WEDNESDAY’S WORD – POLITICS – 02/01/17 – Sadell Bradley – New Life Covenant Cincinnati

“I hate politics. I try to avoid politics as much as possible.” I’ve heard people say these things recently. Given the nature of what’s been going on, that’s understandable. POLITICS are the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power; the activities of governments concerning the political relations between countries: activities within an organization that are aimed at improving someone’s status or position and are typically considered to be devious or divisive (e.g. corporate, family, church, politics);  a particular set of political beliefs or principles: the assumptions or principles relating to or inherent in a sphere, theory, or thing, especially when concerned with power and status in a society. The word derives from the Greek politikos, from polites ‘citizen,’ from polis ‘city.’ Whether we like it or not, politics are everywhere if you live as a citizen of a city, town, state or country.

POLITICS are also pretty much unavoidable in personal, work, and familial relationships. The phrase ‘to play politics’ – means to act for political or personal gain rather than from principle. How many of us have leveraged information or a situation to our advantage for status or position? We link up with important people for future power moves. We try to elevate our status by taking selfies with an influential or famous person. Many of us have voiced or posted a dissenting opinion or belief, with the knowledge that our views would be divisive and with the desire to be deemed more knowledgeable or intelligent than others. Almost all of us have manipulated a situation with a spouse or family member to gain an advantage, or loaned money/done favors knowing that now you’re one up on them. If that’s you, or even if it’s been done to you…you’ve been involved in politics. Politics is more than voting, posting and protesting. It’s ultimately about power, status, position and beliefs. Politics is about one side or view winning and the other losing. It gets to be about deeper issues like wealth, identity, security, and self-image. We definitely don’t like it when we feel we’re on the ‘losing side,’ but Christ followers could be uneasy about the subject for other reasons:

1. We believe all Authority & Power belongs to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20). Then Jesus commissioned His disciples to go to all the world, preach His Gospel to every creature and make disciples of every nation. We don’t struggle with Who’s in charge.
2. God has allowed delegated authority in the earth, but He is regulating them all. Whether they are heads of households or bosses (1 Corinthians 11:3, Eph. 2:1-6), churches (1 Tim.3:1-3), or governments and their citizens (Romans 13), they must all answer to God.
3. Christ’s way of leading is not about being the greatest, seeking the highest status or lording over people, but humbling yourself, serving them and giving your life for them. (Mark 10:35-44)
4. Jesus demonstrated this not by politicking to gain power but by humbling himself, laying down His life and being obedient to the death on the Cross (Phil 2). Then he was exalted by God with the Highest name ever known. He instructed us to have this same mind.

It is important to understand Scriptural perspectives when we engage worldly systems.  Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and our primary citizenship is in Heaven (Phil 3:20). Though we are in the world, we are not like the world, but are re-presenting Heaven to the world (John 15:19; 2Cor 5:11-21). If we get distracted, or caught up in any other identity, gospel or mission, we will lose credibility and our witness in the earth and the spiritual power that God intends for us to wield.  Just a reminder…