Abraham Lincoln, in his famous Gettysburg address, expressed, “..that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of Freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
American citizens have a unique opportunity, more so than many citizens living in other countries of the world, to protest against federal and state governments that they believe no longer governs in a manner that is rooted in the good life.
Christians, given their position as American citizens, as well as their call in the world to seek the peace (shalom) and well-being (good) of all (Jeremiah 29:7; Galatians 6:10) in accordance to God’s common grace in the world, have the responsibility to work for the common good through voting, lobbying to change laws, organizing peacefully, and legal appeal.
6. Demonstrate and declare the already but not yet kingdom politic of King Jesus.
I believe God is on mission to create a people (kingdom) from all peoples for his glory. This is the mission that God has been on since the beginning. Jesus is the climatic crescendo in God’s mission in that he inaugurated the kingdom of God, and through his death and resurrection sealed the future consummation of the kingdom in the New Creation.
Those who trust Christ as Savior and King become part of God’s people and therefore, are to live under the rule and reign of King Jesus in all spheres of life. As they demonstrate the kingdom of God through their lives, they are to proclaim and invite those far from God — from every tribe, nation, and tongue — to repent of their sin and submit to Jesus as Savior and King. This is why the church is a city within a city; a people within a people. The call of the church is to reflect and represent the already but not yet kingdom of God. Thus, the church has a different politic that operates subversively in the cultural politic of in their specific context.
In closing, there’s no denying the fragmentation of American politics, and thus American citizens. My prayer and hope for the church is that rather than entangle themselves in such culture wars they would seek to engage the culture missionally as a prophetic presence and voice that seeks to point people to Jesus — the ultimate king — while also working for the common good (the good life) for all Americans. Yes, this too is political, but in a more subversive Christ-like way.
