the politics of the early church
Well the dust is beginning to settle on the political landscape of our country. Things were really shaken up around the country and in Washington. My brother Jay and I were together for the day on Saturday and were talking among other things about the elections. He made a statement that really got me thinking. He said, “It amazes me that so many people pin their eternal hopes on American politics.”
I have thought about this for a time. I admit in many ways I am guilty. And not just in the realm of politics. I really pin my hopes on a lot. The almighty dollar. What others think of me. When one stands back and thinks for a moment much of this seems silly. I mean really, do we actually believe that a man from Texas is going to change our future in amazing ways? Why are some so terrified of a woman from Arkansas?
We do not need to give up on politics, but we need to keep them in their proper place. As we engage politically it has to stop being combative. Jim Wallis says, “It is not left vs. right. It is about going deeper.” We need to hear what the prophets say to God’s people about our culture. We need to let the words of Jesus resonate in our ears in regard to living our life and restoring the world in which we live. To believe that all this will happen in the political arena based on what person is their may be mildly shortsighted.
Many who spend so much energy and nervousness on these things also say they want to be like the early church. If this is the case then one need survey the political climate of the world in the first century. Rome ruled the world. The Peace of Rome (Pax Romana) was the hope of the world. Within what was called peace followers of the Way (the early name for the Church) were treated horribly. They were burned on poles after being dipped in boiling tar. They were fed to wild animals for sport. They actually sold tickets to that one. They were under the authority of Caesars who called themselves things like, “Son of God”, “Prince of Peace”, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” They were not free to follow Jesus. They were killed for it.
As for who they wanted in office, well that was tricky. Some Emporers were madmen who would kill for sport. It was really an interesting world. Followers of The Way really did not put a lot of stock in the kingdoms of this world. So when people say they want to be a lot like the early church there may be more to it than we realize.
Many put faith in a political party. Many place people in office in a position where, while we would never call them “Son of God” we speak of them as though they are. After all we do use language like “God’s man in the Whitehouse.” If we are going to be like the early church maybe our faith should be placed less in politicians and more in the Galilean Rabbi who walked around this earth roughly two-thousand years ago.
I have thought about this for a time. I admit in many ways I am guilty. And not just in the realm of politics. I really pin my hopes on a lot. The almighty dollar. What others think of me. When one stands back and thinks for a moment much of this seems silly. I mean really, do we actually believe that a man from Texas is going to change our future in amazing ways? Why are some so terrified of a woman from Arkansas?
We do not need to give up on politics, but we need to keep them in their proper place. As we engage politically it has to stop being combative. Jim Wallis says, “It is not left vs. right. It is about going deeper.” We need to hear what the prophets say to God’s people about our culture. We need to let the words of Jesus resonate in our ears in regard to living our life and restoring the world in which we live. To believe that all this will happen in the political arena based on what person is their may be mildly shortsighted.
Many who spend so much energy and nervousness on these things also say they want to be like the early church. If this is the case then one need survey the political climate of the world in the first century. Rome ruled the world. The Peace of Rome (Pax Romana) was the hope of the world. Within what was called peace followers of the Way (the early name for the Church) were treated horribly. They were burned on poles after being dipped in boiling tar. They were fed to wild animals for sport. They actually sold tickets to that one. They were under the authority of Caesars who called themselves things like, “Son of God”, “Prince of Peace”, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” They were not free to follow Jesus. They were killed for it.
As for who they wanted in office, well that was tricky. Some Emporers were madmen who would kill for sport. It was really an interesting world. Followers of The Way really did not put a lot of stock in the kingdoms of this world. So when people say they want to be a lot like the early church there may be more to it than we realize.
Many put faith in a political party. Many place people in office in a position where, while we would never call them “Son of God” we speak of them as though they are. After all we do use language like “God’s man in the Whitehouse.” If we are going to be like the early church maybe our faith should be placed less in politicians and more in the Galilean Rabbi who walked around this earth roughly two-thousand years ago.