As a Christian and a human

Lately, in an ever-increasingly-fraught world rocked by human crises symptomatic of political tensions, I've found myself evaluating what it means to be a Christian on this earth when we discuss politics.

I find great irony at how our three-dimensional world has created two-dimensional biases and axes for everything from sexuality and social views to politics and sports fandom...

You're a fan of the Cowboys or the Redskins Commanders

You're a Democrat or a Republican (for my American readers).

You vacillate between a 2 and a 4 on the Kinsey scale day-to-day.

You're conservative financially but liberal socially.

We spend time trying to explain who we are using these man-made, and often, irrelevant binaries when we consider the eternal implications of who we are and to what we align ourselves.

The historied concept of humankind being inherently political is well documented. Aristotle famously postulated that "the human being is a political animal." Of course, this is how modern English has translated it. The Greek, ζῷον πoλιτικόν (sounds like zoion politikon), can be interpreted as man being a state-dwelling animal, the state meaning the local and organically groups that develop and form beyond nuclear families (families joining together forms a kinship or village, which can group together to form a territory or state). While we don't need to dwell further on Aristotle's perspective on how these groups formed, we can extrapolate from his sentiment the implication that any human who would exist without a state system had to be either more or less human (a super-human being or a barbarian savage, respectively). Aristotle believed humans were, at core, reliant upon the constantly-changing networks that comprise of a collection of fellow humans.

Aristotle's perspective serves as a foundation for my own viewpoint on the philosophical questions of how to identify, define, and classify individuals and groups (and their relationships). Of course, my perspective is inevitably shaped by what I know to be true as a Christian. God designed man to be relational. We see in Genesis 2:18 that the LORD God says "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper (עֵ֖זֶר) fit for him." And when God had finished creating Eve he saw everything he had made and thought it to be "very good" (Genesis 1:31). God literally designed us to be in relation with one another.

One of the biggest lessons I took away from my Morality theology class at my Catholic-lite high school was that sin is inherently relational. Almost always our sins hurt someone this side of heaven: infidelity hurts the spouse, stealing hurts the burgled, murder hurts the widow (and, of course, the deceased). Even when one might try to rationalize with this mindset that a sin or misstep won't have a direct victim here on earth, deep in our heart of hearts we know that the sin hurts and upsets God (see 1 Thessalonians 4:1). It hurts God deeply when we sin (I'm moved often by His hurt and disgust expressed in Genesis 4:10: "What have you done? Listen! The blood of your brother cries out to me from the ground." God hears, sees, and knows all things we think are concealed and covered by the dark!) Sin and death were not His original design.

So, how can we understand God's original design versus the updated world we live in full of sin and inherent politics? In researching for this post alone, a quick search returns hundreds of entries and essays by people on whether or not Jesus would be considered conservative or liberal. Before you start thinking about that question and what you believe the answer to be, evaluate what answering does to the Lord. Jesus was not just a mere man. He was fully God, too. He exists and existed in more than our fleshly three-dimensions can comprehend, not just surpassing time but creating it himself. Jesus has infinitely more descriptors we can assign to Him before we throw narrow, ill-defined labels of Western (largely American) social constructs. Christ, being fully man and also entirely more than man, transcends the political nature we might have earlier agreed is inherent to humanity.

So, where does this leave the modern Christian? First, we can ground ourselves with truths:

1. The Christian and the governing body

All authority on earth has been instituted and given by God. Paul writes a particularly lengthy passage we can carry with us when we consider protests, how we drive, how we vote, and more:

Let every person be subject to governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.... Do what is good and you will receive [a ruler's] approval, for he is God's servant for your good... Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience" —parts of Romans 13:1-7, ESV

Christ went on record multiple times about honoring governing political figures and obeying to the law of the land. Matthew 22:17-21 shows Jesus not only demonstrating paying taxes to Caesar despite the mistreatment of the Jewish people by Romans, but clearly articulating to handle politics in a humble manner.

This does not fly in the face of Matthew 6:24, either: no one can serve two masters, but the governing bodies should not become our masters. That is, no political figure (Donald Trump) nor governing body (President, PM, police officer, etc) should become someone we exalt beyond their earthly and humbled status of human. Our subservience and devotion to Christ should be the defining first priority, and the natural consequence should be a law-abiding citizen (this opens a segue for another entry about the parallels of God's first boundary being a law, his supplication of further laws, and the laws that have been entwined with all of human history).

2. The Christian and others

God implored us to love and to help others. Deuteronomy contains a helpful and explicit directive about giving to those in need:

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'This seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shill give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.' —Deuteronomy 15:7-11 ESV

This sentiment is repeated with further indictment from Christ in Matthew 25:41-45 (this passage ends with 'Truly I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.').

Beyond just charitable giving and serving those in need, we are to be kind out of Christ's love within us.

Christians should not be seeking out political internet arguments. Christians should not be rude, dismissive, nor judgmental of others or those with opposing views from us. Paul writes in Romans 12 to "live peaceably with all [so far as it depends on you]."

3. The Christian himself

Jesus implored us to be self-sufficient and hard working. Ironically enough, work was always part of God's perfect plan. Work is a gift from the Lord to us - the ability to exercise diligence and commit ourselves to a purpose is a blessing. Adam and Eve had been assigned to look over the garden and all its inhabitants prior to the fall (Genesis 2:15). Jesus worked as a carpenter. Paul was a tentmaker.

God worked to create the world and humanity (Genesis 2:3). Proverbs 12:23 states that "All hard work brings a profit."

God did not design us to lazily live off of the charity and benefits from others (Ephesians 4:28).

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. —Colossians 3:17

Work is one of the roots of politics. Unions, welfare, regulations, benefits, bonuses—all belong to the Lord in His control. Work It is important for the Christian to remember that everything we do should bring honor to Him, including how we steward the money with which he provides us. When considering sociopolitical opinions as a Christian, keep in mind who the ultimate banker and judge is.

## The Intersection of Work and Politics

Work serves as one of the fundamental roots of politics, intrinsically intertwining the realms of labor and governance. The dynamics of how work (all types) is structured and valued in society have significant implications for political systems and the welfare of individuals. Various components such as unions, welfare programs, regulations, and benefits, are not merely administrative tools; they are vital components that reflect the underlying moral and ethical considerations of a society. Each of these elements is ultimately under the sovereignty of the Lord.

Welfare systems are designed to support individuals and families in times of need, reflecting a society's commitment to caring for its most vulnerable members. From a Christian perspective, the provision of welfare can be seen as an extension of God's love and mercy, encouraging believers to engage in social justice efforts. We as Christians should consider how governmental policies surrounding welfare reflect their values and beliefs, ensuring that they advocate for systems that uplift rather than stigmatize those who are struggling. And if the opinion a Christian arrives at is "the government is failing to serve those in need in a meaningful or helpful way," then they should pick up the burden of ensuring charitable involvement in their local spaces to be a visible and physical extension of the Lord's grace.

It is paramount for us to remember that everything we do, including our work and financial decisions, should ultimately bring honor to God. This stewardship extends beyond personal finances to encompass how we engage with the broader economy and political landscape. We are called to be wise stewards of God's provisions, which includes advocating for policies that promote economic justice and sustainability.

4. The Christian and his time

Finally (only for the sake of this journal), God's word provides us with profound guidance on how we should be spending our time and resources in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Every action and decision we make should ultimately bring honor and glory to God, reflecting our commitment to His teachings and principles. In Titus 3:9, we are admonished to "avoid foolish controversies... and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." This verse serves as a reminder that engaging in disputes which do not contribute to our spiritual growth or the growth of others is a waste of valuable time and energy. Instead, we are encouraged to focus on what truly matters—building up our faith and fostering love and understanding among one another.

Furthermore, 2 Timothy 2:24-25 reinforces this idea by stating that those who are dedicated to serving the Lord are "not to be quarrelsome but kind to everyone." This passage highlights the importance of embodying kindness and patience, even in the face of disagreement or misunderstanding. While it is natural for us to have socio-political opinions possibly rooted in Biblical truths, we must remind ourselves not everyone shares our understanding as Christians. Our perspectives are shaped by our faith, but we must approach conversations with humility and grace, recognizing others are at different points in their spiritual journeys.

In reality, culture on earth will never reflect the values upheld by Christ without some form of perversion or manipulation. This is crucial for us to understand as we navigate our interactions with the world around us. Instead of attempting to correct those who are lost solely for the sake of achieving political clarity (or even just rhetorical victory), we should prioritize spending time in meaningful conversation. Our role as Christians is to be the salt and light of the earth, as described in Matthew 5:13-16. This means that we should strive to influence the world positively through our actions and words, demonstrating the love and truth of Christ in every situation. In doing so, we create opportunities for genuine dialogue and understanding, rather than conflict and division. It is through our example of Christ's love, kindness, patience, and humility we can truly fulfill our calling to be His ambassadors, drawing others toward Him through our lives.

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So, where does this leave us? Why have I spent time articulating all of this?

I feel (and vulnerably share at the risk of sounding self-involved) as though many Christians (and unbelievers, too) lean hard into particular ideologies and parties. Of course, maybe the most polarized are just the loudest. I feel as Christians we should not fully dentify with any man-made ideology while we're here. If we do, we should evaluate the status of our heart and our knowledge of the Lord.

We need to recognize the physical needs of those in trouble around us as well as the spiritual needs. We need to recognize that self-discipline is not inherent to the fallen and broken human.

We need to share compassion first and always when we see others living in sin, not just hold onto a lingering side eye and in first-impression judgement under the guise of discernment.

To dig deeper, I'll touch lightly on the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

When it comes to the fight for life, we can't just use dramatic rhetoric about the tragedy of abortion and hope to change minds, much less be seen as someone who reflects the love and compassion of Christ. We need to speak openly about how we've gotten to a place where abortions exist and the volume of women who look at the ability to have one and understand the root cause, and have compassion for that. We need to have compassion for the young women who wind up pregnant and don't want to have a child—they're lost children stumbling around a dark, depraved world. Would you want to raise a child in that sort of world without the light of Christ and the blessing of His unchanging Truth and safety of His sovereignty? Would you want to carry a child to full term and then just give it up for adoption? As a 16 year-old? As a 28 year-old who doesn't have a stable job? As a 32 year-old single mom who is barely making ends meet for her other children? As a partner to someone in the throes of addiction? We cannot, as Christians, support and encourage things like abortion, but we must have compassion for the circumstances which lead to people fighting urgently for it. There is empirical evidence of a correlation between the criminalization of abortion and maternal mortality rates (not necessarily women not receiving prenatal healthcare, but also seeking out alternative methods that are much riskier on an already risky goal). There needs to be a much different conversation around sex education for people in places where abortion is criminalized so that those not actively trying to conceive can more successfully avoid it... of course, as Christians, we might be quick to just condemn sexual immorality and ignore these needs borne of sin. But if we, as believers, can take a moment to have compassion for someone who is outside if the law (and therefore not protected by God's laws and the provisions he has for his children) we can see the nuance and depths of depravity that form the emotional drivers for people ardently speaking up on matters like this.

That example is a sensitive Christians and unbelievers alike. When we can start to think about the scenarios in which abortion is seen as a potential solution, it quickly looks very dire for mother and baby alike without considerable charity. We can recognize the selfishness, among other sins, required to arrive at the decision to choose abortion. We can warn the world of the hurt that will ultimately (and eternally, for many) come as a result of the bloodshed. But the only consistent peer-to-peer intervention (because our prayers should be the ultimate balm to pains we see on this earth) that might make a difference would be to provide compassion and guide lost, scared, anxious creatures of the Lord towards the Truth and the Light.

It is crucial to keep in mind who the ultimate banker and judge is. God holds authority over all aspects of life, including our work and the systems that govern it. This leaves us believers in an in-between state. Not fully bound by Aristotle's suggestion of statehood and politics as mere humans, but not absolved from politics entirely. To the people with us on this world we're called to be Christ's ambassadors... salt and light. We should focus our energy on facing the unfinished task!

We should not find ourselves aligning (or identifying) with ideologies of the men of this world. We need to consistently be in the Word, in prayer, and strive to love others (family and strangers alike) better. Biblical wisdom should guide us in our political engagement, informing our discernment. By acknowledging God's sovereignty in everything we do, we can approach political issues with humility, recognizing that their ultimate allegiance is to Him above all earthly powers.