Navigating Political Turmoil with Christlike Grace

Last Saturday, it was reported that Donald Trump, former president, was shot at a rally. While he didn't sustain any serious injuries, others attending the rally did. As a result, voices across the nation have erupted. People are angry. People are scared. People are full of hate. People are confused. There are so many emotions...but how do we respond to this as Christians? Perhaps a better question is, how do Christians interact with politics, in general? 

I aim to tread lightly on this topic, but the Lord put this on my heart. We are seeing a rise in Christian nationalism and that is being used as a tool for political manipulation. Every person has a political affiliation, they are usually either right or left-leaning. However, we see too many people take their political affiliations and pick and choose parts of scripture to support their beliefs. They are using Jesus as their mascot to push and justify their politics. Instead of scripture informing their beliefs, they're using scripture as a means of validating their personal agenda. As a result, they expect everyone to conform to their political affiliations because it's "God's word". God's word says that "they will know a tree by its fruit" (Matthew 12:33). But if you look at the fruit of Christians or churches who have the language of Christian nationalism, are we seeing fruit? I very rarely see humility, servant-hearts, welcoming spirits, patience, and love being shown to everyone as Christ demonstrated. More often than not, I see a hunger for political power and a desire to prove themselves right over anything else. Yet, if we are following Christ, we are always going to be led into a place of service and humility. 

Does this mean Christians completely take the backseat in politics? Not necessarily. Christians tend to fall on the side of the two extremes. They are either too involved or not involved at all. They take Philippians 3:20, "Our citizenship is in heaven" to mean they only focus on their own holiness and sharing the gospel rather than the state of the nation. So where should we fall? I would argue that neither extreme is beneficial. Withdrawing from politics is like burying our heads in the sand and avoiding our responsibilities. On the other hand, making politics our primary focus neglects the Bible’s teaching that God should be central in our lives, not politics. 

You might not realize it, but Jesus lived in a highly political environment. The Jews had been under foreign rule for centuries, facing high taxes, oppressive laws, brutal treatment, and pagan practices. This situation led to a theological crisis: if the Jews were God's chosen people, why did they suffer so much? People in Jesus' time had various responses: some advocated withdrawal, others called for war, and others sought compromise. But which path did Jesus choose? None of these. He never claimed that Roman rule was the problem. Instead, He pointed to the failure of God's people to live as true followers of God. Perhaps, this is our problem today as well. To their frustration, Jesus did not instruct His disciples to devise a plan for taking over the political systems of their time. They expected Jesus to be a great king or an incredible military leader, but He refused to even entertain the idea. At the start of His public ministry, Satan tempted Jesus by showing Him all the kingdoms of the world and offering them in exchange for worship (Matt. 4:9). Jesus refused. Rather than seeking political power, He directed His followers to focus on God and embody the values of His kingdom.

But that doesn't mean the disciples were inactive. Instead, they followed Jesus' guidance. Rather than seeking political power, they lived out their faith in every aspect of their lives. They practiced unconditional love, cared for the poor, and valued everyone, including slaves, women, and foreigners. Historians confirm that this approach was effective. Over the next three hundred years, the church had such a profound cultural impact that it grew rapidly, becoming the largest and fastest-growing religion in the ancient world. Rome could handle revolutions, but it couldn't handle a community of believers fully devoted to Jesus Christ. With a mission rooted in love, they transformed the world.

What would our country be like if we spent as much time praying for it as we did fighting and complaining about it? What would our country be like if we spent more time trying to make ourselves more like Christ than we were trying to change our neighbors? What would our country be like if we did a better job at loving our neighbors than judging them? I believe it would be a drastically different world. 

I would encourage 6 ways that Christians should interact with politics. The first thing Christians should do is remember our primary citizenship is in heaven. We should view ourselves first as citizens of God's kingdom, rather than any earthly nation. This means prioritizing God's kingdom over national allegiance and seeking the peace and prosperity of our country. Next, Christians should hold their theological truth above their ideological truth. We should let our understanding of God and the Bible shape our worldview more than political or economic ideas. The Bible should be the starting point for addressing any political and social issue, so that we may ensure that God's wisdom takes precedence over worldly wisdom. Third, Christians should be witnesses to the broken world. Our primary mission is to be ambassadors for Christ, prioritizing our witness to God's truth over the pursuit of political power. This means living out biblical values and being a transformative witness to God's kingdom, rather than being overly invested with worldly systems.

Fourth, Christians should be people who influence others rather than people who are influenced. We should seek to be influential in Christ-honoring ways without falling victim to the corrupting influences of political alliances. We should engage in politics wisely, holding to biblical truths and values, and not altering them to fit political candidates or parties. Next, Christians should trust in the Lord rather than give in to panic. We can and should trust in God's sovereignty over all earthly authorities, and we can maintain peace and confidence even in times of political uncertainty or unrest. By trusting in Christ, we show that God is in control, regardless of who holds political power. We must keep our ultimate hope anchored in God rather than political outcomes.

Finally, Christians should be in fervent prayer for their country. Regardless of your political stance, we should ask the Lord for mercy on former President Trump and others who were injured, for the loved ones who are now grieving, for those who are scared, angry, and confused, and for the community where this occurred, as well as our nation. Pray for the leaders of this country as we enter into an election season. Pray that the Lord's will be done and that He will grant your heart peace with whatever outcome it results in. Ask the Lord to help you exemplify love in the moments when you feel angry or afraid. Ask the Lord to remove any pride or fear from your heart. We should pray to be an example to the world and embody comfort and peace amidst the multitude of voices promoting unrest and conflict. We should thank the Lord that He has placed each of us in this world with our own callings and vocations. During such times, there's a strong temptation for people to suddenly become experts on government, police protection, and other related matters. Ask the Lord to help you stay focused on your vocational duties and leave the unique responsibilities of investigation, protection, and government to those whom God has assigned to these roles. Spend time praying that the Lord would grant those individuals wisdom, guidance, and peace during this time. Never underestimate the power of prayer; it is our greatest comfort and our greatest weapon. 

In a world congested with political chaos and division, let us remember that our true calling as Christians is to embody Christ’s love and humility, allowing Scripture to guide us above all else. Instead of succumbing to the commotion of earthly politics, let us fervently pray for our nation, embody the transformative power of Christ, and focus on making a difference through our faith rather than our politics.

May your roots run deep and your faith remain strong! As always, Stay Rooted, my friends! <3