City on a Hill

Checkers vs. Chess

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In this episode, we attempt to learn from Jesus about how to have a political conversation. Jesus raises the stakes and plays chess while his opponents play checkers. Is there a way that we can use the same board and play a different game?

NOTES:

The episode comes from Scott's recent sermon on Matthew 22:15-22:

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS

  • Shrug -- Patrick Schreiner, in his book Political Gospel, describes Jesus' response to the Pharisees as a "shrug." We thought that was a good way to think of your political response.
    • "In the shadow of Rome, their most subversive act was not to oppose Rome but to deny its principal significance...Jesus didn't seek to unseat Caesar; he willingly went to a Roman cross...Jesus was asked the most politically charged question of the day: whether Jews should be complicit to Rome by paying taxes to Ceasar. He didn't respond by flying off the rail at their abuse of power. He also didn't speak in a soft and hushed voice, fearing their authority. Instead, he subverted their power -- not by calling for a boycott, but by shrugging: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God." We need to learn from this tactic. We are partially complicit in granting too much power to the current governmental systems by our feverish responses. By manically and incessantly speaking of them, we hand them the scepter." (p.208)
    • Shrugging takes practice.
    • Here are some differences between chess and checkers moves:
      • Checkers is a move that can be described as partisan.
      • Checkers starts by playing for America. If you play the game so America wins, even if you bring in Religion, then you are playing checkers.
      • Chess starts by playing for the kingdom. Jesus invites you to play the same game whether you are playing in Brazil or China or America. His game has to do with his Kingdom.
      • Checkers is complaining.
      • Checkers is played in the news cycle.
      • Chess emphasizes the kingdom.
      • Chess strives to love your neighbor when the checkers game would label them an enemy.
      • Chess seeks the city's welfare even if you are losing the culture war.
      • Many of your chess moves are not in the realm of politics.
      • Chess is proclaiming King Jesus and paying your taxes.

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        MUSIC:

        Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

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