A point I sometimes have difficulty remembering

I love politics, I love the intrigue, I like to follow the exploits of my favorite politicians. I have a friend who lives in Tennessee, we haven't seen one another in almost ten years, yet we talk on the phone weekly to discuss the latest goings on in Washington D.C. I like to read the New York Times and listen to NPR's political coverage. From time to time, I call or write to my elected representatives to express an opinion.

As a person who has opinions, I sometimes have trouble separating my thoughts about a law or policy from my thoughts about its proponents. God uses politics, and politicians. The Bible is filled with examples of God using both godly and ungodly leaders to benefit His people. I've been reading the book of Ezra recently. Ezra starts out with King Cyrus deciding to rebuild the temple to God in Jerusalem, and sending Ezra to oversee the project. Now, it's important to note that this King Cyrus was not a follower of God. He was hoping to gain political power, and what we would call "karma" for being nice to every god he could find. From his perspective, the people of Israel may have been a cheap nation to please, because unlike their neighbors, with only one God, they had only one temple to build. Similarly, the book of Nehimiah tells about King Artaxerxes allowing, and even funding the construction of a wall around Jersualem, much to the consternation of Jersualem's neighbors. In these two instances, God uses a pagan king to benefit his people.

Politics has a terrible way of fracturing people. It seems like every year we move farther away from respectfully disagreeing with the opposition, and closer to disdaining them. This may have been why Jesus decided not to get into politics. The crowds, who followed Jesus several times intended to make Him their king. In the political sense. Jesus chose instead to run away (John 6:15).

As Christians, our response to people around us is in part, influenced by these two verses:

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18
"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34

Personally, I sometimes have a hard time in applying those to the politicians I so like to watch, but even harder than that, I can have a hard time remembering this. No matter their party, and no matter their political or religious outlook, God has placed that person in that role. Moreover, God has placed that person for my benefit. Here's what I mean, Paul writes in his letter to the Romans,

"The authorities that exist have been established by God" Romans 13:1c
"For [the ruler] is God's servant, to do you good." Romans 13:4a

As I continue to grow in Christ, I'm working hard to remember that. When I'm shouting at the radio, or laughing along with the Daily Show, it's sometimes tough for me to recall that God has put politicians into their roles for my benefit, and that this extends to those who I don't agree with as well as to those I do. This also demands a response. As christians, it is our job to pray for our leaders, both for those we like, and those we dislike. It's in this spirit that I'm trying to look at politics through a new lens, approaching it not through outrage, but through prayer.