"How low can you go? How low can you go?"
For some reason, this chant from the childhood game of limbo ran through my head as I thought about how to start this post. I find it pertinent (maybe impertinent as well).
My dad and I were driving through Montana recently, discussing politics and the Christian's role in that sometimes sordid world. Many of us have strong opinions when it comes to politics in our country, and many have strong opinions on how the Christian should move in that world. I'm not going to address the larger political sphere or how much Christians should engage themselves in that sphere. I personally think the simple answer to that is "ask the Holy Spirit who lives in you."
Different people are called to different roles and different passions. Different Christians will be involved in different ways and to a different extent in all the spheres of life. I respect the Christian who does not vote because they believe that no one running is trustworthy and our government system is set up in a way that will balance out the crazy. I respect the Christian who diligently researches and votes based on their beliefs and values. I respect the Christian who runs for office and enters the political world to make a positive difference. Different people are called to different things.
What I am going to address is when Christians get involved in the political or local community sphere to make a difference, whether that is by running for office, sitting on a board, or voting. Here's my big idea:
When your passion for Christian values overrides the sovereignty of others, you are doing a disservice to your community and acting against the Kingdom of Christ.
Why?
Let's start with the character of the King of our Kingdom.
When Jesus was living His human life on earth, how often did he attack the world?
...
He attacked Satan by expelling demons. He sacrificially died to defeat Satan's hold on us, to set us FREE. He called out the wickedness and corruption in His own religious community. He confronted abusive leaders who oppressed the people under them and taught things according to their own interests instead of rightly dividing the Word of Yahweh.
But attacking the world? You'd have to be stretching Scripture pretty far to come to that conclusion.
How often did He deceive and coerce in order to change things in His own corrupt religious community -- or the corrupt Roman government?
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Never.
So that's the character of the King of our Kingdom. Uncompromising in matters of right and wrong, and unflinching in confronting evil in the Church. But using His divine control to coerce or get His way? No.
How about His followers? Some of the times He confronted THEM was when they wanted to take away someone else's sovereignty:
"Jesus, let's call down fire on these people!" (Luke 9:54-55)
"Jesus, tell that man to stop casting out demons in Your Name!" (Luke 9:49-50)
Jesus rebuked those requests pretty firmly.
Later, after the Holy Spirit came into them, how did His apostles lead the Church? Can you think of a time when they grabbed control to bring Christian values to a community for that community's good? Did the Holy Spirit lead them to do that? If you do think of a time, send it to me because I can't find one. And don't stretch the definition. Let's be honest here.
They preached the truth and they encouraged the Church. Things changed and upheaval happened through their preaching (Acts 19 for example), but they did not grab control or force their way.
The dividing line where it starts getting dicey is our heart attitude toward
CONTROLLING OUR SPHERE.
Jesus came to give us freedom and to set us free to live the way God loves us. When we get into politics and start throwing our weight around or trying to control other people in order to get our way (you know, the CHRISTIAN way), we are acting against the way that God calls us to live -- like Him.
What is the point of getting "Christian values" into our community if they don't reach the heart and if the way we get them is deceitful or coercive? Destroying or subverting peoples' sovereignty to make them "act right" or keep them from "bad things" has never worked -- and it gives a false testimony about our King.
Basically what it comes down to is your heart.
Do you trust God to have His will in this world, even if it looks very differently than what you'd like?
Do you trust Him enough to live with love and respect for others, even if they're acting in a way you legitimately hate?
Do you love God with enough humility that you live believing that your way is not always best, but His ALWAYS is?
Do you have the humility and trust to say, "God, my passion for what's right is from You. That's a gift. I hate ____. I believe You do as well. What do you want me to do about it? If you want me to stand on a platform to spread Your Word and goodness, I'll do it. If you want me to pray and reach out in love to the perpetrators, I'll do it. Whatever You call me to, I'll do it. Give me the heart and motivation to do whatever You want me to do. Period."?
If your honest answer to these questions is "no," you have a much larger problem than the evil of this world. You need to ask yourself if you are a Christ-follower or a Morals-Megaphone-Control-Freak. The first is walking with God. The other might be headed to hell, to put it soberly.
When trying to take down a person with a strong moral conscience, why would Satan waste his time tempting you to disown Christ when all he has to do is distract you from loving and trusting God with all your self -- by using your strong moral conscience to lambast the world? The second option sounds much easier to me. Probably more righteous-looking Christians than we have fallen away by deciding to be a megaphone instead of a servant.
Let's remember that God created us with choices and a will and a large degree of sovereignty, and He respects that more than we'd like to admit at times. Otherwise we wouldn't fall so often! Yet He lets us. He picks us up. And He loves us.
Let's remember His kindness to us.
Let's remember His greater-than-we-often-believe power -- the kind of power that would make us wet our pants if we saw it with our physical eyes like the Israelites did at Mt. Sinai.
Let's remember that He ALWAYS does what's best.
Let's lead in humility and trembling, asking for His guidance ALL the way.
Let's remember that our King is the Suffering Servant who wept with His followers and washed their ungrateful, prideful feet.
Let's remember how much He loves us, broken as we are.
Let's follow our King -- His way.