part of the turn

I read an article today in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune by Gregory Boyd today titled, “My Church has been hijacked by politics“. In the article Boyd contends that,

As passionate as Jesus was about transforming society, he refused to mix his faith with politics. Jesus lived in politically hot times, and the people of his day were looking for a political leader and savior. Consequently, people were constantly trying to get Jesus to throw his weight behind this or that political issue, but Jesus consistently refused. He never so much as commented on the politics of his day. We know that two of his closest disciples — Matthew (a “tax collector”) and Simon (a “zealot”) — were farther apart politically than Michele Bachmann and Patty Wetterling could ever dream of being. Yet Jesus never said a word about it.

The first thing that comes to my mind is how Jesus acted in John 6:14-15. After Jesus wowed a crowd of 5000 by filling their stomachs it seems that they were so impressed that the crowd took it upon themselves to attempt to make Jesus king by force. Jesus responded by withdrawing to a mountain by himself. You could argue that this doesn’t have to be interpreted as a rejection of politics as much a rejection of the crowds tactics or chance of success. I would agrue that even if Jesus was only rejecting the crowds tactics that their is a profound lesson for Christians in today’s political climate.

Boyd’s American context is different then my Canadian context but his article definitely speaks to an increasing trend in the Canadian political and religious system. My prayer is that we can redirect the evangelical church in Canada’s newfound interest in political activism into a transformational activism - one that seeks to change hearts, not only systems.

As Boyd says, Yes, Jesus was all about transforming society — but not by political means. This is why he said the movement he came to bring was “not of this world.” This simply wasn’t the kind of power Jesus was interested in.

I also hope that we continue to think, pray, discuss and study about the kind of power that Jesus was interested in and the kind of kingdom that He was and is trying to build.