OK, this Lenten post may generate some controversy. You can send your email to Eric Parks rather than me if it does. But I did wait till day 20 to address an important issue: We need far more of Jesus and far less of politics.

Before you send Eric your email, let me say this. Politics matter. As believers, we should be involved in the political process as we have opportunities. Essential values and issues are at stake. So we are not saying that politics don't matter. But let me explain.

Christians in the United States have elevated politics and the political arena above Jesus too often. Have you ever noticed that each election is the “most important the nation has had” come election time? When a candidate for the Supreme Court is put forward, their election or defeat has the fate of our nation in the balance. My response is that it is more important who is in my house than who is in the White House, important as that is. My candidate might not win the White House, but Jesus will be in my house.

In fact, so profoundly are the political convictions of many held that they cannot even have a rational or kind conversation with those who might think differently. There is almost zero tolerance for views that differ from ours in the political arena, even among believers. My observation is that when it comes to political views, we often violate most of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It's almost as if these spiritual qualities are exempt when it comes to political views. Instead, we can be short, dismissive, impatient, rude, and unkind. I know of people who have left their church over political differences with others in the church, and I scratch my head and ask "What is that all about?" Politics is one of the most divisive topics in our society, and unfortunately, Christians are not exempt from being divisive or dividing over political views.

So why would we say "More Jesus and less politics?" As important as our political process is, Jesus is far more important. Here is something to consider. Neither Jesus nor Paul had much to say about the politics of their day. Their focus was on the gospel and the transformation that Jesus brings. And here is the crucial thing. They did not look to their government to solve their day's most profound human needs. Instead they knew that only through the work of Christ could lives be changed. 

Paul put it this way in Romans 1:16-17. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith." If we put as much energy into sharing the Good News of Jesus as we do our politics, I wonder where we would be as a nation today.

Politics should not divide fellow believers. It only divides when we elevate our political convictions above Jesus and the Gospel. If, however, we keep Jesus and the gospel preeminent, we understand that our ultimate hope is not in a political party or any candidate but in Christ. And it is Christ that binds us together, not our politics. If we divide over our politics, we have our priorities in the wrong place. 

I am always interested in how much time we spend talking about world and national events, policies, and legislation and how little time we spend talking about God's work in our world. If He is our ultimate hope, He should be a part of the conversation. God says to the Israelites in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Unfortunately, we often lose this spiritual component when we argue about political issues and neglect to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. That is when God hears from heaven, forgives our sin, and heals our land.

Jesus wants His will done on earth as it is in heaven. We ask that every time we recite the Lord's prayer. But His will is often done on earth as we live out our faith and His values in our places of work, neighborhoods, among our friends, and where we have influence. We want to see policies enacted that are fair and just, and we ought to fight for those things, so legislation matters. But, pay attention to the prophets. The issues that God calls the nations and their leaders to in the prophets are issues like injustice, caring for the alien among us, ensuring that the poor have something to eat, that laws are just, courts are fair, and the powerless are protected. Ironically, many of the issues that evangelicals hold dear politically are personal preferences but not issues that Scripture addresses. Yet we often allow those personal preferences to divide us and ignore justice and equity issues. We cannot ignore what God doesn't ignore.

The next time you get into a political conversation, remember that we need more of Jesus. We need Jesus in our attitudes. We need faith in God to be our ultimate hope. We need the fruit of the Spirit to invade our political discourse. And, we need to bring issues to God in prayer and pay attention to what He pays attention to. Remember, Jesus is above politics. He is over all, in all and through all.

Father: Help me trust you rather than put my hope in any political system. Give me gracious words in political discussions. Help my heart be like your heart and your concerns to be my concerns. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

The question for today: Is my hope in the political system or in Jesus?