A few thoughts and questions (okay maybe more than a few!) to contemplate
as kingdom of God people, with local elections around the corner in South
Africa, 2026. (and in many other places in the world.)
For a few months already I have been
ruminating on the phrases we hear when Christians around the country call
people to pray for their country. Normally somewhere in there we speak about
taking or making a stand. Words like reset or arise are often used. Don’t get
me wrong, we absolutely need to pray for our country. What concerns me is what
does taking/making a stand mean as far as what the kingdom of God stands for?
What are our talking points? What is being
upheld? What is being protected? What is being promoted? Are power, rights and
institutions/systems being centered as more important than people and their
needs? Or are kingdom of God principles front and center? Is the ‘truth’ being
stood for or defended lining up with our kingdom of God responsibilities? Some
of which are; looking after the poor, widowed people, hungry people, children
and protecting the marginalised. Are we offering up ‘half truths’ that make us
complicit in non-kingdom of God ways? Are we silencing people? Are we name
calling? Are we offering up threats? Are we covering up anything? Are we basing
our actions on fear? Are we following Jesus in his ways or in our safe and
preferred ways? Are we open and standing in the light? Are we loving and
worshipping the church as an institution or Jesus and his church? Are we being
threatened by anything? How are we responding to this?
Not so easy, but necessary questions to ponder
as we look to go to the polls in the next few weeks.
Are we looking towards mutual flourishing
for all or protecting our own safety? Are we holding those in power accountable
where they infringe on kingdom of God principles? Are we being honest and
truthful? What are we basing our talking points on? Are we open to
manipulation? Are we being manipulative? Do we think we are more righteous,
above reproach and that we are on the right or good side?
All political parties are all a part of the
system of this world. And yes, of course we need to vote and pray, but we also
need to continue to live out the kingdom of God principles no matter the
outcome.
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”
He commanded, “Love your neighbour as yourself and love and pray for your
enemies/those who persecute you.”
He reminded us that we will be known and recognisable by our love.
There are no exceptions. That’s the kingdom of God. Are we upholding this in
our speech and actions when we make or take a stand?
Are we being judgmental based on race,
religion, sex or gender? Are we looking at character and actions as
foundational to good leadership? Do we excuse conduct on our side that we
condemn on the other side?
No political party will ever have a
monopoly on morality.
Who is being lifted up? Are we following a
charismatic leader and getting caught up in all the promises that make us feel
safe? Who is being protected? Who is being harmed by their policies? Who is
being left behind, left out or not considered? Are we after justice or just us
with quiet peace? God’s throne is built on justice and righteousness. Peace
follows because of justice and making wrong things right again. Do we question
the people demanding our loyalty? Do they cause us to fear others? To feel
threatened by others? Do we hold all leaders accountable and open to scrutiny,
or do we protect them at all costs? Do we defend them when people ask honest
questions about them? Have we been captured into believing that they are the
ultimate saviour for our area?
When fear enters the picture, problems
arise. When we feel threatened, we tend to justify harm and cruelty to others. A
target to blame and scapegoat. Our example to uphold is always Jesus and never
a political party. Are we looking to be servants in the political journey? Do
we see the image of God in every person? Do we honor this and remember what we
do for them; we do for Christ? Does injustice bother us enough to stand against
it? Is corruption our only focus? Is good governance and fixed potholes, water
and electricity our only focus for ourselves and our families? Is safety for
everyone a priority, or only safety for ourselves?
Do we remember that Jesus was fully human/a
human body? Does that cause us to make sure that every human body matters and
needs to be considered? Do other bodies experiencing suffering cause us to rise
and act to end their suffering? Is our faith private, personal and protective
of self, or public, active and protective of all?
Do we care for others’ physical realities?
Those suffering from hunger, rejection, starvation, war, abuse, pain or harm?
God so loved the world that through Jesus
he is redeeming it. We get to participate in the kingdom that is fully
established in our hearts and the future kingdom that is not here yet but will
be fully established at the end of the age. We get to bring it to earth by how
we conduct ourselves through life, speech and action. Through how we embody
Jesus when we take a stand.
Should we not rather be bringing kingdom of
God principles into full focus in our stand rather than defending and
protecting our faith and ourselves? Do we know what we stand for, or do people
only ever hear what we stand against?
Do we feel entitled or better than someone
else or another party or religion? Entitlement generally leads to
discrimination, harm and hatred. These are not kingdom of God principles. Do we
believe our comfort is more important than other people’s rights? Are our
political values congruent to how we live as kingdom of God representatives?
“Do we amplify opinion and policy of
political leaders or do we critique them? In doing that, do we offer the hope
of an alternative vision and to follow the way of Jesus even in the
difficulties and practicalities of a world already at war?” Danielle Strickland
“If we want to take any nation back for
Jesus, we need to ditch the irony. If taking back for Jesus aligns with power,
might and superiority, then it’s got nothing to do with his kingdom. Is there
room for Jesus when the nation is taken back for him?” Dan Sadlier
Are we loving and caring and concerned for
all our neighbours, not just in our neighbourhood? Do we see those who are
unhoused and homeless as our neighbours and just as important as image bearers
of Christ? Are we keeping our eyes open to spot the bad treatment of
foreigners? Are we silencing certain people? Are we further marginalising the
already marginalised?
“Jesus repeatedly directed people’s
attention toward those society overlooked.” Julie Tru
Are we looking to the city, town, Province,
Country flourishing for all? Are we seeking the good of every place? Do we
believe gender equality means equal treatment of all? Do we question why such
high walls are needed for safety? Do we look at other options? Do we
interrogate stories and narratives that spark, flame and cause division in the
country? Do we follow the money to find out what is up and if there is meddling
from people who would rather see the downfall of the country or who have
another agenda for the country that is not inclusive of all? Do we follow the
safe route and shout down those calling for the freedom of others who are being
trapped and oppressed?
Can we sit with discomfort and hold the
tension while we figure things out together?
Do we become ambivalent in things that
should horrify us because there might be huge political stuff at play that
makes us fear the consequences? Do we lose our humanity and compassion just
because it’s political? Jesus certainly never did that. If it was something
that did not align with him, his character and his kingdom, he challenged it.
Always, without exception. He calls us to follow him and become more like him.
Yes, it might be scary and risky. It was risky for him too. The authorities
eventually had enough of their power and might being challenged. Eventually some
of the people he came to save and live among also called for his crucifixion.
Are we also doing that all over again when we don’t challenge narratives that
are not of his kingdom?
Are we taking the big topics on the table
seriously and are we looking for wider solutions to end poverty, food
insecurity, rising fuel costs, better education and healthcare for all, crime, gender-based
violence, sexual exploitation and unemployment?
Are we keeping ourselves in check with
regards to dehumanising others or thinking that superiority or violence in any
form is okay?
“Are we disconnected from the realities of
the wider world? What does it mean to re-embody a faith that actually means
something to a fractured world?” James Andrew Harris
The kingdom of God is the reigning presence
and sovereign rule of God over all creation. It breaks into the present through
Jesus Christ; his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection and his
ascension. We carry the kingdom of God within us. We live it out and pull it
down from heaven by following Jesus and his ways. We look to his will being
perfectly done and his authority willingly submitted to. We remind ourselves of
all of Jesus’s teaching on earth because he told us all about what the kingdom
of God is like and about. A place where it functions upside down compared to
worldly values. It subverts worldly systems by elevating humility over pride,
generosity over greed and sacrificial love over power. This is the kingdom we
get to live out daily even within worldly and political realms.
