A
Asyncritus
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THE DISCIPLE AND POLITICS
About half of the debates on this forum which concern political issues of one sort or another are based on what is basically a terribly false premise.
That premise is that Christians have a right, duty, or obligation, to participate in the politics of the land: in most cases on this forum, that means America.
The most recent examples are about gay marriage, but there have been many other political subjects which have come up.
The Scriptural fact of the matter is that disciples of Christ have, or should have nothing whatsoever to do with the politics of the world: whichever country that happens to mean in any given instance.
I say that for several reasons, all scriptural.
1 John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
There is no avoiding the force of these words. Other versions say basically the same thing:
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ESV
John 18:36 "My kingdom is not founded in this world — if it were, my servants would have fought to prevent my being handed over to the Jews. But in fact my kingdom is not founded on all this!" Phillips
John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." RSV
John 18:36 Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my officers had struggled that I might not be delivered up to Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence.’ Young’s Literal
There are probably many other such translations, but these will suffice.
Let us draw out the consequences of this bald statement:
1. Jesus’ Kingdom is not a worldly one: it is yet to be established:
Dan 2.44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Both these passages (and numerous others in the OT especially) clearly speak of the end of human rule and dominion ON THIS PLANET, AND ITS REPLACEMENT BY THE DIVINE.
That has not happened YET, AND THE CITIZENS OF THAT KINGDOM TO COME, must behave as if that is really the case, and distance themselves from the politics of the present world.
The Lord’s Prayer makes this abundantly clear: ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ is clearly an unfulfilled prayer AS YET.
It follows, therefore, that His disciples have an allegiance to THAT kingdom, not to ANY earthly one. As Paul says,
Col 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Heb 11.9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
This is the true status of the disciple of Christ – like Abraham and the others mentioned in Hebrews 11, we are strangers and sojourners in the world, not citizens of it. He further says:
Eph 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
If the saints are from all the countries of the world, then clearly, they are not of any single country, and must not act as if they are or were.
2 Jesus in Jn 18.36 quoted above, and in the Sermon on the Mount where He commands us to turn the other cheek, is clearly stating the His disciples have a non-participant role in the wars and political practices and issues of the day.
3 There is no instance of any of the disciples and apostles taking part in any kind of political endeavour whatsoever. Some, like the Ethiopian eunuch, held high office at the time of their conversion. Whether they continued in those positions is not known.
4 Soldiers are effectively told to get out of the army by John the Baptist when he said: ‘Do violence to no man’. And turning the other cheek during a battle is not recommended practice in many military training manuals, and will inevitably result in the individual being shot.
So a disciple is to be a non- participant in politics, and a non-combatant in wars.
The price for that may well be imprisonment or death, but that is a price the disciple is prepared to pay for the sake of Him who died for us.
As Daniel said: 4: 17 […] the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
That being the case, we can easily understand the actions of those in positions of power. They can confidently be expected to act basely, and that should come as no surprise to the disciple.
The Psalmist said the same thing, in so many words:
Ps 146.3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Don't vote for them - after all you'll be voting for the 'basest of men'.
Lay aside your claims to 'rights', and take the position that you have none.
But pay your taxes (Jesus did), and obey the laws of the country as far as is consistent with the laws of God. 'Be subject to the higher powers' Paul says.
Those are our instructions.
