God and Politics

Now here’s something I try to avoid. Those who have worshiped with us might say, “What?!?”

That response is understandable since many people equate speaking about an issue with speaking about politics. The distinction I make is that politicians choose to politicize an issue – either claiming it by putting their ‘brand’ on it or condemning it if the other party (their enemy) has put their ‘brand’ on it. Of course, that condemnation usually extends to that other party.

Looking at any issue through the lenses of our politicians could lead people to think there are only ever two options. And many, many Americans fall for that unspoken assumption. The result is that a person is lead to feel they are either ‘for’ the political party they have given their allegiance to – or they’re ‘against’ their party. Heavens! We couldn’t let that happen!

This brings up at least two major difficulties for me as Pastor and theologian, and another for me as a person.

As a person, I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I’m far from the dullest. And it doesn’t require a lot to realize there are (almost) always other ways to consider an issue and its ramifications than what the two dominant parties put forth. I find it a bit insulting to me that credible persons with a third (or fourth) way are treated so shabbily by politicians.

But that’s not bothersome enough to energize me to blog about it. It’s the part about me as Pastor and theologian that got me to this point.

If we spend enough time with the Old Testament Prophets and even more time in the with Jesus in the Gospels, we may discover that God has a certain way of seeing things. I am not going to say that I know how God sees things, and - please - don’t even assume that. (By the way, I would advise you to run from anyone who tells you they know how God sees things, how God thinks, etc. They would be making a claim that is totally false - and the next thing such a person might try is to tell you what God wants you to do.)

But – we can get an idea of what would be pleasing to God.

I have come to believe that God has a preferential prejudice for the poor; for those who are oppressed; for people who are taken advantage of; for those who are pushed aside with contempt. And, if I may be so blunt, it seems God has a preferential prejudice against those who piously consider themselves to be better than others; those who oppress; those take advantage of others; those who push aside others with contempt.

The message from the prophets to their power structures were all about this. And the message from Jesus to all who would hear goes even further; he takes it all personally. These words of his, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me,” are ignored to our peril.

Those words scream to us that God has a stake in almost everything that we do and fail to do – as individuals, as a community of believers, and as a society. I can’t think of any decisions our politicians have made that God didn’t care about.

Do I know what our politicians could do that would make God happy? No. But I do have an idea what would make God unhappy. As I see it, it’s not my job to draft legislation or write public policy. The second I would become party to such activities would be the moment I would no longer be a qualified critic of my own work.

No, my role is to stand outside of such activity and evaluate the impact our politicians’ actions will have on the poor, the weak, the beaten down, the forgotten, the lowly, and the widows and orphans. And then to ask them to go back to the drawing table.

My second objection is when people give their loyalty to a political party instead of to God. Certainly, when the rubber meets the road, we do need to decide which of the two options will be least offensive to God. But to side with an option because it’s presented by ‘your’ political party goes against everything Jesus stands for.

I also think that God does not now and will not ever side with a political party. God isn’t the one that picks sides. People are.

That’s what I think. What do you think?