BLOG 10/21/15. ‘ALIENS AND EXILES’ DWELLING IN A POLITICAL CONTEXT
These days the media almost overwhelm us with more political data, and evaluations, and prognostications than we really want, what with different factions vying for prominence. Actually this is nothing new. After all, the first generations of the church were lived in the context of the total domination of the Roman Empire. Christians were an outlawed cult, and frequently persecuted as the church witness to Jesus as God and Lord challenged Caesar’s claim to that title in the empire. It was in that context that Peter reminded the church that it was a holy nation living as ‘aliens and exiles’ within the hostile context of that empire. (It continues so in many places in the world today.)
Down through the centuries the church has often been co-opted by governments and empires, and has all too often forgotten that it is still a holy nation living as aliens and exiles in governments that demand loyalty, conformity, and so dangle ‘perks’ over the head of the church when it is loyal to whatever form the political reality is (empire, divine right of kings, republic, monarchy, tyranny, democracy, etc.). Sometimes these perks come in the form of tax-deductibility, or other enticing benefits for supporting the government. Then sometimes the government becomes tyrannical and seeks to exterminate the Christian community (we’re watching that especially in middle eastern nations today). In every historical period and in every different political context the church has to come to grips with its calling to be a community of light in the midst of the dominion of darkness, whatever form that darkness takes.
Thus is behooves Christian folk to stop once and a while and think through their calling to be a holy nation, to be a royal priesthood, to be aliens and exiles in the often confusing realities of their particular political setting. No nation is a ‘Christian nation.’ A nation may be significantly influenced by Christian folk in places of influence implementing moral and ethical standards that create a more humane and just society, . . . but that same polis can become hostile and obstructive if the Christian community becomes an effective opposition to its policies that are unjust, inhumane, destructive, and violate the church’s witness on behalf of peace. All too often the church succumbs to the demands of the empire and seeks to identify itself with the empire, or to co-opt the government for its own benefit. It is always complex and ambiguous.
In my own Presbyterian tradition there was that colorful and highly controversial moment in the 17th century when the Roman Catholic king of England used his ‘divine right’ to seek to crush the emerging Protestant movement within the nation. He was totally unprincipled, horribly cruel, in his personal and public life, and it became intolerable. The Protestants then decided that enough was enough, and they organized an army, captured and beheaded King Charles and assumed the leadership of nation under the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. As one act of that brief period, there was called an assembly of all of the Protestant leaders to write up a unified confession of faith for all of the Christian entities. The assembly met at Westminster Abbey and wrote one of the historic creeds of the Christian church, called: The Westminster Confession of Faith. Chapter 25 of that confession holds a jewel that is the more understandable in the light of its historic setting, entitled: Of Civil Magistrate. It defines God’s good purpose (and limitations) for civil magistrate to bring peace, order, and justice to all of its citizens. It prohibits tyranny and misuse of government. (The British monarchy has never been the same since.)
As I read the news and pray for my own government in these colorful and controversial days, I look for what policies are being enacting that seek the welfare of all of its citizens? What policies are they instituting that promote peace and order and justice? After all, I am part of God’s holy nation. I am not primarily a citizen of these United States, but my priority is with the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ.
