By Jeff Faull
The election year is here and November is quickly approaching. Many are predicting that this year’s election could be the most contentious, most polarizing, and most consequential election in our lifetimes, or even in the history of our country. The potential for disharmony and division in the church is great, and the implications for our country and culture are significant.
How should disciples of Jesus, citizens of the heavenly kingdom who also love their country, respond? How can we engage in a way that honors King Jesus and promotes unity? More specifically, how can church leaders navigate the minefields of political passion?
A good starting place is to identify the most dangerous and hazardous mistakes leaders and believers make in their approach to faith and politics, which might help us avoid the explosive consequences.
Identified below are five of the most common missteps for believers in the realm of political involvement.
Minefield #1 Elevating Earthly Citizenship to the Level of Heavenly Citizenship
Paul gave the Christians at Philippi a powerful reminder when he wrote, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20, New American Standard Bible).
Perhaps you have noticed that many Americans have never read the Constitution or the Bill of Rights? Some don’t really understand democracy or the definition of a constitutional republic. Others are merely ignorant of history. It’s even doubtful that many Americans could pass the basic U.S. citizenship test.
Similarly, many Christians have never given much thought to the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship in the kingdom of Jesus. And if you don’t know what the kingdom is and you haven’t read the kingdom documents, you will likely falter in your heavenly citizenship. Could you pass a heavenly kingdom citizenship test? Lesslie Newbigin said, “The choice for the church in every age will always be, Will our identity be shaped by Scripture or by our culture—by the biblical story or the cultural story?”
Minefield #2 Conflating Patriotism with Christianity
Healthy patriotism is admirable. Gratitude and love for one’s country is commendable. As disciples of Jesus, however, our affection for our nation must take a secondary position. It should never be fused to our faith in God. Patriotism can coexist and cooperate with our faith, but it must never co-opt our faith. Patriotism is not part of the essence of faith. We should not wrap Jesus in the flag of any nation! Not even the best of nations.
Minefield #3 Equating the U.S. with Israel
This is a mistake that well-intentioned believers frequently make. Viewing America as God’s chosen nation, many Christians attempt to claim promises for the United States that were specifically designated for ancient Israel. When we do this, we make our specific time, place, and position in history the central focus to God’s eternal plan. We begin to think that America has the corner on God’s love and affection, and we misappropriate promises that were intended for the nation of Israel and apply them to our own country as if God gave the promises to America.
Minefield #4 Negating the Love of God for All Nations.
Citizens of heaven realize that Christ’s eternal kingdom is made up of people from every nation. The blessings of Christ are for all nations, not just one great 250-year-old country. Christians that fail to understand this may drop the priority of the Great Commission or consider other believers as less important. The fifth chapter of Revelation paints a magnificent kingdom portrait from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Any political engagement that suggests, “God loves us better” should be immediately suspect. Citizenship in heaven prioritizes bearing witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ for all nations.
Minefield #5 Abdicating our Privilege and Responsibility as Americans.
Paul visited the people in Philippi face to face before he wrote to them from prison about heavenly citizenship. And you might recall some of the things that happened there.
If anybody had a love of country and the pride of patriotism it was Paul. In Philippi, Paul demonstrated both his Christian commitment and his patriotism. He loved his own nation and people fervently, lived as a witness to Christ, practiced prayer and praise, obeyed laws, yet claimed the benefits and responsibilities of his earthly citizenship. He respected authorities, converted people in prison and in Caesar’s house, and never lost perspective on his ultimate citizenship. Paul was thinking of the King and his kingdom. He wanted Jesus to shine above all else!
There is something right and beautiful about grateful, healthy patriotism, as long as it is always subject to our greater citizenship and its responsibilities.
My children and grandchildren will grow up in a very different America than I did. There have been more “never-thought-I’d-see-the-day” moments than I could have ever imagined. And there will be more. All I can do is give my allegiance to Jesus and champion a greater citizenship in heaven while humbly preserving, exercising, and appreciating the responsibilities and rights I have with my American citizenship. But never placing a temporary earthly allegiance on the same level as my participation in Christ’s eternal kingdom. Because Caesar is not Lord. Jesus is Lord!
Jeff Faull serves as senior minister at Mt. Gilead Church in Mooresville, Indiana and as a board member for e2.
Such an important reminder for every Christian during this election season. Jeff is clear in bringing to our attention the words of Jesus: “Render unto God the things that are God’s and unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” I live with retirees and find that many of them worry and fret over the present state of affairs in the USA. I try my best to remind them that “God is ruler yet.” Thanks to Jeff for bringing to our minds the mistakes that we may make during this period in our nation’s history.
I agree, Christians need to be aware of our Christian Constitutional heritage and the Bible without using Scripture out of context to justify the invasion at our borders.