Elect Jesus?

Lectionary Scripture: Psalm 146

There are a lot of things to love about fall in Central Virginia. Driving around our rural area today I saw all the signs of the season – trees adorned with leaves of red and gold, squirrels gathering nuts for winter, and political signs. Lots and lots of political signs. Mostly square blocky blue and red signs with the names of preferred politicians. Then, going down one country lane I began to see a number of signs with the same lettering, shape and positioning as the political signs in people’s yards. Only instead of a democratic or republican candidate for Governor the name on the sign was JESUS CHRIST. Underneath it said in block lettering , “IS MY LEADER” and across the top were the words, “ALWAYS” and “FOREVER”. It was kinda shocking at first. Especially when I passed a yard that had a blue McDonnell for Governor sign, A red Bolling for Lt. Governor sign, and then the Jesus Christ sign. If I didn’t know who Jesus was, I would think he was running for Attorney General.


It started me thinking as I drove along. Could Jesus get elected Governor of Virginia? I decided to start there because he would certainly want to have more political experience before trying out for the White House. I don’t think many folks would have an easy time voting for Jesus. On one hand, he seems to have very socialistic and economically liberal policies (“do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you”. Matthew 5:42; “I was hungry and you fed me”. Matthew 25:35.). On the other, he seems very traditional and law driven (“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17). He associated with radical preachers (one of whom happened to be his cousin), and his taste in friends left a lot to be desired from the establishment’s point of view.

No, I don’t think Jesus could get elected Governor of Virginia. Which is just as well – because he really didn’t come to earth to be a politician. He came to be a savior. The lectionary Psalm for this Sunday, Psalm 146 shows us a good grasp of the difference and where our consciousness of having a “leader” and a “Messiah” ought to be.

Psalm 146:3-6

3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

What Leaders Can’t Do

The Psalmist of this particular hymn is pretty clear. There is no mortal, even one with slick media presence and high opinion polls, who can create enough power to truly save anyone. Not even himself or herself. It’s not wrong to be involved politically, that’s part of being a citizen of any country. But it is wrong when we look to politicians, and political office, to make the kind of changes that will make it “on earth as it is in Heaven”. Those changes have to come from an eternal being – the Creator, Christ or Holy Spirit. “People die”, the Psalmist tells us. “And even their best plans die with them.”

In America we seem to be trapped in a circle of disappointment when it comes to our politicians. No matter who we voted for, we have either been disappointed they didn’t win, or disappointed with them once they won and didn’t do what they said, when they said, how they said. I talk to more people who tell me who they didn’t vote for, than who they did and I’ve seen more people leave a church because of political disappointment than join a church because of political inspiration. That’s why we are warned not to tie our faith relationship to any politician or political struggle. It chains our belief to the here and now of what is humanly possible, instead of freeing our spirit to soar with what is Godly and utterly possible.

What God Can Do

The Psalmist gives us great comfort because while we lament what humans cannot do, we can take comfort in what God can do. “God is faithful” we are told in verse 6. In other words:

There is never a moment when God is not God.

What good news! So what can God do for us?

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, 8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

God can make the wrong things right, and the right things happen. God looks out for those we routinely do not see, or even oppress through our own human short-sightedness. God heals where healing seems impossible, and God lifts those who have been thrown down because of their status, or difference.

God has so much more intention than just a “leader”. God doesn’t do any of these things for votes, favors or even a lasting legacy – (since all creation is God’s legacy already). God does these things for one simple reason: love. God the creator continues to lovingly prune, weed, nurture and grow creation.

What Should We Do?

Lets face it – if Jesus was President, it wouldn’t be very long until someone started:

1. Questioning his policies (free healing???),
2. Complaining about his staff (fishermen and cronies!),
3. Commenting on the White House guest list (sinners and Samaritans????),
4. Complaining about his lack of action to end wars immediately (what did he say about Roman occupation? Nothing!),
5. Formulating some false scandal or way to get him out of power and put a person in office who followed a more accepted agenda.

So since political office is not the way God chooses to lead, then we – God’s hands and feet and children-- must do that too. I’m not suggesting it’s our Christian duty to run for office. Heavens no! But it is our duty to be leaders where we find ourselves – at home, in school, at work, at church. In our own daily lives as the image of God we should be making sure we do not oppress those who are hurting, outcast or different. Instead of claiming “grace” for ourselves then demanding “justice” for others – we should lead by example as a people who act justly, and give graciously.

Jesus wants us to show his sovereignty by the evidence in our life, not the signs in our yard.

Is Jesus Political?

A Meditation for Christ the King Sunday

Lectionary Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

I am one of those people who doesn’t like to talk about politics with strangers, and usually only discuss my ideas with friends and people I respect. If someone who doesn’t know me very well asks for my opinion I’m likely to say, “Oh, I’m not political”. The problem is not that I don’t have opinions and desires about my government. I would love to have equal rights someday, and I care deeply about the issues of immigration, war, and health care. I try hard not to be part of the problem, but, I’m not really part of the solution either. Hence, I am not political. But as a Christian, I have to ask – is Jesus political?

In the liturgical calendar, today is Christ the King Sunday – a day when we celebrate the Kingship of Christ and a traditional early Christian feast day. The title King is a political position – so there’s a clue to the answer. We also are given the New Testament scripture to the Colossians which clearly shows Christ’s political position.

Verse 16: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Clearly – Jesus was political. But not the way we see people claiming Christian faith go about politics in our day – with contributions to candidates who espouse their beliefs, pressure on public servants to vote with a particular viewpoint, and a review of a candidate’s religious history. I don’t think Jesus was about the process of politics. When asked, Jesus made a distinction between what was Caesar’s business and what was God’s – and also made it clear that his business was God’s. But he was about the product of politics – justice, mercy, and change. So what does that mean for Christians?

There is an old chemistry joke: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate!” (well, I think it’s funny)

The precipitate, of course, is a solid mass left behind after a chemical reaction has occurred. It’s an indicator that a chemical change has happened and something new has formed. When I look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, I see him as the catalyst – the one sent to create change in our world, and Christians as people who were supposed to be the evidence of the change Jesus is making – so – we are the precipitate.

Christ as King of Justice

One of the roles of any king was be the head judge (and in smaller kingdoms the only judge) of disputes and decision making. The king decided ownership, punishments, and made the laws. A good king made laws for the sake of justice. Christ the King sought justice through many ways. He called upon the temple leaders to create spiritual justice and get rid of cruel temple exclusions and pharisaic law (that got him killed). He called on disciples to create social justice – caring for the widows, the poor and oppressed. He called on individuals to act justly with one another.

As followers of Jesus the Christ (another political title), we too should strive for just actions with one another, and for social justice in the world around us. We should follow the advice of James – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Imagine if that word “religion” was replaced by the word “politics” – how different would our world be? Would we be at war? Would 1/3 of the homeless be children? Would scandal be the hallmark of our political leaders?

Christ as King of Mercy

There’s an ironic twist to understanding our beloved Jesus as a champion of justice. What he did on the cross was the antithesis of justice. He became grace, and grace is about as far from justice as one can get. The dictionary defines justice as “… the impartial assignment of merited rewards or punishments.” In other words, justice means you get what you deserve. And according to Romans, what we deserve for sin – the willful disobedience of God’s law – is death. But Christ brings grace into the arena – dying in our place so that we can experience salvation, relationship with God, and hope eternal. Because of Jesus we don’t get what we deserve – we get what God desires. God desires relationship with us and love.

As followers of the Redeemer, we too should take mercy into our lives and world. Imagine the immigration debate if it were framed in terms of mercy as opposed to economics, job quotas and punishment. Imagine our health care system if it were designed around mercy for the sick as opposed to how much insurance one carries.

Christ’s grace really isn’t so opposite from justice as it seems. Justice and mercy are the two sides of a coin. They are symbiotic. Thomas Aquinas said, “Mercy without justice is the mother of dissolution; justice without mercy is cruelty.”

Christ as King of Change

If there is anything distinguishing about the rabbi from Nazareth, it is his capacity to create change. Every life Jesus encountered he changed in some way. For the corrupt temple leaders, his presence made them insecure, defensive and scheming. For the pagan Roman soldiers his message opened them to the possibility of the One God, creator of all. For the common people, Jews and Gentiles alike, his healing gave them sight, mobility, hearing and spiritual freedom from demons and prejudice. We are all born again in his presence. We are all the precipitate – the evidence of his change.

Is Jesus political? You bet. Not in a “mark you ballot and lobby your cause” kind of way – but in a more profound and personal way. As election season begins to run in its fullness, I fear we will all have more politics thrust upon us than we may desire. But as we make our decisions, donations and demands of our government – let us first follow Christ into bringing the products of good politics into our midst. Justice, mercy and change are the fruits of Christ’s labor and should be our priority as well.

As for the rest – let us remember the wise words of Paul to the Colossians – “He is before all things and in him all things hold together.” In other words – it’s all about Him. Not us. Not Democrats, Republicans, Liberals or the Conservative Right. It’s about Him. Let us pause to honor and live to exclaim – Christ the King.