Advent and Politics

I mentioned Herod in a previous posting. His story and how he responded to the birth of Christ shows how big a topic this posting points to. Jesus' entire life on earth was filled with politics. Political interest and intrigue accompanied His birth, His life, and certainly His death. All kinds of people struggled in all kinds of ways to keep or get political power. Wherever He was and whatever He was doing, He was in the middle of this struggle. In one way of looking at things you could say that He paid with His life for His failure to play the political game.

It could just be me, but lately I've felt a little used by people who position themselves to represent my interests as a Christian in the political arena. It feels like the issues that matter to me are being used to force my hand as a voter. Like many believers, I have a few issues which will sway my vote every time. If no other candidate defends them, then whatever candidate does, I tend to vote for him or her. You can critique my approach. I'm not interested in defending or recommending it; I'm admitting it to back up an observation. It doesn't matter what we say or think, politics is an incredibly powerful force. We are all puppets to it, especially if we think we're not. We find ourselves in reaction and taking sides instantly. It colors the way we see our world. If I am passionately committed to being on one side of an issue and I meet someone new, the minute I find out that he or she is from the other side of my issue, a future friendship seems unlikely. To read about Herod in Matthew 2 is not to read about a one time terrible incident of genocide, but to read about a trend and desire in us all. Politics is about power and power is, as the cliche insists, a corrupting influence. The more power we think we have, the less likely it is we will make righteous decisions concerning it. Many resist the lordship of Christ since they have no other areas over which they perceive power. If God's in control then where does that leave me?

Exactly.

The great challenge of Advent is that God is announcing His plan to take something away from us who seek Him. Herod knew this. Advent represents a cosmic loss of control for believers. "You're out," Heaven says. It promises us no throne, no power, no entitlements, and no rights. Yes, in some ways Christian faith strips you of your rights. God holds them in trust. Now they're God's rights because now you're God's child. Of course they are greater than any human rights you might claim for yourself. The point is that you've given even the power to claim a right over to God in Christ. Faith is about trusting Him this much. This is Advent. O come all ye faithful and give up everything. What a far cry from the song of politics.

This is not to judge politics or cast it, as a vocation, in a negative light. This is to show how Advent judges us. We don't have political problems. We have spiritual problems. Politics, like money, simply reveals this.

PRAYER: Lord, all power is Yours. We come before You trembling and asking for Your help in tamping down all within us that is resisting Your Kingdom. We confess our sick desire to be King or Queen ourselves. Left to our own inclinations, we would have You put us on the throne. We acknowledge that John the Baptist's call to repent proclaimed the truth: the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Give us Your Spirit that we may reside willingly and joyfully as grateful citizens of Your Kingdom. Amen.


TOMORROW: Advent and Money