11^th Sabbath after Pentecost

August 10/12, 2007

Alzheimer’s Arkansas (offering)

Victor H. Nixon

WHAT ABOUT POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES?

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

In an interview several weeks ago I was asked, "Do you believe that your sermons make any difference in the politics and social values of your members?" A very interesting question! I replied that I certainly hoped so because I want my sermons to be relevant to the political and social issues with which people are dealing. Without telling you how to vote or what position to take, I feel that faith should influence every aspect of human life—personal, political and social—as it did for Jesus.

+

I find it very interesting that Jesus used a political term, "kingdom," to refer to a very important theological perspective, "the Kingdom of God" or "Kingdom of heaven." Since monarchy was the most common form of government in his day, people easily made the connection between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and the larger kingdom or rule of God. Furthermore, in Mark’s gospel, the kingdom of God is the primary theme of Jesus’ preaching and teaching in which he proclaimed the good news that God was Ultimate Ruler, to which the oppressive forms of government in his day were subservient. In this sense, Jesus’ ministry began with the subject of politics.

Of course, his claim that human kingdoms were subservient to God’s kingdom put him on a collision course with the political rulers of his day, a course that would ultimately lead to his crucifixion. His followers, however, continued to proclaim the good news of God’s rule. Monarchs who were politically astute began to claim rule by "divine right" as God’s regents, a claim that was also ultimately discredited. Christians across the centuries have long proclaimed Christ as King or Ruler, indicating that "allegiance to God takes precedent over allegiance to any state."(1)

So, it’s very important to realize that when it comes to politics, Christians from the beginning asserted loyalty to God’s governance over loyalty to human government, a faith stance that can at times be costly with accusations of disloyalty and treason, even imprisonment and death. But such a stance is critical to genuine faith as well as to good government, the preservation of human freedom, justice and the common good. When it comes to politics, God is always first for Christians, a position that allows them to love their country and avoid blind, uncritical patriotism.

God’s politics are also different. The kingdom that Jesus described was vastly different from the kingdoms and rulers of his time and our own. Jesus envisioned a government where all are loved by God and treated equitably, where the lost, the least and the last are the first priority, regardless of age, gender, race, or religion, where those who are ill have access to healing, where teaching and learning are valued and children adored, where strangers are welcomed and treated as family, where those who have share with those who do not, where love for God is reflected in love for others. Obviously, God’s politics are not always the priority in the politics of our time.

In our text for today from Matthew’s gospel Jesus describes a visionary, future incident in the kingdom of God where he sits on the throne and all nations are gathered as he dispenses justice based upon whether they have provided for the needs of the unfortunate—those who were hungry and thirsty, those who were strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned—with whom Jesus identifies himself. "If you have done it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."(25:40) Those who are just and provided for the unfortunate are given eternal life. Those who did not are shipped off to eternal punishment.

It’s a rather sobering vision about accountability in God’s rule where human destiny is linked to treatment of those who suffer. This isn’t salvation by grace through faith. This is salvation through service to those who suffer. This shocking teaching of Jesus is intended to focus our attention on the significance that Christ attaches to present human need—not only for those who suffer, but for those who encounter them, and in so doing meet Christ. God’s politics are very different.

Now, should Christians be involved in politics and social issues? I certainly believe so. As a history and political science major, I was taught that politics is "the science of government," a rather elevated view of the political process that some describe as "dirty," which it can be. Essentially, politics is the way things get done in our community, our state, nation and world. Given our system of governance, you are either involved in the political process—through your vote, letting your interests and values be known to those in office, and contributing to those who represent those interests and values—or letting someone else make those decisions for you, whose interests and values may not represent your own. I believe political involvement is not only good citizenship but good Christianity as well.

Furthermore, I believe that public service, holding public office, is a very high calling, properly understood. Certainly, I know that people run for office for very selfish reasons rather than the common good. It is the responsibility of the electorate to determine who is best qualified to serve not only our personal but the public interests as well by campaigning and by casting our votes. "The strength of a political system depends upon the full and willing participation of its citizens," says The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church that devotes four full pages to the importance of participation in the political process.(2)

But there is another reason beyond good citizenship and public service that Christians should participate in the political process according to our Discipline: "The church should continually exert a strong ethical influence upon the state, supporting policies and programs deemed to be just and opposing policies and programs that are unjust."(3) We are called to be good citizens of our city, country and state by allowing God’s rule or will to influence our politics and our votes.

I am not so naïve as to believe that every voter and politician who claims to be a person of faith really allows God to shape his/her politics, even in the so-called "Religious Right." There are other powerful forces at work like money, special interests and single-issue groups. Still, the important role of the church as ethical and spiritual conscience of the political process must not be neglected, lest people suffer. When church was largely silent in Europe during the Nazis era millions of Jews were incinerated. Such a role transcends partisan politics. God is not Republican or Democrat. Being Christian may require crossing the political aisle at times. At other times, it may mean standing alone because we believe in the principles of God’s rule.

When it comes to politics and politicians, I find the Micah Test helpful: "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with your God."(Micah 6:8) The Micah Test doesn’t always yield clear-cut, complete assessment, but it helps guide me and remind me of God’s rule and will for justice, mercy and faith in the political choices I make—whether in a presidential election or deciding about the upcoming proposal for the Little Rock mayor’s office.

I am very proud of our United Methodist Church that dares to address the important social issues of the day. An entire section of The Book of Discipline is devoted to the "Social Principles" of the church that take "forthright positions on controversial issues involving Christian principles." The Social Principles address everything from environment and ecology to marriage and sexuality to human rights and genetic technology to labor and corporate responsibility to civil disobedience and criminal justice to war and peace, ending with "Our Social Creed" that concludes our worship today. The Social Principles both inform and challenge us to take seriously what it means to be a responsible Christian with kingdom values in the world. I encourage you to read and study them. Copies are copies available in the reception area. You may call the church and we’ll provide one for you.

The Social Principles of the church are not intended as church law or the last word on any social issue. Instead, they are there for thoughtful consideration and discussion to guide our personal witness in the community and in the world for Christ. You may disagree with some of them; I certainly do. But it pleases me greatly that my church takes a position on relevant social issues, as it has since the beginning when it opposed the slave trade. If Christians do not represent the values of God’s kingdom in our government and society, who will?

I recently finished a biography of President Abraham Lincoln that reminded me of his statement warning people during the Civil War not to believe that God was on their side, but to worry and pray earnestly that they were on God’s side. That should be the concern and prayer of every Christian in the politics and social issues of our day as well.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

+