Who you should vote for...

It's a political year and once again, there's no shortage of division, chaos, anxiety, and vitriol in our nation. So, as you might imagine, it can be hard to know what to think about politics and how it matches up with your faith. Well, look no further, because we're going to tell you exactly what you need to know and what you should do about it.

Nope! Just kidding! We are NOT going to do that. This blog will not even come close to containing the names of the people or parties for whom you should cast your ballot when the time comes. I'm not even going to say, "Vote for Jesus," because then we start to argue which candidates and parties look more like Jesus. That's not helpful. Be honest, though; were you more likely to look at this post when you saw the title? 

Yes? Ok, don't be mad or stop reading. There's actually a reason we started with that title.

You've probably heard the phrase, "you can't judge a book by its cover." Is that still true? Nowadays, books and covers have evolved and taken on different forms. We consume information in a more digital space on social media and other similar avenues. Certain titles and headlines are captured, posted, shared, and commented on and then redistributed out into the virtual ether at a rapid pace. This all takes place before anyone has a chance to understand its source and its alleged truthfulness, and certainly before anyone has a chance to refute any of the potential misinformation.

The technology found within social media platforms is rapidly evolving and learning our behaviors simply by the things we click on, what we purchase, what we read, and who we tend to affiliate with politically. Algorithms are determined in such a way that creates an echo chamber of all the things we like and agree with, and removes the alternatives. The moment an article shows up in our personalized daily newsfeed, its title is provocative enough to entice us into not only opening said article; but also exposing us to a web of other articles, stories, and items to buy that are exactly in line with our values and belief systems. We, in effect, totally "judge a book by its cover," and love every minute of it. 

Something else is happening when we are exposed to this vacuum of thought. We see so much of what we agree with and believe that it reinforces our values and tricks us into thinking, "Surely, everyone must agree with me!"; only to find that, in the real world, there are others who hold very different ideas. We are shaken to the core that anyone would disagree with our belief systems and we respond in anger, bitterness, rage--sometimes passively, sometimes aggressively.

When Jesus' ministry starts to gain steam, part of it is due to the miracles he's performing; but also, he's saying some pretty provocative things. He has an interpretation of the Torah, among many other rabbis of the day, that seems to carry a different weight. There's a certain authority to it because he's actually bringing Torah into their world in very real and tangible ways--healing and forgiveness. What's also compelling to these gathering crowds is the way he talks about the political environment of the day. He calls it the Kingdom of God and it feels a lot like what the prophet Isaiah talks about several hundred years before Jesus is even born. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. -Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

Notice the politics of the Bible? Don't kid yourselves into thinking that politics wasn't on the minds of the people of God in the ancient world. If Jesus surely was the embodiment of this foretold son, then the people of God would be expecting something extravagant. They might even try to forcibly make Jesus their king. Oh wait! That's right, they tried, but Jesus refused. And then, to top it off, Jesus says things like, "Love your [Roman Empire] enemies and pray for those who persecute you." I can love my wife, my kids, my friends, and my neighbors without hesitation. But Jesus, seriously?!? Come again!?!? You must mean, "Tolerate my enemies, right?"

Somehow, we have come to see those that disagree with us as our enemies. Perhaps, we have even come to see them as evil. We convince ourselves that certain individuals are so bad that they aren't created in God's image. Let's just imagine that that's the case. Would Jesus' words to love our enemies still matter, or does that now nullify his command? The apostle Paul reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood (i.e. people), but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.

Yet, social media, in an election year, seems to tell us otherwise. It's my belief that we have a deficiency in our ability to love one another, because we have purposely blinded ourselves to those around us that hold different perspectives. Are they our enemies? That would be a strong statement to make if we remind ourselves that they are created in the image of God. But even if I can convince myself that they are our enemies, Jesus' words still hold true--love them.

If I titled this blogpost, "Love your enemies", would you have still opened it as quickly as you did when you thought I was going to be talking about voting? Perhaps, but you've made it this far, so you might as well finish the last paragraph.

How do we even begin to love and what does it look like? That word is typically the Greek word agape in the New Testament. If you want to hear about what agape actually looks like, then come to our Cross = Love series starting March 7/8 to hear how to live that out. We believe that it's the only thing that will truly shape our families and our communities. Go ahead and participate in the democratic process to the extent that you see fit. This is not a blog to discourage that. But also know, if you are a follower of Jesus, you're called to an even greater ethic of love that is experienced in the one Government to end all governments--the Kingdom of God. 

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