One Kingdom Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All
Modern America is a pluralistic marketplace of ideas, pervaded by an individualism that — with the current condition of political correctness and tolerance — becomes a selfishness, the life in pursuit of serving and worshiping oneself.
Ironically, since the majority of Americans have the desire to seek individual gain, the “right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is a journey where those who have not found true Satisfaction eventually find themselves in want.
Partisan Politics in the Church
Individualism can be liberating to a certain extent, but when everyone wants what one wants, there is bound to be conflicting and unfulfilled desires.
Individualism can be liberating to a certain extent, but when everyone wants what one wants, there is bound to be conflicting and unfulfilled desires. Many Americans turn to government to solve these issues and desires. This current ethos of American politics has unfortunately bled into the Church, and a fanatical political affiliation could cause misjudgment and division in a place meant for unity.
However, a Christian, who is faithfully obedient and confesses a singular risen Lord, will not only speak against this idolatry but can also transform the current climate of partisan politics in the Church.
News cycles are inundated by issues of partisan politics, especially days before elections. Christians who obey and confess the risen Christ take a stand in the idolatry of self-serving politics. In a 2018 article titled “God is Going To Have To Forgive Me: Young Evangelicals Speak Out,” journalist Elizabeth Dias compiles a list of six responses from the 1,500 readers that had replied to the The New York Times on the topic of the “relationship between their faith and their politics” (Dias).
Dias suggests that “often the loudest evangelical voices are white, male and… not young,” and these were the evangelicals that vocalized their support for President Trump [four] years ago (Dias).
Although the article initially describes the political climate through the backdrop of the “loudest evangelicals”, Dias reveals a list and various stories of young and culturally-diverse evangelicals who range from red to blue as well as somewhere in between.
Many of these voters criticize the schism that partisan politics has caused in their own families and communities. Some families avoid speaking about politics in general, and others become estranged due to the support of one politician over another.
The evangelical responses are also concerned about the hypocrisy they see in their churches.
The evangelical responses are also concerned about the hypocrisy they see in their churches. One Illinois evangelical Andrew Brantley responds, “I am deeply worried about evangelical leaders’ willingness to abandon core aspects of Christianity to score political points” (Dias).
There seems to be a tendency for some Christians to choose to serve their needs through political agendas instead of the Prince of Peace.
How Do Christians Fit Into a Two Party System?
They Don’t.
The New York Times is obviously responding to a current trend in American churches and evangelical voters today. The news company also featured an op-ed in September 2018 by Tim Keller titled “How Do Christians Fit Into A Two-Party System?” Keller then adds two important words to the title, “They Don’t.”
For some reason, many Christians believe that one party is more “Christian” or “biblical” than another, but the truth is, Christians who are highly politically opinionated should know that it is not that simple.
Keller asserts that “[one] reason not to align the Christian faith with one party is that most political positions are not matters of biblical command but of practical wisdom.” And politics are simply that, a means of living out wisdom in a broken world.
And politics are simply that, a means of living out wisdom in a broken world.
Quick and “Tangible” Results from Government
Evangelicals who swear on one party over Christ are reminiscent of first-century Jews and Zealots who hoped for a political Messiah that would lead a revolution against the tyranny of Rome.
Like the Jews, Christians who place more faith in their votes for the Republican or Democratic party in hopes of changing American culture prioritize the idol of government over the Sovereign Messiah.
The government seems to be more tangible with quicker results, so why not place all eggs into the basket of earthly government? As much as Christians would like to remarry the Church with the American state, that is not the way the forefathers signed our democracy into existence.
Some Christians would rather be “right” than unified, even in the Church.
Some Christians would rather be “right” than unified, even in the Church. These evangelicals have chosen to place the label of their political party before their allegiance to Christ — Republican Christian or Democratic Christian.
There is really no “right” or more “Christian” party, but there is an ideal approach.
A true believer who obeys and confesses the risen Lord on a daily basis is first and foremost a Christian, and everything else, including the political affiliation, is prioritized after one’s allegiance to the one true God — a Christian, first and foremost, who happens to be a Republican, Democrat, or something in between.
Where Do You Pledge Your Allegiance?
Before obedient Christians vote on behalf of a political agenda, they must prioritize the Lordship of a Sovereign King.
Christ Himself was abused and crucified by an earthly government, and confessing and obedient Christians know whose authority was the ultimate Victor.
The same rings true today.
Why should we place our faith in human government when we know that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords uses earthly governments for the sake of building His heavenly Kingdom?
Jesus did not come to reform the Roman government, instead, He came to bring the inauguration of an unfathomable and glorious new Kingdom, a Kingdom that overshadows all the legacies of presidents, tyrants, dictators, and prime ministers combined.
He took twelve uneducated fishermen to inspire change and transformation in a world that needed hope.
[…] The hope of lasting change will come from a unified Church, led by the victorious King.
And the hope of lasting change will not come from the divisive politics of the American government; the hope of lasting change will come from a unified Church, led by the victorious King.
