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Last week we took a break from our new Christians and Politics series for a contemporary retelling of The Good Samaritan. It wasn't a true story, but through it, I tried to capture the heart and imagery Jesus seemed to be using in his original story.

This week we are in our second week of considering, "Is there a right way for Christians to be involved politically?" I'd like us to consider three broad principles which I believe could serve as helpful guides for every individual considering this question.

  • Principle #1:  Maintain Jesus as Lord

Briah Zahnd recently asked on Twitter, "Do you believe Jeus is Lord now or merely 'Lord-gonna-be-someday'" The earliest Christians declared "Jesus is Lord" as a powerfully political statement, not merely a religious one. "Ceasar is Lord" was a common political propoganda statement, which Jesus followers were denying. The implied (and often directly stated) meaning from Christians was "Jesus is Lord . . . and Ceasar is not."

There are two things that go along with this declaration. The first is that it is a statement of ultimate power and authority. Human kings, rulers, governors, and managers have limited power. Jesus is the lord and he is lord forever. All other temporary rulers will be answerable to him. No matter how much power one believes he or she has, Jesus is the one Lord over all.

The second part of this proclamation is that it is a declaration of loyalty. By proclaiming the lordship of Jesus, we are proclaiming that we are loyal to Jesus and his ways above all else. No military force, law, or legislation can compell us to leave behind the way of our lord. Our first step in engaging politically as Jesus followers is to maintain Jesus as Lord.

  • Principle #2:  Pursue Living the Way of Jesus

Jesus and his early disciples didn't work within the system to change the system. In fact, Jesus spoke and acted in ways that confronted the political (and religious) systems of his day. Instead of pursuing political power, he called people to follow him. And when he commissioned his disciples, it wasn't with a call to gain political influence and power. It was a call to go and make disciples - individuals who were also followers of Jesus.

Too often those who claim the name of Jesus within the political system end up embodying the system more than they embody Jesus. To ultimately rely on power structures and systems to enforce the way of Jesus is to actually work contrary to the very way of Jesus. At best it seems that Jesus and his disciples worked in opposition to the power structures to inhibit them, rather than trying to reclaim political power for good. History seems to confirm that, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." (Lord John Dalberg-Acton) This maxim is true even among (perhaps especially among) those who claim the name of Jesus. Vying for power and truly living the way of Jesus are counter to each other.

  • Principle #3:  Advocate for and serve "the least of these" (Matthew 25:31-46)

In considering this series, Glenn Robitaille reminded me of the following quotation attributed to Edmund Burke:

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Ignoring political realities is not an option for followers of Jesus. People with power will always (no matter what the system of governance is) tend to make decisions for the benefit of those in power. Jesus was consistently a voice for those who political and religious leaders sought to silence. We have the same obligation today. Dr. Martin Luther King is a great example of someone who acted politically while never seeking to take over the power for himself. He used his voice and his platform for those who faced oppression - and not just for African Americans!

Not pursuing power does not equal passivity. Non-violence does not equal non-resistance. I believe it is our Christian duty to speak up for those with no voice and to serve where the state will fail. Despite what some may say, speaking and serving are political actions. When people hid Jews from the SS, it was a political action. When we work to serve our First Nations neighbours, it is a political action. When we sponsor a refugee family, we are taking political action.

Historic anabaptists refrained from serving the state. We didn't run for office or serve on police forces. Many didn't vote. It was understood that to wield power would inevitably lead a person to act with violence towards another. Their caution should be heeded. But too often their caution led them to withdrawl from engaging the world. We are called to go into the world with the gospel. A gospel that Jesus declared in Luke 4.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has annointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.

Make no mistake about it. He wasn't grasping for earthy forms of power, but Jesus' words were political!

May God bless you as you proclaim Jesus as Lord, seek to follow his ways, and advocate for those he loves.