Do the political parties represent Christians? Is there a place on the political spectrum from right to left where a Christian can comfortably sit? Is that what we should be looking for in a political party? What if there was a kingdom platform? What would that look like?
If you care about what scripture cares about you will likely be too liberal for the conservatives and too conservative for the liberals.
In his book, The Righteous Mind, Jonathan Haidt offers six moral foundations: Caring, Fairness, Sanctity, Loyalty, Liberty, and Authority.
It would be easy to presume that Caring and Fairness are “of the left,” while Sanctity, Loyalty, and Liberty are “of the right.” These represent emotional impulses rather than rational ones. They have to do with how someone is inclined.
We referenced Philippians 4:8-9, Micah 6:8, Mark 12:30-31, Jeremiah 22:3, Leviticus 19:34, and Proverbs 21:13 in our conversation.
There is no one place on the spectrum between right and left that is ideal for a Christian to reside. What if they considered themselves off of the continuum between left and right?
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Music:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE), https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Comfort_Fit/Forget_And_Remember/03_Sorry
I appreciated this episode. There is certainly a tension that we, as believers who are citizens in a republic, face because of the complexities of the issues before us.
Is too, do come from the “right-ish” side of the aisle, but I found the episode SLIGHTLY bent toward the left in terms of Scripture used as examples. Maybe that was because of your core backgrounds and an attempt to take your bent into consideration, but there are other passages in Scripture that demonstrate another – corresponding – concept within the spectrum being discussed.
An example that you touched on is the homeless issue. Programs are not fixing the problem. A significant part of the reason, I believe, is that years ago – as our nation became more secular – the government decided (due to the people we elected) that the government could do a better job at providing a “blanket” for the poor by creating programs. Those programs had to be funded, therefore our taxes were raised to accomplish this task. What believers USED to donate/give directly to in terms of ministries that would help the poor was now siphoned off to pay for the programs that were programs without answers. How do programs like these help people understand their Imago Dei place in the world? It is the emptiness of a view of man and God void of purpose. For centuries, the US saw churches and religious organizations create institutions to help. Just drive through any town in America and take note of the names of the hospitals. Almost all will have been founded by Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, Adventists, etc. Those STILL exist today, but are often hamstrung infufilling their purpose of not just helping a physical need, but also the spiritual need. To help someone come to understand themselves in light of a God who loves them.
I have family members who, starting with my Grandpa, have dedicated themselves to serving in Rescue Mission ministries. I learned my dining habits eating next to the men/women who came to the missions for help. The goal is to truly help.
You mentioned Israel and how they were supposed to be that light on the hill to the nations around them. They screwed up because they DIDN’T shine that light as they should have, but that is the lesson for us today as well. The point of that story about Israel isn’t that were supposed to open our borders to all who come, but to share the gospel to all who come. You would agree that America is NOT a city on the hill in terms of being a “Christian nation.” Our tensions come in how we live as individual believers as reflecting the light of Christ.
So hard!
We recognize, also, that there are personal responsibilities at play here as well. We see in Scripture that the one who doesn’t work shouldn’t eat. We see that if a family member is struggling, their family is supposed to step in first. There are balances at play here in these issues. Both are true, so how do we reach that balance without missing the heart and purpose of God?
Enough rambling. I have listened to a few of these podcasts and appreciate your transparency. If we are to become more like Christ, and shine brightly, we need to be willing to ask hard questions of ourselves. Carry on.
Hi Todd,
Thanks for the feedback and encouragement! It is helpful to know I sounded like I ‘leaned left’. My goal was not to lean either direction but to escape being either left or right. If we can get off the continuum altogether, maybe be politically homeless, we may be more free to represent the kingdom of heaven.
I think we have an individual issue, as you mentioned. We need to reflect the light of Christ, to be sure. I am concerned, too, that we have a corporate issue. We cannot let the church be used as a means to some greater end…there is no greater end. It is hard to be an embassy of the kingdom of heaven when we are entangled in partisan issues like elections, masks, or vaccines.
I was just at a gathering of pastors. I don’t think anyone feels like this has not affected them.
Thanks again for engaging.