Developing a Theology of Politics

Ron Simkins – November 19, 2024 3 Comments

Most of us have politics on our mind these days. So, as followers of Jesus, how are we to be thinking and acting? Ron Simkins shares some of the guidelines the Bible offers, and encourages us to give him feedback if you think of others. May these insights from scripture give us perspective and encourage us to be faithful in our own time. -Renée 

Developing a Theology of Politics (Ron Simkins 11/24)

1. We are always to remember that we are called to be aliens and sojourners—“exiles of the diaspora” (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11) who are “citizens” of a different nation/kingdom . Our allegiance is to a different kingdom where our real citizenship and allegiance lie (Philippians 3:20-21; Matthew 6:32-34). Like Paul, we may value our “Roman citizenship” (see Acts 16; 20-28), and like Jesus we may love many things about the nation we live in (Luke 19:41-44). But we always need to remember where our allegiance belongs and where our real citizenship lies. Jeremiah worded the tension we live in quite well in his words to the Jewish exiles in the great Empire of Babylon: (1) seek the good of the city (civilization) where you are exiled and pray for it (Jeremiah 29:4-7), and, (2) be ready to flee its cultural power at a moment’s notice (Jeremiah 51:6-9). 1 Peter uses this imagery of faithful immigrants—“those in Babylon greet you!”

2. All Cultures/Nations will have some good gifts to bring to God’s future forever culture – Rev 21:22-27; 5:9-10. And, there will be individuals from every nation and culture in God’s future kingdom (Matthew 25:31-40; Romans 2:6-16). We have future brothers and sisters everywhere.

3. God allows each nation to last long enough to decide if it will “seek and grope” after God – Acts 17:26-28; Daniel 2; 4:17; Romans 13:1-6; etc. Like every other nation in history, the American Empire will at some point run its course.

4. No nation or Empire is really saved by its military might, Even the most powerful last only as long as God allows them to continue – Psalm 33:16-19; Acts 17:26-28. As the prophets of both the Old and New Testament make clear, God often allows them to exist longer than we wish they would.

5. The dark side of every nation is its participation in the spiritual “principalities and powers.” Revelation 11-13 uses vivid imagery to say that Empire/Nationalism often supports the “dragon,” and the church/religion often supports the Empire as it supports the dragon. It is always tempting for nations to see God/gods as useful to national unity and national allegiance. Remember the “best” political nation (Rome) and the “best” religion/church (Israel) of the day collaborated to execute Jesus. And, church history since has often continued this process.

6. We do not owe “allegiance” to any nation or Empire. Colossians 2:13-15 says that Jesus’ execution and resurrection/exaltation disarms the sovereignty/allegiance claims of all empires/nations/institutions/systems! In Genesis the growth of civilization quickly turned into a culture being run by despots who claimed to be children of God and who thought it their right to take anything and anyone that they wanted—Genesis 4-6. Empires in the Bible can do some good – Egypt, Solomon’s Israel, Babylon, Rome—but they each have a very dark side that crushes people and tends to make the Empire itself into god (the entirety of the book of Daniel).

6. Political leaders are to be honored by Jesus followers—in the same manner that every human is to be honored by us – 1 Peter 2:11-17. We honor leaders “for the Lord’s sake,” but not because they deserve any more honor than any other human. For the same reason, we are to pray for them. They impact a lot of people’s lives—1 Timothy 2:1-7.

7. The best political leaders, even the most godly leaders, have at times failed badly – David, Moses, Hezekiah, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc. The prophets say that a leader is judged by his/her active concern for the poor, oppressed and disempowered, not by how wealthy and comfortable the leader makes the upper class—Jeremiah 22:13-22; Luke 4:16-30.

8. There may be “necessary” wars as a lesser of possible evils, but there has never been a “just” war. There may be “necessary” violence, but we should never try to “justify” supporting it; only plead with God that we didn’t know what else to do that was better. This is certainly the view throughout the Hebrew Bible. Although I know many dear Jesus followers think this was completely changed for us with Jesus and the New Testament, that is less clear to me. See especially passages such as the acceptance of Cornelius into the community of followers with no indication that he was told to leave the army (Acts 10-11). And, on a personal level, I hope I would have the courage and quick wits to try to stop anyone bent on killing someone in my presence even if it meant killing the attacker. I wouldn’t attempt to justify that action to God. I would just say, I didn’t know what else to do that seemed a better choice.

9. The 4 horsemen imagery of Revelation 6:2-8 graphically describes the war cycle. War almost always starts out with the nation’s warriors riding out as champions on a “great white horse.” This is then followed by the slaughtering of many, then followed by high prices and scarcity, then followed by widespread famine and disease.

10. Even pagan nations are expected to be humane and will be judged by God when they are not humane – Amos, Isaiah, Daniel, etc. And yes, by biblical standards the USA is a “pagan” nation, and it always has been.

11. When God judges one nation’s failures by allowing another to defeat them, that nation too will be judged for its atrocities and abuses. See Isaiah 10 on Assyria’s conquest of Israel and Isaiah 13-14 on Babylon’s conquest of Israel.

12. God judges nations because of their idolatry, including the idolatry of wealth, military, pleasure, pride, and power. Many ancient gods imaged these cultural idols of American “exceptionalism.”

13. “Everything is ‘political,’ but ‘politics’ is not everything.” Jesus seems to have lived with this understanding at all times.

14. God is creating a “body politic” called “the Kingdom/Reign of God,” and we humans are co-labors in that process when we trust God by acting in our love (wanting good) for God and our fellow humans.

15. We are to choose witness and love (wanting good for all) over national self-interest.

16. We are not to “fear” what political power can do to us – and it can hurt us. Look at what it did to Jesus, to many of his early followers, and to many of the Hebrew prophets of old. But, look at what God did for the executed Jesus, and what God will do for all of us forever (Romans 8:14-39). God promises that the trade-off is worth it (Hebrews 11:1-12:4).