It’s a good time for Christians to rethink politics. We must recognize that politics is not the ultimate answer for humanity and that seeking the Kingdom of God is. We must seriously consider prayer and thoughtful Christian engagement as ways of being in the world but not of it. Let’s learn from Jacques Ellul.
Jacques Ellul (1912-1994) is probably unfamiliar to many people, but he was a provocative French philosopher and theologian. Perhaps being provocative just comes with being French? In his book, Ellul highlights a vital truth Jesus made when he said, Christians must be in the world, but not of the world. But what did that mean for Ellul?
Ellul was alive at the strident rise of Hitler’s rightist fascism, and the revolutionary rise of Lenin’s leftist Communism. In their respective countries, both leaders and systems enticed an army of Christian followers. In these circumstances, Ellul says there were three impossible positions for the church: (1) sticking their head in the theological sand, (2) getting in bed with a particular political philosophy, and (3) seeking to establish their own‘Christian state’. As Ellul indicated, these are not adequate Christian positions.
How then should we today be in the world but not of it, especially when it comes to how we interact with politics? We can take three lessons from Ellul.
First, we must step back and realize (as divisive as we may sometimes want to be) that both the Republican and Democratic parties stem from western liberalism — historically they are two parts of the same team. Fair elections, free markets, the rule of law, basic liberties of free speech, free assembly and freedom of religion mark both parties and they, more or less, still operate on these liberal cornerstones. Although both parties were birthed in western liberalism, neither party represents Christianity; the Christian calling is to seek first the Kingdom of God, and not a world system, as the answer for humanity.
Second, we find ourselves in a messy world. Every family on earth is touched by dysfunction, how much more our systems and institutions? A Christian is called, not to conform to the world, but be transformed. For Ellul, this means we cannot live by formulaic principles as much as by daringly confront each circumstance with wisdom and faith. And prayer is our weapon of faith. Insofar as Christians are no longer praying for their governments they, along with the world, do not believe in the power of prayer. Folding our hands and bending our knees is the answer. Ultimately our battle is not against flesh and blood — it must be waged by faith in God through prayer.
Finally, Ellul illustrates using biblical metaphors for the Christian to be in the world but not of it. We are called to be ambassadors, representing the interests of our home country. We are called to be missionaries to incarnate the gospel to our neighbours. We are called to be sheep among wolves, willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. We are called to be the light that exposes the darkness. And we are called to be salt that preserves the good in the world. The way of the world is to put an agenda before God, and putting anything before God is the definition of idolatry. We must see the big picture and be aware of the answers politics is touting in contradistinction to the role of God’s active agents (you and me) in society.
In the end, politics are not ultimate and therefore they cannot solve humanities problems. So before becoming entrenched with a political party ask yourself whether your convictions are based on a heart set on things above.
Photo by Giuseppe Milo
