A-Political Musings
One Sunday not too long ago I preached on Daniel 4, where Nebuchadnezzar discovers the hard way that “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” (v. 17). I serve a wonderful, God-loving congregation of mostly conservative Republicans. A couple weeks earlier, I had delighted my people by informing them that I would not make a very good Democrat, because I don’t trust big government. Their delight was short-lived, however, because I immediately said that I also wouldn’t make a very good Republican, because I don’t trust big business. Then, I really got ‘em thinking when I added that I probably don’t make a very good pastor—at least not according to current American evangelical criteria for pastoral success—because I don’t trust big institutional churches.
It was just a few weeks later, during the Daniel 4 sermon, that I finally showed my hand politically. I happened to mention that I am not a fan of Barack Obama. Most were probably somewhat relieved to hear that Pastor Joe is not the liberal they thought he was. But I suspect the warm fuzzies didn’t last very long. For I proceeded to tell the congregation a marvelous story—the kind of story that can help us all to rise above the pitiful mire of partisan politics to share King Nebuchadnezzar’s perspective on God’s sovereign control over the rulers of the world.
I am involved with World Impact’s Urban Ministry Institute in Los Angeles. I’m on their board of directors and I teach a course for the Institute once in awhile. At a board meeting one month, Bob Drummond, who served many years as the principal of LA Christian School, related to us an interaction he had had years ago with some parents in this inner-city school.
It was presidential election day in November 1992. Two Latino ladies from the neighborhood arrived to pick up their kids, proudly wearing their red-white-&-blue “I Voted” stickers on their lapels. It seems that these women had just become American citizens, and this was their first opportunity to participate in the political process. The principal noticed the stickers and warmly encouraged the ladies. Then one of them enthusiastically remarked, “Yes, Mr. Drummond, we voted for God’s candidate, Bill Clinton.”
Now Bob Drummond was decidedly not a Clinton fan. But Bob is a man of tack and diplomacy. So he gently inquired of the ladies, “Why do you feel that Bill Clinton is God’s candidate?”
The ladies replied, “Oh, Mr. Drummond, Bill Clinton is soft on the borders, and if we had not been able to get across the border, we would never have had the opportunity to come to America and hear about Jesus.”
Ain’t it funny how things look a little different from the other side of the tracks?
A passage from the book of Acts sums it up well: “From one man God made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27).
Apparently Nebuchadnezzar got it right. God truly is “sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.” In His wisdom. For His eternal purposes. Think about that the next time your (wo)man wins—or loses—in Washington.
Comments
Bob Sep. 7, 2011 at 1:24 PM
How do you reconcile discussing politics within a church setting which is probably exempt from Federal Taxation?
Todd Sep. 7, 2011 at 2:12 PM
I've always thought a good comparison for President Obama is King Manasseh. 2 Kings 21 just nails his policies.
http://www.bluecollarphilosophy.com
Joe Hellerman Sep. 7, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Bob,
Other that than aside about Obama, I don't discuss politics at church, assuming that by 'politics' you mean endorsing a candidate during election time. I am quite a-political, in fact, and have a real problem with Christian nationalism (Left or Right, although in recent decades it's been the latter), as the post indicated.
John Sep. 7, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Bob,
Here is one scenario for how you "discuss politics" in church.
"Churches are permitted to hand out information on what candidates believe on specific political issues. One candidate says he’s “pro-choice” (pro-abortion), while another candidate says he’s “pro-life” (anti-abortion). The pastor gets up in the pulpit one Sunday morning and preaches a sermon on Exodus 21:22–25, showing how this passage and others like it teach that abortion is a moral and civil wrong. Citing freedom of expression and the constitutional right to change laws through the political process, the pastor exhorts his people to vote in terms of what the Bible says on the issue. He’s obligated to do this by the nature of his prophetic office. Should the minister be faulted if those listening to him are smart enough to connect the dots?
Katie Sep. 8, 2011 at 8:21 AM
John,
I have to agree with your assertion of how to discuss politics within the church setting. I go to a largely Democratic church where the Pastor is, likewise, Democratic. I don't consider myself to be fully convinced in either direction; however, I find that I agree with a more Republican mindset. Although our pastor often allows politicians running for office to go before the church and say a few words about their political policies, I am not offended by the action, though I rarely vote for them. I think that it is very hard to avoid discussing politics in church when religious freedoms and sovereign authority almost always is mandated by political policy and law.
Katie
Randal Kay Sep. 8, 2011 at 8:36 AM
Bob,
I like the way you think...thanks!
Wil Rogan Sep. 9, 2011 at 8:58 AM
Dr. Hellerman,
I really appreciate your post! The 'mire of partisan politics' and popular Christian conflation of political agendas with the will of God is highly disconcerting to me. As Hunter insightfully points out in his book, 'To Change the World', the political engagement of many Christians is more characterized by a Nietzschian 'will to power' than a Christ-like ethic of servanthood. In other words, much of partisan political discourse is inundated with myths of victimization and offense. The goal of politics is to secure governmental power for your group, so that the government can legitimize your agenda, policies, etc. Politics becomes an 'us' vs. 'them' enterprise, and the 'enemy' is caricatured and spewed with vitriol. This approach does not model the humility of Christ, the Lord who is a Servant- the Lord who gave up his power and status to redeem us through the cross and empower us to live faithfully in the present age. Neither does this approach to politics model the trust that Christians can have in our Sovereign God- a God who used the pagan king of a wicked nation to accomplish his purposes! (cf. Isa 45). It trades the Christian eschatological vision of God's renewal of all things for a nihilistic sentiment that 'all will be doomed unless my party is in power.'
I am not an anarchist. Neither am I opposed to people having political convictions- but let our political engagement be wholly and thoroughly transformed by our Christian convictions!
Joe Hellerman Sep. 9, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Wil,
You have said it better than I ever could! My sentiments precisely.
Ian Sep. 10, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Thank you so much for this post! I like to think of myself as pledged to Christ before any political establishment, even though I do pull my hair out when certain parties win out.
Thanks to Wil as well, your comments are appreciated and very true.
Cameron Sep. 12, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Yeehaw! Way to go Dr. Hellerman. Its encouraging to hear a wise man of God say it is okay to be a-political. All this time I thought it was a sin.