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How can Christians have a biblical witness in a politically crazy world?
by PATRICK SCHREINER
WASHINGTON, LIKE ALL other governing systems, pursues the devotion of its citizens. That is not all bad. We should have a certain loyalty to the nation in which we reside if they are punishing the evil and rewarding the good. However, this allegiance can also be distorted.
Walk into the U.S. Capitol. Go to the rotunda and look up, and you’ll see an example of how human authorities have been depicted. Above you is the Apotheosis of Washington. Painted in 1865, the circular form naturally draws your eyes to the center. There you enter the heavens. In the middle is George Washington himself — highly exalted. His image is pictured above every other name.
Apotheosis refers to someone ascending and becoming a god. From this painting, the implication is clear how people are prompted to view American rulers: Leaders are to be revered. They are bringing forth the kingdom. They will bring lasting peace.
These scenes reveal the culture we live in. So how can Christians be a light on a hill amid this reality?
Let Faith Define You
Recent studies reveal the number of people who claim to be religious is declining in the West. For many, their faith is no longer primary to their identity. Into this vacuum politics has taken its place.
Religious belief has not been replaced with political belief but combined with it. Politics is a new religion, a new identity marker. People define themselves as either being right or left.
Our leaders are viewed by some as secular priests and even gods, even though they would never say it aloud. Leaders sit in rooms of power. They have special access. Many gather to hear what they have to say. Some hang on their every word. Others become obsessed.
Don’t Obsess Over Secular Politics
How can we have a faithful and public witness in a political world? Many things could be said, but I want to make a simple point: Our Christian witness includes not becoming obsessed with secular politics.
We need to turn off constant news, stop getting so angry or frustrated with certain decisions, and beware of how we respond emotionally to political realities. We need to remind ourselves that any affection we may feel toward a political tribe should pale in comparison to our allegiance to Christ and His kingdom.
We give too much power to worldly powers when we speak of them constantly. One of the ways to be truly political is to speak more of God’s reign and thereby put earthly reigns in their proper places.
That is what the New Testament authors did. If you count how many times the New Testament speaks explicitly of Caesar, it is quite rare. This clues us into a reality. By not speaking much of their power, the authors of the New Testament relegate their power.
Every day, first-century Jews were reminded of Rome’s sovereignty as they passed coins back and forth in trade. They stood below statues and in cities filled with souvenirs of Caesar’s power. They watched as people suffered under Roman governors’ terrible miscarriage of justice.
In the shadow of Rome, their most subversive act was not to oppose Rome but deny its principal significance. Most of the time, they didn’t direct people’s attention to the shadow, but away from it — to a greater power at work.
The message of the New Testament is typically a declaration, not a negation. It does not fixate on Augustus Caesar’s claim to be the “son of God” but proclaims that the true Son of God has arrived. Paul didn’t say Caesar is not Lord, but rather Jesus is Lord.
Follow Jesus’ Response to Politics
How did Jesus respond to politics? Once Jesus was asked the most politically charged question of the day: whether they should be complicit to Rome by paying taxes to Caesar. He didn’t respond by flying off the rail at their abuse of power. He also didn’t speak in a soft and hushed voice, fearing their authority. Instead, He subverted their power — not by calling for a boycott, but by shrugging: “‘Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’” (Mark 12:17).
We need to learn from this tactic. We are partially complicit in granting too much power to the current governmental systems by our feverish responses. By manically and incessantly speaking of them, we hand them the scepter. The media can’t bear all the blame. With the rise of social media, “we the people” are the media. And if we give politicians 24-hour coverage, we endow them with influence.
The first business of the church is to refuse to worship the powers that be. We refuse them worship by not feverishly responding to their actions.
The New Testament wasn’t interested in Rome’s power. It was interested in Jesus’ power. The Roman Empire was subsidiary to Jesus’ kingdom. Politicians will not usher in the new creation. They will not bring lasting peace. They will not bring long-term life, liberty, or happiness. Only God will do this.
Jesus used Rome and the Roman cross as part of His program to save His people. In the same way, we can be thankful for what the government provides, but it is only a means by which we can spread the good news of King Jesus. We, likewise, can use the order and peace that the government provides so that others might hear of the sacrificial King who has come and is coming back again to establish His empire.
Our job is to be a light to the world as we follow Jesus in His political program. He didn’t obsess over secular politics; He announced a new politic.
PATRICK SCHREINER teaches New Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. His most recent books include The Visual Word: Illustrated Outlines of the New Testament Books and Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World.
English (US) · 