Politics and Discipleship
A position paper from the Hampton Roads Church Elders
Introduction
In 45 days (as of the time this is being written), our nation will select a president. We cannot recall an election laced with more partisanship, bitter divisiveness, or apocalyptic doomsday prophecy in the event of a victory by the opposing candidate. If we are to believe the hype, our very future hangs in the balance.
We are reminded of the opening words Psalms 2:
“Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?”
Never have we seen such “raging” and “plotting” as what is associated with the upcoming election. And it is, at times, not easy for disciples of Jesus to stay above the fray, particularly if the rhetoric contains religious overtones or touches tangentially on principles we hold dear as disciples.
The question reviewed by this short paper is this: to what degree should disciples of Jesus Christ, as members of the Hampton Roads Church, engage in the national political environment in which we find our country embroiled? Please know that so much more has been written on this topic, and likely much more will be written in the future. Here, we intentionally keep the treatment of this question brief to hopefully provide a cogent but compelling frame of view to start with.
God is enthroned, and we are citizens of his kingdom
Continuing in Psalms 2 (vrs 4-6), we see God’s sovereignty remains unscathed by the railings and ragings of men:
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
God’s power and authority are absolute: he places men in power or takes them out at his whim and pleasure. His purpose prevails. Conversely, man’s greatest efforts at a self-charted destiny is frail and powerless—mere fodder for a good chuckle from the Almighty.
However God is not capricious, he does not find joy in tinkering with humanity as entertainment. Rather, he is deliberate, proactive, methodical, and above all, the complete embodiment of love. His overwhelming desire is to reconcile fallen creation one fallen creature at a time until the entire universe is brought together into a beautiful, harmonious unity in Christ (Eph 1:10). Towards that end, he saved us, through grace assigned each of us a role in his plan (Eph 2:8-10), and blessed us with a citizenship eclipsing any human nationalistic identity: that of a member of his very kingdom:
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Phil 3:20-21)
So God inducts us into citizenship and honors us with a custom role to assist in bringing about his will. Prideful resistance against God for our own selfish agendas will be frustrated, but humble submission to the noble tasks he extends to each of us (Eph 2:10, 2 Tim 2:20-21) - this brings eternal significance and holiness to our labor as citizens of God’s kingdom.
Satan is enthroned, and we are among citizens of his kingdom
Men and women who have heard the gospel, accepted it’s message, submitted to Jesus as Lord, and have been united with him through baptism have been transformed, made alive, “born again,” and transferred into the citizenship of God’s Kingdom. Those who have not submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ are citizens of a different domain and serve its ruler:
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Eph 2:1-3)
Our dear brothers and sisters, on this point we must be absolutely clear: Satan rules this world. Full stop. No human institution is outside of his purview—this includes our national political structure. Men and women on both sides of the political aisle may claim to be about God’s work, and we do not deny modicums of good and noble concepts surfacing in political platforms, such as (among others) the sanctity of marriage, protection for the unborn, social justice, equality, and care for the needy and oppressed. But we “are not unaware of Satan’s schemes” (2 Cor 2:11), and know full well that Satan is the master of the “bait and switch;” promising hope, victory, or vindication and delivering only vapor. Satan may allow “good” to happen sporadically, so long as it does not pose a threat to his dominion: souls are still lost, hope is dashed, and the harassed and helpless “like sheep without a shepherd” overrun our cities.
It is no wonder the Spirit calls Satan “the prince of the power of the air.” His promises are... air, emptiness, nothing. It may be that some good can come but these are powerless to stem the decline of a fallen universe or reverse its destiny. That takes power reserved for and orchestrated by the Creator and sustainer of all existence. And does he ever have a plan!
Meanwhile, the citizens of the prince of this world do his bidding: rage, promise, accuse, divide... all designed to remove hope through continual delivery of empty promises. Extend the promise of good but fail to deliver, over and over again until hopelessness and hardness of heart are seemingly beyond repair.
The problem is this: we live among those citizens. And as much as we may think ourselves immune to their message, there is evidence that the prince of the power of the air is finding at least a partial audience among heaven’s citizens in Hampton Roads.
The battle lines are drawn: take your stand
All of us are at risk, and thinking ourselves impervious to the message of the prince of the power of the air makes us that much more vulnerable to attack. In fact, Satan is actively, as you read this, probing our ranks to discover the devourable (1 Pet 5:8). How do we fend off the attack? How do we stay secure? Paul’s letter to Ephesus provides the answer: put on the armor God provides and take your stand.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph 6:10-13)
Now, as much as our Western individualism loves the idea of the lone warrior standing on the battlefield, sword drawn, and staring down the barreling horde, this “battle plan” is likely to fail. Armor is not intended to function in isolation, but as an integrated, connected defense across an army arrayed for battle. Paul is telling the first century church to, collectively, take their stand together, and this is scripture’s call to the collective “us” as well: we need to stand together, we need to be unified. Then we will be able to “withstand in the evil day.”
The promise of scripture is this: if we stand collectively as an integrated whole, we “withstand.” But if Satan can break the ranks and exploit opportunities for division, we are ripe for attack and we suffer casualties. Shields and breastplates are good for repelling frontal attacks, but what covers the side? That space shared between you and the brother or sister next to you is not vulnerable as long as they stay close with their armor locked into yours. But if that space is exposed then you both are vulnerable.
One strategy Satan has found successful toward opening this gap is to wrap his message in “godly” overtones: give an empty promise just enough “Christian” sprinkled on top to make it seem as if this is the call of Jesus himself. Because of a hint, a dash, a dusting of morality or nobility, the message somehow seems to gain God’s endorsement, and it’s then not a difficult extension to “How could you call yourself a disciple and not support this...?” Division ensues, the gap opens to reveal vulnerable flesh, and Satan has an exploitable window.
The implication is this: God chooses to work through those in his dominion. When there is an assertion that God is behind or otherwise endorses something not originating from his Kingdom, we are on very thin ice. On this we must be clear: there is no national political platform, nor political candidate, or national policy that stands as a suitable surrogate to God’s work, his Word, or to citizens of God’s dominion called to be about his work. Nothing. No one. Not even close.
Do we pray for and use our civil liberties and privileges to support political or social platforms that promote good? Absolutely! But no one takes our stand for us on the battlefield. Our warfare, and the special mission God has blessed us with, we cannot and will not delegate. And no-one or no-thing dares to drive a wedge between us.
Conclusion
We are blessed to be part of God’s kingdom. And, quite frankly, we appreciate the blessings of life in America, even as sojourners on a fallen planet hastening the day of our ultimate glory. We have the privilege of open dialog in regards to our faith. We can openly spread the gospel of Jesus without fear of government censorship or punishment. We have the affluence to help many others with abundance that surpasses our needs (2 Cor 9:10-15). And we have the freedom to voice our convictions and participate in political activity.
While we stand by the statements argued above, we do not intend to say that disciples should not exercise these freedoms to help affect change in our society and culture. No! We wholly support disciples participating in elections, peaceful protest, petitions, or other lawful liberties. Who better than a disciple of Jesus Christ to raise their voice for good, justice, equity, and peace? Speak boldly on behalf of the God of all that is good and right and just!
Where we draw the line is this: we must understand that God’s plan, executed through our faithful attention to the tasks he assigns to each of us, will ultimately bring the unity of all things under Jesus. This is where our passions and energy must reside. When we invite politics into God’s kingdom and give it a seat at the King’s table we commingle the holy with the common, the profane—and we insult the King.
Let politics have its place, but it doesn’t belong at the King’s table. Vote, protest, petition, speak out, speak up! Please! But take your stand next to your brother and sister with your armor locked into theirs and protect their hearts. Do not give Satan a foothold (Eph 4:27). Keep a clear perspective of your citizenship in God’s kingdom and do not allow the boundaries to be blurred.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)
With love,
Clayton Walker, Tom Benton, Kurt Woodham Elders, Hampton Roads Church
Afterword
We hope that the body of this paper has provided a strong motivation to keep perspective on our true citizenship. We recognize that we have painted a picture using broad brush strokes and have left out a significant amount of detail in terms of practicals and specific topics—many of which came out as we reviewed drafts of this paper. Rather than trying to weave each of these into the body of the paper, we decided to append them here. There are, undoubtedly, many more applications to be made or points to consider, but it is our hope these comments provide sufficient treatment of topics that are most pressing.
Social Media
(Comments by Kurt Woodham)
Freedom of speech, provided under the First Amendment of our Constitution, is one of the most treasured rights enjoyed by America’s citizens. What a great privilege it is to be able to engage in open dialog, particularly when it comes to the unfettered communication of the gospel of Jesus through speech or the written word!
Social media—a very recent platform—provides unprecedented ability to broadcast our words worldwide, literally in an instant. As such, it is an incredibly powerful tool that must be wielded with extreme care. I have seen instances of good, where a story is shared that brings light to a position or cause resulting in heartfelt connection or new understanding by a reader. On the other hand, I have seen many instances where a stance is expressed brashly, arrogantly, with little consideration to whom it may offend or belittle, either in the initial post or the ensuing comments. It seems that anger or “conviction” becomes a license to let the fur fly!
So much can be written on this topic, but I’d like to offer two principles supported by the body of the paper:
As citizens of God’s kingdom, you are an ambassador representing God’s kingdom (2 Cor 5:20). In this role, your words should not be considered your own; instead, you are constrained to speak as speaking on behalf of God. Before we post a statement on a position, we should ask: (a) is this a matter of the kingdom of God - i.e. do I have God’s endorsement? and (b) do the words I’ve selected reflect God’s nature of truth, grace, love, and tenderness? If there is any doubt on either front, do not post or at least get advice from godly men or women in your life before you do.
Secondly, will my words cause my brother or sister in Christ to struggle? Look, unless we legislate all matters of opinion into a state of complete uniformity throughout the Hampton Roads Church (and the elders have no intention of doing so), we are going to have differences of opinion. If an opinion is shared via social media, we may feel that we are engaging in open loving dialog, and that other views are welcome. But brothers or sisters not having insight into the background or experiences that have formed your worldview may not be at the same place, and I see little evidence of social media providing a loving platform for gentle dialog, resolution, or illumination. Instead, I have seen many good hearted disciples shouted down and deeply wounded by social media posts or the ensuing comments.
On this last point, may I suggest a deep introspection based on Paul’s words in 1 Cor 10:23:
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
Or as the NIV reads:
"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive.”
Our citizenship in America gives us the “right” to speak openly and freely. Amen! What a great opportunity to serve our King with our voices! But the obligations of our citizenship in God’s Kingdom take precedence. If what I want to say is not constructive, i.e., it does not build up the body of Christ, forging greater unity among our ranks, and closing any gaps between our armor, then as a citizen of God’s Kingdom I do not exercise that “right.”
My mother-in-law, Jo Ann Gibbs, was a very godly woman who advocated a simple, yet profound “litmus test” to evaluate what we feel compelled to say:
“Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?”
Would that we all consider these wise words carefully before clicking “post.”
Activism
(Comments by Clayton Walker)
When delving into "politics" of social/racial injustice we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, all need to go to God first and rely on Scripture for guidance because of the highly politically polarized and emotionally charged nature of the topic(s). That comment notwithstanding, I personally want to make sure my brothers and sisters, if so moved, feel emboldened and encouraged to respectfully engage in providing a “Biblical leavening” to our society’s judicial and executive branches of government - primarily, in my opinion, through lobbying and petitioning (i.e., through peaceful activism) efforts within our state (and perhaps federal) legislatures - in the hope of enacting appropriate changes to our laws that don’t align with God’s desire to respect the unity and dignity of all persons regardless of ethnic background, gender or age, etc.
Staying Unified
(Comments by Tom Benton)
The year 2020 may eventually be remembered in the United States for the things that separated us as a nation and conspired to bring disunity to our fellowship: COVID-19 with social distancing, racial injustice with unrest and protests, and the elections with politics. How should we as disciples act to keep from being separated from each other and preserving our unity, especially during the current heated election environment?
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans during a politically charged time, with Nero ruling a vast empire that included a particularly rebellious region in Palestine. That region had religious factions like the Jews and the newly formed sect of Christians, who Rome treated with discipline and persecution to maintain order. The unknown author of Hebrews, writing at around the same time as Paul’s letter to the Romans, mentions this persecution:
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. Hebrews 10:32-35 NIV
Paul’s letter to the Romans gives perspective on dealing with politics and the government that can help guide us today.
Submit to what God has established
Romans 13:1 tells us that “there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” In our thoughts and discussions about politics, we should remember that God establishes all governments and nations, and they are under His authority. He established our nation, political system, and even those who currently and in the future will serve in office. While Romans 13 has sometimes wrongly been used to justify obedience to ungodly rulers, the scriptures teach us that we should first and foremost be subject to God’s law, but also be subject to our government and its laws, trusting that God gave them authority. In dealing with politics, then, we need to trust that He is ruling over them all, and will shape His will as He did in the past with nations as they interacted with Israel. We need to fulfill our obligations to the authorities, as in the example the scriptures give of paying our taxes (Ro 13:6-7). We also need to give honor and respect to those in authority, and though we may not like a particular person, party or political organization, we can respect the position or at least their right in our country to voice their opinion, and we need to pray for all who are in positions of power.
Love those who God has made
After mentioning the need to pay taxes, Paul tells the Romans to “let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” (Ro 13:8). While we have laws in place that need to be obeyed, we also have God’s laws which are “summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Ro 13:9). In our discussions about politics, we need to speak truthfully (Eph 4:25), not in anger which can cause us to sin (Eph 4:26), but instead we should speak “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Eph 4:29). Keeping in mind that God established all authority and that no human political system or leader is perfect, we need to appeal to one another not to be separated by political views but build one another up in the love we share in Christ.
Live as God calls us to live
Finally, Paul reminds us that “the night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Ro 13:12). We need to “behave decently” (Ro 13:13) and not act sinfully or in a manner not worthy of our Savior. Time is short, so we need to focus on our mission to make disciples, not on political discourse. One thing available to us but not available in Paul’s time is social media. There is an immediacy (“night is nearly over”) and anonymity (“deeds of darkness”) about social media that causes many to express themselves in a way that they wouldn’t do face to face with their family, friends, or fellow disciples. We need to take care in what we say on social media as well as in our discussions
both with those in the church and outside of our church relationships. Our words can do great harm to relationships and can make us appear just like those in the world, but we are called to show the world the light of the gospel by how we act and speak.
Final thoughts
In the United States, we have the right and privilege of participating in our government process. If you’re eligible, register and vote! God established all the nations and all authority, so no matter who wins an election, pray for God to use them and their role in the governing process. If you have strong feelings on an issue, discuss them! However, be sure to follow Paul’s advice and take care to build others up in love. Are you active in social media and or other ways supporting your cause? Remember that your mission is first the same as Jesus’: to seek and save the lost. Ask yourself if you’re spending more time on social media or in Bible study, or if you’re preaching more about politics or the good news of Jesus as Lord.
2020 doesn’t have to be remembered as a year of separation and differences: it can be remembered as the year the church grew more unified in our love for one another and in our purpose.