politics – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

What we pursue

We’re living in a time when it is easy to criticize our fellow believers, especially when it comes to issues like politics and social justice.

I think that’s why Paul’s words really strike me.

So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. (Romans 15:19)

Paul was talking to a church divided by personal convictions and judgmental attitudes. Their reasons were different from ours to be sure. As a result, so are some of the practical applications we draw from Paul’s words.

But despite the difference in issues, the results were equally devastating: people in the church tearing each other apart.

So Paul says, “Pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.”

Does this mean we avoid all discussions on politics and social issues? No. I think these things need to be discussed.

What I am saying is we need a lot more listening to each other and far less judging of each other and each other’s motives.

Remember that you are not your brother’s or sister’s Lord. Jesus is. All of us will stand before God’s judgment seat. All of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

God may very well have some words of rebuke for us on that day. But ultimately, we will stand because God is able to make us stand. (4, 7-12)

We all stand by God’s grace. We would do well to remember that.

So as we discuss these important issues, remember that ultimately we are not trying to win an argument. We’re trying to build each other up.

And by God’s grace, as we talk, search his Word, and pray with one another, we will reach his truth and his perspective together.

Where a nation puts its hope

Where is hope for a nation found?

For the Israelites, they put their hope in their leaders, hoping they could bring them prosperity. And when the Assyrians came against them, and then the Babylonians, they looked to their leaders for deliverance from their enemies.

But it was an empty hope.

That’s what this chapter is about. The lioness was the nation of Israel, and the first cub was Jehoahaz.

But as we’ve mentioned before, he didn’t last long as a king, and he was quickly taken prisoner by the Egyptians after just three months on the throne.

Jehoiakim took over as king, but he brought no deliverance for the people of Judah, instead becoming a vassal of Egypt. Later on, he was taken captive by the Babylonians.

As a result,

When [Judah] saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion. (Ezekiel 19:5)

This king was Jehoiachin, but he too would be taken by the Babylonians into exile.

Ezekiel concludes by lamenting how Israel had been such a “fruitful vine,” strong and powerful among the nations. But because of their sin, they would be uprooted, their fruit shriveled, and their branches burned in the fire.

Not only that, they would be taken from their land and planted in the desert, a dry and thirsty land.

This of course was talking about their exile to Babylon (Ezekiel 19:10–14). And now there were no kings left in which they could put their hope.

So many nations put their hope in their leaders, trusting them to lead them to prosperity and safety. But all the while, they turn their backs on God, living their own way.

Even if a leader is good, a nation will start to wither apart from the Source of life. And if a leader is bad, it will wither that much faster.

Salvation for a nation is not found in politics.

It’s found only in people one by one turning to God, giving their hearts to him. And it’s only as people are turned to Christ one by one, that things start to change in a nation.

Am I saying politics is unimportant? Absolutely not.

But remember that a nation only has hope if they’re turned towards God. And that starts with you, touching the people around you.

So let us be the light in the darkness that God calls us to be.

For he alone is where this nation’s…where this world’s hope is.