Jesus & Politics | For King & Country

Jesus & Politics | For King & Country

JESUS - Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, is the central figure of history. This is not hyperbole. Across nations, continents, languages, and cultures our world has literally counted every year in relation to Jesus arrival in history. During his 33 years in 1st century Judea, Jesus never held political office, owned land, or led an army, yet he was an unmatched revolutionary consistently calling people repent of sin and join the Kingdom of God. The only crown Jesus wore was made of thorns. It was placed on his head during a coronation of humiliation before his state sponsored execution by the Roman government working in tandem with the religious elites of the day. The Romans mockingly labeled Him, “King of the Jews,” as he hung on their cross. To the religious, Jesus’ crime was claiming to be God and the promised “Messiah” of God’s people. The word “Messiah” or “Christ” is a comprehensive term including BOTH Savior AND King, meaning the identity of Jesus (God the Son) has both religious and political implications for everyone created by God. POLITICS - Politics is power. Specifically, how power governs people in various sphere of influence. Politics is the debates and conflicts around how power and policies will be used to further human flourishing. Paradoxically, Politics both reflects and reenforces our societal and culture norms. It can serve both as a mirror to who are now, and a window to where we are headed. We live in a culture where every arena of society infused with political overtones driving various agendas. Because Politics involves power and people, how it is used and stewarded matters greatly. For disciples of Jesus Christ, our motivation for faithful political engagement should be driven by reimagining the familiar rallying cry “For King and Country”.