance and, frankly, to how we speak with each other about combustible topics. And there is no “except for politics” escape clause in any of these.
Paul actually provides a comprehensive list of positive commands (how to treat one another). Here’s a sampling:
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
Having read those, ask yourself, “Is that what I’m seeing in how believers treat one another?" More importantly, “Is that what a lost world is seeing?”
If you are a pastor, I would encourage you to biblically disciple your people in these areas rather than allow a culture led by news pundits and social media disciple them. Because, like it or not, they will be discipled.
And for all of us who are Christ-followers, we must make sure we are following His example and His words, not those of individuals who live far from the way of Jesus.
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