Sermon Central
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A Pastor's Theological Reflections On Politics This Fall
By Glenn Packiam on Nov 5, 2016
Bear with me as I think out loud - I’m trying to do some theological reflection on Christian political engagement.
"Bear with me as I think out loud - I’m trying to do some theological reflection on Christian political engagement. Here’s what I’ve got…
1. To claim ‘Jesus is King!’ does not absolve us of the responsibility to engage politically - we don’t respond this way with other issues such as poverty or trafficking.
2. And confessing Jesus as King clarifies how we are to reflect on our engagement: through the lens of the Kingdom of God - the Sermon on the Mount, the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, and so on…
3. These reflections may result in (at least) a few different voting decisions for different voters this year: whether that’s against Trump, against Hillary, against both (third party), or leaving your ballot blank.
4. Christians ought not bully one another into thinking there is only one ‘right’ choice. Until the Kingdom comes in fullness, there is not.
5. So let your own reflection be a robust Christological, Kingdom-of-God-shaped reflection - not a nationalistic, ethnocentric one.
6. And through this process, be most critical, most questioning of your own positions and conclusions, and most patient with others who land in a different place.
7. And recognize that no matter who wins, the Church will remain. That means thinking about the ‘future generations’ is about preserving our witness (not about making America ‘great’ or secure or prosperous).
8. For the Church to be a prophetic voice - speaking truth to power - and a faithful witness to a different Kingdom, we cannot ally with one party. "
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