3 Reasons to Stay Out of It

Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t get political? Or for that matter, do you wonder why none of the New Testament writers made political commentary along the way?

I can think of three reasons; can you think of more?

  1. Jesus wanted to keep the main thing the main thing. He was attentive to the kingdom that is not of this world, not the political forces and injustices swirling around him. Jesus said, “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)
  2. Jesus wanted his followers to take on the right kind of fight. This was all about a war with the kingdom of darkness. So Jesus didn’t have time to take on the ills of the Roman culture. Jesus knew he needed to set the correct example. Paul understood the implications. He said, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” (Colossians 1:13)
  3. Jesus was well aware of political injustices. We don’t know the details of the event recorded in Luke 13:1-3. Only Luke records what we do know. “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?’” Then he follows up with the important point. “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

I want to be like Jesus, don’t you? Every moment I spend debating the politics of the moment in my country or another must lead to getting back to the main thing. The main thing is never a virus or a political philosophy; it is always the heaven and hell struggle which is far beyond what will be the forgotten skirmishes of this day. 

I hope you never see me make a post on the Internet that shows I’m distracted from the things my Master wants me to care about. 

If it was good enough for Jesus to leave the disgusting practices of Rome out of his messaging, that’s a good example for me to follow.