American politics is an okay servant but it makes for a terrible lord.
The god of American politics. Oh where should we begin?
Fox News or CNN—Trump or Pelosie—these channels and figures have, for many Americans, become the very mouthpiece of God—only neither are capital “G”—God.
Clap for the god of the Right, or bow down to the god of the Left. Choose this day whom you will serve.
Doesn’t it feel that way?
Scroll Twitter or your Facebook feed, flip on the news—and find political bullying or badgering on either side.
Us.
Them.
They.
We.
The great divide couldn’t be more apparent. This week’s State of the Union address demonstrated that ever so clearly.
Our greatest fears seem to be played out on the battleground of national politics, through verbal bloodshed and image warfare. What is happening and has been long happening in pop culture, through the university, through art, movies, tv shows, music, and social media impacts legislation and policy, and pundits (& algorithms) play to those fields to gain traction and grab at a wider base. Celebrities even rally behind certain causes and candidates.
The American way of life, whether old or new, is threatened or progressed. The world will go back to how things were or will advance to how things should be. We view everything in these binary categories.
Team Red.
Team Blue.
But probably more influential than anything else, and more influential than any politician, talk show host, or celebrity is the market economy we live, move, and have our being in.
The god of Consumerism drives us more than the voting booth ever will. Our wallets and purses, our credit cards and bank accounts affect political decisions and the daily choices we make far more than other factors do.
Whenever Republicans or Democrats take control of the house, senate, or presidency, I’m amazed at how little actually gets done in the long run. What one party advanced is repealed when the other party dominates. It swings and shifts back and forth, one tribe winning for a season, while the other loses. We cheer while our party is on top, and we boo when it’s not.
The real change though starts first in the home, with education, in the arts, with what’s being watched in theaters and on Netflix or Amazon Prime—long before real change can truly take effect through law and legislation. I think in America, business drives the train.
When we make our political party, or a political leader/candidate, out to be our savior instead of just a public servant—it never ends well for us, our leader, or our country. And well, what about that “in God we trust?”
American Politics forces Christians to choose between the lesser of two evils. We are relentlessly forced to take sides on issues that the Bible does not allow us to take sides on, because both “sides” have values that are biblical and others that are unbiblical.
The highest good in America is the individual.
What do I want? Who do I want to marry? Who am I?
Those are the most important questions. We are a #SelfieNation.
It’s all about “me.”
On the Left, people believe government should distribute income but should leave people to do what they want with their morality. The key issues on this “side” have been advancing rights for abortion, same-sex marriage, and transgenderism.
On the Right, people believe that government should legislate morality but should allow for people to choose whatever they want to do with their money. The key issues on this “side” have been advocating for more freedom in the private sector and seeking greater responsibility for each individual.
Are you mostly concerned about racism in America and do you worry about the poor being marginalized? Vote Democrat.
Are you mostly worried about the role of the family and legislating morality in culture? Vote Republican.
Of course, the issue with picking Red or Blue is that the Bible advocates for the marginalized, oppressed, discriminated and also for the rights of the unborn, and ethics for marriage, family, and human sexuality (e.g. male-female marriage, relationships being healthy—not abusive or adultering, any kind of sexual activity outside of male-female only marriage is deemed “sin” before a holy God).
So what are Christians to do? How do we live wisely in this polarized world?
Practically speaking, we should vote. It’s election year after all. And that inevitably means we must pick some side, or vote third party or no party if that’s where our conscience leads us in the voting booth.
Actively participating in the voting process moves us out of ourselves and toward helping real people in our own lives and surrounding communities. This is especially true for the less publicized, but still valuable local elections (mayor, supervisor, etc.) and vital state elections (assembly and senate).
Many people only pay attention to the national conversation, when state and local politics matter too and often affect us so much more quickly and directly.
But whatever we individually decide to do when it comes to voting day, one thing is for sure: as Christians, we should never make an idol out of “our party” in such a way that we wind up demonizing the other side.
And we should be especially careful when our clapping or booing ends up ostricising us from brothers and sisters with whom we share “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”
That bond through Jesus Christ is so much more tightly knit—and yet, sometimes we let the Donkey or Elephant get in between the Lamb who was slain.
Neither side is a good god to worship.
And when we play the game and malign others like the game requires, we are attacking the ethics of the Bible and the Creator of all things himself.
If we go after “those Liberals” (Social Justice Warriors) for their views on offering aid to the poor, we risk overlooking a key theme that we find running throughout large sections of the Bible. That God is for protecting the weak, and providing for the poor, needy, and marginalized.
And if we attack “those Conservatives” (Anti-Social Justice Warriors) for their views on abortion, we risk disobeying the second greatest commandment of loving (and thus, protecting) our smallest neighbors as ourselves.
It’s a lose, lose either way until we can see past our party line and embrace our closest neighbors as those whom God calls us to love.
Christians can’t toe the party line—at least, biblical and orthodox Christians shouldn’t.
Christians should approach political issues unlike everyone else in our binary world that we’ve created for ourselves, after our own image.
Instead of coming with power, privilege, pride, and force—as the world operates—we should come to every discussion with humility and grace, patterning our lives after the image of God rather than the poor reflections of ourselves that we opt for.
Over party politics, we should seek to see all people cared for, protected, and served by the politicians who govern and serve us nationally, regionally, and locally.
We are free to respect those with whom we disagree with because ultimately, every person has been created in the image of God and because of that fact, they reflect the dignity that God has given to each and every single one of us.
So if you’re a Christian reading this, don’t toe the party line. Instead, choose to pray for all those who rule over us—Republicans and Democrats. And if you’re a U.S. citizen, do some research, get to know your local, state, and federal politicians, and go out and vote this election cycle.
Vote for the big presidential elections, sure, but also vote for the least talked about elections happening in our backyards and neighborhoods. Start looking up who is running for county supervisor and who wants to be the next DA. Those small elections matter too. Start voting and keep praying.
As saint Paul teaches us…
[1] First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, [2] for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. [3] This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1-6, ESV)
