The Right Side of Politics

Navigating Faith in a Politically Fractured World

In today's sermon, we delved into the often tense and divisive topic of politics, especially as it relates to our faith as followers of Jesus. With election season upon us, it's crucial to understand how to navigate our political landscape while maintaining our Christian witness. This summary will help you grasp the key points and life applications from the sermon, providing a roadmap for living out your faith in a politically charged environment.

What Does It Mean to Be a Faithful Follower of Jesus in a Politically Fractured World?

Many of us find ourselves in the middle of political debates, often feeling apprehensive or nervous about sharing our thoughts. The key question we explored is: **What does it look like to be a faithful follower of Jesus in a politically fractured world?**

Political Ideologies as Filters

Political ideologies act like filters or glasses through which we see the world. These ideologies—whether liberal, conservative, or libertarian—offer fragmented views of reality. They do not provide a complete picture and can obscure our understanding of scripture and Jesus' teachings.

Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World

In John 18:36, Jesus tells Pontius Pilate, "My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom." This statement underscores that Jesus' kingdom operates on a different plane, separate from earthly political systems. The kingdom of God is neither built nor sustained through earthly governance.

The Kingdom of God: A New Paradigm

Jesus came to establish a new kingdom, one that is not of this world. This kingdom is characterized by peace, justice, and righteousness, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6-7. Unlike earthly kingdoms, Jesus' kingdom is not advanced through political dominance but through the transformative power of the gospel.

The Five Distinctives of the Kingdom of God

A King: In the Old Testament, Yahweh; in the New Testament, Jesus.
A Rule: Governed by a theocracy in the Old Testament; by Jesus' lordship in the New Testament.
A People: The nation of Israel in the Old Testament; the global church in the New Testament.
A Law: The Torah in the Old Testament; the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.
A Land: The promised land of Israel in the Old Testament; a universal reality wherever God's people are in the New Testament.

The Danger of Political Dominance

Equating kingdom advancement with political dominance perverts the integrity of the gospel and disrupts the unity of the church. The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends political ideologies and calls us to love beyond our party of choice.

Unity in the Spirit

Ephesians 4:2-3 urges us to be humble, gentle, and patient, making every effort to keep unity in the Spirit. Our love for one another, despite political differences, proves to the world that we belong to a kingdom not of this world.

‍

Catch the sermon right here!

In a politically fractured world, our challenge is to choose faithfulness over political dominance. Let's protect and preserve our witness of the good news of the kingdom of God, showing the world that our ultimate allegiance is to a kingdom not of this world.

Questions of reflection

As we navigate the political landscape, let's remember that our primary allegiance is to Jesus and His kingdom. Here are some questions to reflect on this week:

Am I allowing my political views to obscure my understanding of Jesus' teachings?
How can I demonstrate love and unity with fellow believers who hold different political opinions?
Am I more focused on being right in my political stance than on showing the love of Christ?

‍