Politics #3 : Polichristians (J. Gainey)

T

he list of passionate differences among the people of this world seems to be limitless. We all have our soap boxes and points of frustration that we have a hard time not talking about. I’m as guilty as the next person, though I have begun to purposely avoid many conversations and subjects in these days of exaggerated tempers and disagreements.

Topics of public opinion have always been important to humanity. They are the discussions of our hearts, though not always rooted in our most compassionate thoughts toward the one(s) with whom we are speaking.

Wherever there is a television, radio or internet connection, heated monologues and dialogues of religious and political differences are being discussed, even by Christians. The political atmosphere is filling pulpits and facebook pages with followers of Jesus humiliating themselves and their family (the Church), over their political opinions.

Jesus’ monarchy was misunderstood by many, including Jews and non-Jews. Jews argued with Jews, non-Jews argued with non-Jews, and Jews and non-Jews had their arguments as well over the subject of Jesus’ kingdom and how he should run it. But Jesus made it a point to remind those who questioned his kingship that his kingdom was not a part of this world’s politics.

When Jesus’ kingship was questioned, he said to Pilate,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John　18:36　NIV).

In this statement, Jesus is not saying that the Kingdom of God cannot be found in the world. He told his disciples, “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick that are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’” (Luke 10:8-9).
The point of Jesus’ claim that his kingdom is not of this world was to say that his kingship was not received by way of votes, assignment, or human birth.

The kingdom of Jesus was one that was not of a divided kingdom or a bickering nation, but a kingdom of unity and peace. It is not the loudest or the richest or the greatest number that made him a king, but by the hearts and minds of those who desired peace in their world, not more divisiveness. And yet, many of us who call ourselves Christians speak of and to our brothers and sisters with disgust and disdain.

I agree that many subjects that involve citizens within a nation are important to discuss and even vote on. But the way in which we discuss and the purpose for which we vote, must have the Kingdom of God always before us, if we call ourselves Chrsitians. We cannot claim to be Christians and hurt others with our heated words, no matter how important and personal the oponion or view.

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9 NIV).

Jesus’ is the King of a kingdom that makes no sense to the world. He is a King who only divides those who refuse to come together and love one another in a world full of confusion and turmoil.

As followers of the Messiah, we are called Christians; people whose kingdom is built on a system that did not come from this world. When we get involved in the hate-mongering and verbal bashing that is so common to the politics of this world’s system, we should not call ourselves Christians and prove ourselves to be poor examples of godly images.

I think we should separate ourselves from the confused believers who dive head-first into the painful and stress-filled bloviating of useless political banter by calling them “Polichristians.”

Now that sounds like a kingdom that is of this world.

In His dust,
Johnny

Writer: Capt. Jonathan Gainey was born in Jacksonville, FL in June, 1969. He has been married to Staci, the daughter of retired Salvation Army officers, for twenty years and they have four children ages 18, 16, 12, and 4. Jonathan was commissioned as an officer in June of 2002, and is currently serving in his third appointment in New Bern, NC, USA. He is working on a Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the creator and manager of the Flocks Diner website, where his passion for learning and teaching is expressed and shared through writing and a weekly podcast.

1 Comment to Politics #3 : Polichristians (J. Gainey)

1. amen
wayne Rumsby on May 6th, 2010

Leave a comment