Jesus is not a Republican.
This week, Donald Trump posted a video promoting a patriotic Bible with the Bill of Rights, constitution, and Declaration of Independence added in. Recently, Joe Biden used the scriptures to justify abortion. In Brazil, Bolsonaro used God to convince the population that he was a holy man. In Russia, Putin has used the Orthodox Church to control the narrative about Ukraine and its justification of war.
Every nation and political figure uses the name of our Lord as a means of power. But the American church is especially guilty of being in bed with the political spirit. Charismatic leaders used the precious gift of prophecy to falsely predict an election and coerce followers of Jesus to support Trump. Dispensationalists try to use the book of Revelation to argue that America and it’s president is in the “end-time” plan for God. Others in the church open the precious pulpit to political pundits and candidates.
The title of this post may have offended you. That’s the point. The title could have been “Jesus is not a Democrat,” and it still would have offended some.
Jesus never addressed the political atmosphere of his day. He never spoke out against His Roman oppressors. Instead, our King spent time with the oppressed. He fellowshipped with those whom the religious leaders cast out.
Jesus’ ministry demonstrated another Kingdom—the Kingdom of Heaven. The lepers were cleaned, the Samaritan woman was humanized and loved, and the Roman official’s son was healed.
His ministry would have opposed every political, societal, and religious ideology of his day.
Tim Keller points out that the Christian ethic cannot fit within a political party. He notes that there are four unique convictions that followers of Jesus have carried since its inception:
1. Racial justice (Reconciliation)
2. Care for the poor and marginalized
3. Pro-life
4. Conservative sexual ethics
Two are traditionally democratic, and the other two are traditionally republican. When you adopt a party-driven mindset, you ignore two and vehemently preach the other two.
There is no political party that encompasses the entire Christian ethic. But both sides of the aisle are passionately trying to convince you that they’re the “Christian party.”
At His most vulnerable moment—as Pilate, a Roman proctor, is questioning him, Jesus says:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
John 18:36 NIV
If Christ is King, that means Caesar is not. It doesn’t matter if Caesar is Nero or Constantine—Jesus is the preeminent One.
Do not fall for the political spirit. It’s a trap that is tempting and difficult to resist.
Jesus wanted his disciples,
“Be careful; watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
Mark 8:15 NIV
