xI don’t know about you, but I have found it disconcerting, to say the least, to know how to best live as a Christian in these times of political unrest. There are people being treated unjustly, leaving them scared for their lives. There are others that feel like the shift in our society has taken a turn for the worse and depending on your generational view it can be quite a difference from the views of other Christians.
Where does God want us in all of this mess? Would Jesus engage in the rhetoric of the times, or would he simply continue the ministry of reconciliation, leaving society to its own devices? What was going on in His time that could have been considered political? Is activism something in which we should participate?
Politics during the ministry of Jesus was as volatile as it is now in our time. There were Zealots who wanted to overthrow the Romans. Pharisees who were sticklers to the law and were very idealistic, but also could be hypocritical, there were Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection and were the one percenters of the time. They were the wealthy politicians and were part of the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish court system.
Jesus didn’t really side with any of these groups. He mocked the Pharisees as whitewashed sepulchers. Judas was a zealot who wanted Christ to fight the Romans, freeing the Jews from their occupation, and the Sadducees were probably those like the rich young ruler who could not leave his wealth the follow Jesus. So where does that leave us?
I personally have difficulty hopping between wanting to be a Zealot or a Pharisee. As I study Jesus, however, it seems like he concentrated on the ministry that God sent him to do. The ministry of reconciliation and the sacrifice he had to make for us. Does that free us from the responsibility of participating in the politics of our age? This question is something we must each seek God on individually. While he may ask me to pursue putting a stop to abortion, he may ask you to feed the poor or work with those addicted to drugs.
I am a firm believer in blooming where you are planted. I am a teacher and I am with teens every day. There are kids with poor family life, no direction, during a confusing time of life. I also have a family that God has blessed me with. I have children and grandchildren. As I personally have sought God on this, I feel my time is best spent in the realms God has put me in. I counsel my children, my grandchildren, and the students I work with. I try to give them the benefit of what I have learned in life and what I have learned of God.
This doesn’t really answer the question in a way that is black and white. God is multifaceted as are His children. I would encourage you to seek God and allow him to reveal where you should or should not be involved. If seeking justice for others is your passion, find a way to biblically bring that about. If you have a burden for the poor, find a way to facilitate that need to serve them. God will provide outlets. But in all things pray for His direction and you can be sure He will be in whatever you do. Jesus said he does what he sees his father doing. If you cannot “see” that God or Jesus would do something in a certain situation, then you should probably not do it. Get to know God’s character and you will know which way He would have you go.
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