Whether it is the road to the White House in the United States, or the post-election streets of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, people seem to be passionate about their politics. Christians, being people themselves, are sometimes no less passionate. Though (for hopefully obvious reasons) I do not retreat to the escapist's notion that religion and politics should never be discussed, it is evident that the clash of these two realms can sometime produce less than favourable results. After witnessing far too many instances of ULP vs. NDP (SVG) or DNC vs RNC (USA) contentions among professing Christians on social media platforms, perhaps it is time to write an open letter to my brethren. Let's call them Isaac and Esau, Mary and Martha... | |
By Jiang Jia Mu 蔣家幕 (Kingstown Church of Christ, SVG)
My dearly beloved Isaac and Esau, Mary and Martha, please give this prayerful consideration before responding.
I just happened upon your exchange on social media. It is wonderful that we have (in this 21st century) the opportunity to express to the world our feelings on various issues that ought to be important to us (Philippians 4:8). This opportunity should not be taken lightly. Imagine, for a moment, if first century Christians had such an opportunity. What would they have been speaking about? How would they have influenced their peers? Whose interests or causes would they be championing? Though they did not have our specific technologies, they did in fact turn the world upside-down by communicating their message (Acts 15:1-6; 5:28-29).
Incidentally, though they did not have online services such as Facebook and Twitter, they did have an equally powerful social media platform - the written word (Hebrews 4:12). From all reliable accounts that we have (i.e. the biblical record), we can see what was of interest to them. It wasn't personal, political, national, economical, or even (solely) humanitarian interests. They were interested in promoting Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). The interesting observation regarding this simple fact is that it ignores the extremely hostile, socio-political climate of the first century. Isn't it amazing that despite such hostilities, first century Christians were filled with such joy? Perhaps this is why Paul, a one-time mercenary with Judeo-political ambitions (Philippians 3:5-6), penned these words to a young minister: No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:4).
I would hope that you all take a biblical (and not only political) stance in all your deliberations as you express your concern for justice and the rule of law. While I appreciate your passion (and I do), it would bring great joy and glory to God were it primarily directed toward a spiritual, not political, cause. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Again, the real battle we are to be fighting is a spiritual (not political) one. The more we divide ourselves along political (or other man-made) lines, is the more we undermine what Christ came to accomplish (1 Corinthians 1:11-13). If Ephesians 2:16-17 is true (and I believe it is), it was His purpose to "reconcile... both to God in ONE body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near." It was not His mission to separate along party lines.
Please do not misunderstand me. I do believe people (including Christians) have a right of political affiliation (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Politics, after all, is an expected and sometimes necessary part of societal organisation (Matthew 22:17-21). However, we must never let any affiliation (whether political, national, societal, familial or otherwise) trump or negatively affect our affiliation to Christ and His body (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). As to not adopt an extreme pacifist position, I do agree that Jesus did also speak of division and contentions. However, the divisions and contentions He speaks about are not for the causes that are socio-political (but rather spiritual) in nature. Hear Him in His own words in Matthew 10:34-39, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
We need to let the world see (not simply hear us say) that we are engaged in an awesome spiritual battle that does not run on election cycles (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Let us be known as soldiers, yes. Not as partisan, political soldiers, but as soldiers of the cross of Christ.
I have had the good pleasure of knowing you all and love you as brethren in the faith very dearly. I would wish to see us focus on the things that unite us in keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3-6). I do believe you all have great contributions to make in the kingdom of God. You have tremendous skills, talents and influence which, if used correctly, can bring great numbers of people to the foot of the cross and feet of the King. Let us all work together to maximise our talents to this end (Hebrews 10:24). Every other venture is vanity that brings glory to man, and not to God.
Whether RED ELEPHANT or BLUE DONKEY, UNITY is KEY!
My dearly beloved Isaac and Esau, Mary and Martha, please give this prayerful consideration before responding.
I just happened upon your exchange on social media. It is wonderful that we have (in this 21st century) the opportunity to express to the world our feelings on various issues that ought to be important to us (Philippians 4:8). This opportunity should not be taken lightly. Imagine, for a moment, if first century Christians had such an opportunity. What would they have been speaking about? How would they have influenced their peers? Whose interests or causes would they be championing? Though they did not have our specific technologies, they did in fact turn the world upside-down by communicating their message (Acts 15:1-6; 5:28-29).
Incidentally, though they did not have online services such as Facebook and Twitter, they did have an equally powerful social media platform - the written word (Hebrews 4:12). From all reliable accounts that we have (i.e. the biblical record), we can see what was of interest to them. It wasn't personal, political, national, economical, or even (solely) humanitarian interests. They were interested in promoting Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). The interesting observation regarding this simple fact is that it ignores the extremely hostile, socio-political climate of the first century. Isn't it amazing that despite such hostilities, first century Christians were filled with such joy? Perhaps this is why Paul, a one-time mercenary with Judeo-political ambitions (Philippians 3:5-6), penned these words to a young minister: No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:4).
I would hope that you all take a biblical (and not only political) stance in all your deliberations as you express your concern for justice and the rule of law. While I appreciate your passion (and I do), it would bring great joy and glory to God were it primarily directed toward a spiritual, not political, cause. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Again, the real battle we are to be fighting is a spiritual (not political) one. The more we divide ourselves along political (or other man-made) lines, is the more we undermine what Christ came to accomplish (1 Corinthians 1:11-13). If Ephesians 2:16-17 is true (and I believe it is), it was His purpose to "reconcile... both to God in ONE body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near." It was not His mission to separate along party lines.
Please do not misunderstand me. I do believe people (including Christians) have a right of political affiliation (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Politics, after all, is an expected and sometimes necessary part of societal organisation (Matthew 22:17-21). However, we must never let any affiliation (whether political, national, societal, familial or otherwise) trump or negatively affect our affiliation to Christ and His body (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). As to not adopt an extreme pacifist position, I do agree that Jesus did also speak of division and contentions. However, the divisions and contentions He speaks about are not for the causes that are socio-political (but rather spiritual) in nature. Hear Him in His own words in Matthew 10:34-39, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
We need to let the world see (not simply hear us say) that we are engaged in an awesome spiritual battle that does not run on election cycles (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Let us be known as soldiers, yes. Not as partisan, political soldiers, but as soldiers of the cross of Christ.
I have had the good pleasure of knowing you all and love you as brethren in the faith very dearly. I would wish to see us focus on the things that unite us in keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3-6). I do believe you all have great contributions to make in the kingdom of God. You have tremendous skills, talents and influence which, if used correctly, can bring great numbers of people to the foot of the cross and feet of the King. Let us all work together to maximise our talents to this end (Hebrews 10:24). Every other venture is vanity that brings glory to man, and not to God.
Whether RED ELEPHANT or BLUE DONKEY, UNITY is KEY!
