The Bible and the Ballot
Someone I have known and respected for years took great offense at a political comment I had made and let me know that any respect or Christian affection we once shared was long gone.
It’s not the first time this has happened and it probably won’t be the last.
It is more painful than I care to admit every time it happens, but sadly, it’s getting easier to let go when need be.
Still, the loss of fellowship for any reason calls for self examination.
Because my primary identity in this world is that of a Christian, I needed to examine whether the way I thought about politics, political issues , and the nation were actually biblically congruent.
I found a book that was helpful and I want to share that with you.
Tremper Longman III has written The Bible and the Ballot to assist people in reading and interpreting the Scriptures correctly and to discern what the Bible says about the issues we wrestle with today.
He surveys the Scriptures on ten hot button items…nationalism, religious liberty, war, abortion, criminal justice, Immigration, same-sex marriage, the environment, poverty
and racism.
Because I have no self control, I immediately went to the chapters on nationalism and immigration.
I found both chapters to be informative and helpful, understanding that they were chapters in a larger book, not full length treatises on the subjects covered.
This is the kind of engagement with our sacred text that I believe is necessary…as Longman points out, both of our political parties support and oppose the kingdom of God in different places and identifying with either will leave you outside the biblical framework at some point.
If a “Biblical worldview” and fidelity to the Scriptures is important to you, I recommend this volume heartily.
For me (FWIW) the question always comes back to what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God?
I think i do have a duty to be a responsible citizen (pay my taxes and keep my yard clean), but when it requires compromising my understanding of redemption and my Creator, then Caesar doesn’t get first place.
However, IF i were a soldier and ordered to shoot certain politicians…. 🙆
Michael,
I may not always agree with your political positions, however, in our faith, I feel more at home than anywhere else. In your faith, I feel at home. You teach what seems to me to be the truth. Keep to the Gospel! In which you can’t go wrong! Someday, in heaven, we will chuckle over the things I got wrong. In the mean time, please keep to the truth God has given you!