Rev. Dustin ParkerJesus and Politics
Recently, the President of Iran mentioned that Jesus would be against expansionist politics. Everyday, Republican and Demoratic representatives mention His name in their policies all over America (in Australia it is not very common, our pollies tend to be reasonably quiet on the subject of their religion). But what would Jesus actually say about politics?
Through the Gospels, Jesus barely mentions politics. We know he ate with government representatives (tax collectors) and we even have a pice of dialogue between him and one of these people. Does he tell him which way to vote? Which economic model to follow? No. He mentions none of these things, only says that Zaccheus is a son of Abraham. The only other mention we hear from Jesus is "Give to Caesar what is Caesars' and to God what is Gods'."
In his book "Blue Like Jazz" Donald Miller often points out that the church he attended as a child was a white southern Baptist church that often touted the local republican member, and would toe the party line with no hesitation. He didn't hate the church, but he did dislike the feel he got from hearing politics thrown down with such finality. I know what this feels like. When I was in New Zealand, I went to a small pentecostal church. The pastor there once spoke about George Bush, that he was God's choice for American President, and that we should pray for him to win. I didn't like being told what to think, or how to vote (my own church barely ever mentions politics, a fact for which I am grateful). Jesus told christians to use their brains as hard as they could.
Generally speaking I don't disagree with politicians using His name. I don't disagree with a preacher saying they agree with someone. I DO disagree when the preacher says that someone is God's choice for political office. Jesus didn't mention politics often because to Him they weren't important. He spoke often that we should love each other, love our selves and love God. He told us that God loves us. He said these things all the time, because they ARE important.
JoshZ
Through the Gospels, Jesus barely mentions politics. We know he ate with government representatives (tax collectors) and we even have a pice of dialogue between him and one of these people. Does he tell him which way to vote? Which economic model to follow? No. He mentions none of these things, only says that Zaccheus is a son of Abraham. The only other mention we hear from Jesus is "Give to Caesar what is Caesars' and to God what is Gods'."
In his book "Blue Like Jazz" Donald Miller often points out that the church he attended as a child was a white southern Baptist church that often touted the local republican member, and would toe the party line with no hesitation. He didn't hate the church, but he did dislike the feel he got from hearing politics thrown down with such finality. I know what this feels like. When I was in New Zealand, I went to a small pentecostal church. The pastor there once spoke about George Bush, that he was God's choice for American President, and that we should pray for him to win. I didn't like being told what to think, or how to vote (my own church barely ever mentions politics, a fact for which I am grateful). Jesus told christians to use their brains as hard as they could.
Generally speaking I don't disagree with politicians using His name. I don't disagree with a preacher saying they agree with someone. I DO disagree when the preacher says that someone is God's choice for political office. Jesus didn't mention politics often because to Him they weren't important. He spoke often that we should love each other, love our selves and love God. He told us that God loves us. He said these things all the time, because they ARE important.
JoshZ
