Jesus and our politics

Ron Simkins – September 17, 2024 1 Comment

Today we hear from Ron Simkins on Jesus’ response to politics and what we can learn from his example. –Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor

The current political climate in the USA has led me to reflect on Jesus’ response to the politically laden times in which he lived. I am pretty sure they resemble how the risen Jesus is responding to the politically laden times we live in now as well. As politically laden as our American culture is today, his was even more so. Jesus lived in a country oppressed and occupied by a powerful world Empire. And, as you would expect, there were many differing views on how a Jewish person should respond to such a difficult situation. Every act and every word, as well as every undone act and every unsaid word, had political implications! Imagine yourself living in Ukraine, Sudan, Venezuela, Gaza, Israel or Lebanon today. However, the USA is tense enough!

Without too much trouble you can find an instance in one or more of the Gospels in which Jesus confronted a faulty political assumption of someone from every political and religious party of his day. Neither is it very difficult to find an instance where Jesus showed love toward someone from every political and religious party of his day. As a Jesus follower, how do I take this model seriously?

I am not suggesting that Jesus saw all political stances as equally bad or as equivalent. He did not! And, I certainly am not advocating for that today. I definitely think you should vote and that it matters who you choose to vote for and why.  However, what I want to underscore is that Jesus pointed out how easy it is for those of us who are sure we have it right to ignore some of our own biases and prejudices.

Lest you take what I have been saying as evidence that Jesus was trying to be “apolitical,” just think about the political implications—then and now—of what is commonly called “The Lord’s prayer.”

“OUR FATHER Who is in heaven, help us live in a manner that shows that your character is holy, so that your reign/kingdom can be coming now, and so your desires can be done right now on this earth—the way your desires are currently being done in heaven. Give all of us humans the resources we need for today. Forgive all of us the same way we are forgiving one another. Please don’t lead us into hard situations we cannot handle, and please liberate us from the powers of evil. Amen!” 

These few words challenge us to participate daily in three examples of how God’s desires can be enacted on earth—each with major political implications: (1) Being sure everyone has the resources they need for today; (2) Forgiving other humans the way we ourselves need to be forgiven by God; (3) and, realizing how much help we all need help in resisting the default of conforming to the systemic and spiritual powers of evil in our cultures—the dark side of our institutions.

So much confrontation! So much love for all!
 –Ron Simkins, NCF Pastor Emeritus