As someone who likes to think critically (or at least likes to think that he thinks critically), I sometimes find myself in the middle of things politically. I have more conservative views, to be sure, but I also see some bad arguments or straw-men from those on the conservative side.
I’m also surprised by the amount of Christians who lean quite liberal, and would even say Jesus would be a socialist.
I disagree with them. But I also can’t say Jesus would be a fan of every form of conservatism either.
I like to think Jesus wouldn’t really align with any political party, or that at least he would never make a political agenda his own. That’s probably only half true given that one day Jesus will lead a political regime in a new earth. But let’s say that no political system on earth currently will ever be something Jesus would give himself 100% to. They’re never adequate from a biblical standpoint, and even the most Christian political systems will have errors and be imperfect because they’re human and don’t have Jesus as King.
Jesus was actually confronted by politics in his time on earth. Here’s one example:
“Should we pay taxes to Caesar?” a religious leader asked him. There was a catch: answer yes, and you’re a sellout, according to Jewish culture at the time, which was oppressed by harsh Roman rule. Answer no, and you’re speaking against the ruling regime.
There wasn’t exactly a free speech law back then, so speak against Caesar and you could very well die for it. Either way, it looks like Jesus is stuck and is going to be in trouble with someone. But he takes a third alternative:
“Whose image is on the coin?” he asks. The clear answer was that Caesar’s face was on the coin. “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” So, give the taxes to Caesar. But don’t sell your soul to him.
It appears Jesus was referring back to the book of Genesis’ teaching that indeed humans are image-bearers of God. We are, therefore, God’s. So give the earthly money to Caesar, sure. But Caesar is not your god.
Politics, political parties or ideologies – none of these things are God. Therefore none of them are ultimate. None of them deserve our total buy-in. In fact, they deserve our skepticism, almost always.
Christians should therefore be the first people to listen to an argument from someone on the other side of the political arena. If politics are secondary, they must be put in their place. It doesn’t mean they aren’t important or that a Christian shouldn’t take seriously his or her civic duties to be informed and vote. But it does mean we don’t sell out to any one side or position. Instead, we should take the third alternative that Jesus does. God over government, but government respected appropriately.
In Western democracy, I think this means Christians should be the first to listen to disagreeing viewpoints. We should always be thinking: what might we be missing? Where could I be wrong?
Some of my conservative friends might be shocked to hear me saying these things, but I’m captive to Jesus’ words here. And we lose something if we completely shut down the voices of those who disagree with us, even if we are overall correct in disagreeing with them. After all, there’s almost always a baby in the bathwater.
Yes: even in the crazy leftist ideologies circulating there may be small, but important, babies. I’ll leave you to find and save them.
Keep thinking.
