Thus, says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.
Zechariah 7: 9-10
Do politics belong in church? That’s a complicated question. For one thing, partisan politics is prohibited for our tax-free status. Of course, there are still congregations that tread in dangerous waters, when they promote certain candidates and political parties. That’s an issue for the IRS, but much more concerning would be the people that are alienated, when the church supports a different candidate or party than they do. That does not serve the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 6: 3-10).
The truth is that Christianity is much bigger than our national politics. When Jesus walked this earth, the USA didn’t even exist. People have been claiming Christ as Lord and Savior since way before we got here, and God willing, will be continuing to worship him, when we are but a distant memory (Acts 17: 26-28).
At the same time that that is true, the Holy Scriptures that guide us include mandates to serve our neighbors in love and work for justice. In reading through the Prophets of the Old Testament, we see whole passages warning the People of God that God punishes the unjust and comes to the aid of the poor, the prisoners, immigrants1, and all vulnerable people.
More important than the prophets of old, Jesus Christ claimed to be the poor, the immigrant, and the prisoner (Matthew 25: 31-46). He said that the greatest commandments were to love God and neighbor (Luke 10: 25-37). He was constantly getting into trouble with the powerful people of his time by calling out religious leaders for their hypocrisy and caring for the sinners and tax collectors (John 8: 1-11). Jesus’s radical love terrified them to the degree that he was unjustly executed (John 11: 45-53)2.
All of this is to say that, who we vote for isn’t all that important in the realm of God. Especially, in a system that only gives us two choices. In the brief history of the USA, we are yet to have a president, or anyone else in government, that actually loves as radically as Jesus commands. This means that each one of us is invited by our Lord to stand up and speak out for “the least of these” no matter who is president, governor, or mayor and regardless of the laws written by legislators or judged in the courts.
As a church, we have no business endorsing candidates or claiming/ condemning a political party – none of which can save us. But, it is very much our business to preach and live the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is inherently political. Love for our neighbors is inherently political. It might get us into a little bit of trouble. The gospel can be offensive to those who don’t believe (1 Corinthians 1: 18), but it does save us.
“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” – Jesus (John 16: 33)
1 Generally speaking, when you see the word “stranger” in English, the original word in Greek is literally “foreigner.”
2 It is important to note that it isn’t Jews who killed Jesus. Religious leaders sought his death and Roman injustice executed him.
