Is Christianity political?
The word “politics“ brings to mind images of public officeholders, elections, and news of the world. But politics isn‘t just about who we vote for. Whether we like it or not, our daily choices-- what we buy, eat, read, watch, or wear; who we like, love or follow; even how we care for our health-- are all political expressions.
That‘s because politics is about more than just government; it‘s about how people decide to live together in a society. Our choices are political because our seemingly mundane decisions shape the world we live in. They determine which companies make money, what ideas are popular, and who has power.
In an era of increasing polarization, when it seems like everything is suddenly political, it can be tempting to wish for a time when politics didn‘t pervade every part of our lives. But there’s something timeless about confronting the challenges of living together.
People have always had to navigate the problems that come with sharing the world with each other, and these conflicts are nothing new. Politics is part of what it means to be human.
It always has been.
Jesus’ birth and the politics of God’s humanity and divinity
Christianity is the only major world religion that both worships a single God and believes that that single God is a fully divine human being. The idea that God can both be fully divine and fully human at the same time is radical, and Christians have debated the meaning of that seeming contradiction for centuries. What does it mean that our all-powerful God was born, lived, bled, died, and rose again?
Some Christians believe that Jesus Christ’s life on Earth means that God is actively involved and interested in the messiness of our affairs, including our politics. Christians who emphasize Jesus’ humanity tend to focus on the importance of emulating his human example as well as heeding his calls for social change.
Others believe that Jesus’s godly example transcends our worldly concerns. Some Christians who emphasize Jesus’ divinity tend to see him as an apolitical figure for this reason. Others see Jesus’ divinity as a challenge to create a politics that operates by a different logic– one that’s closer to the divine logic we see Jesus embody.
Is Christianity political, and in what way? It depends on how you see Jesus’ humanity and divinity.
How Christians across the political spectrum have answered this question
“Yes, Jesus’ humanity means that Christianity is and must be political”
God became a human because God cares about human affairs. Jesus calls us to thoughtfully engage in our shared human existence through politics.
Jesus’ life was political from the beginning. Kings both worshiped and feared him.
Jesus’ birth was radical because it signaled a threat to people in power, including corrupt rulers and the wealthy. Shepherds saw Jesus before kings.
The name “Prince of Peace“ is political because it reveals Jesus‘ worldly agenda. Ultimately, Jesus’ message is about social change.
“No, Jesus’ divinity means that Christianity is not and cannot be political”
God became a human because God wanted to show us the miracle of God’s divine power. Jesus calls us to transcend worldly affairs, including politics.
Jesus’ life was other-worldly from the outset. His birth story is different and godlike.
Jesus’ birth was radical because it signaled that worldly power doesn’t matter in the kingdom of God.
The name “Prince of Peace“ is not political. It reveals that Jesus is not of this world and does not have a worldly agenda.
The story of Jesus’ birth
The Christmas story of Jesus’ birth is both fully human and fully divine. There are shepherds and kings, a pregnant virgin and a massacre of infants, angels and a government census. It’s a dramatic beginning to what would be a dramatic life for God’s son on earth. Some Christians believe that Jesus‘ humanity means that our religion is inherently political. After all, politics is inseparable from the human experience. Who Jesus was and the choices he made as a human being must then have political significance. Other Christians, however, think that this view focuses too much on Jesus‘ humanity and ignores his identity as the Son of God. Shouldn‘t God transcend human concerns like politics? While it might be tempting to cast Jesus as a political figure- especially one that supports our own viewpoints- isn‘t that a bit of a stretch? Still, other Christians see Jesus’ divinity as a challenge to human systems– in other words, his transcendence has implications for our politics. Where do we see support for these different viewpoints in Jesus’ birth story? As you return to this familiar tale with fresh eyes, consider what God’s entrance into the world means for our politics and our lives.
Read the New Testament passages
How these passages build on the Old Testament
Christians believe that Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of multiple prophecies described in the Hebrew Bible. Reading those prophecies can help us to understand what Jesus’ identity as “the messiah” meant in his own historical context. Prophets throughout the Old Testament predicted that a messiah would deliver Israel from oppression and bring salvation to Israel. This messiah would come from the line of King David, would suffer persecution, and would bring peace on earth. As you read these prophecies, consider the ways in which they add to our understanding of whether and how Jesus was a political figure. What political expectations did the Jewish people have of a messiah and to what extent did Jesus fulfill those expectations?
Read the Old Testament passages
Now that you’ve read the scripture…
Reflect
What are you thinking and feeling right now?
Request
Ask God to open your heart and your mind to a different perspective. Challenge yourself to see another point of view— even if you don’t agree with it.
Respond
Thank God for working through scripture and through the people around you. If you’re about to discuss this section with other people, pray for them and for your time together.
Questions for reflection & discussion
What does the word “political” mean to you? Do you think your personal choices-- what you buy, how you dress, what you read, who you date-- are political? Why or why not?
Do you see yourself as a political person? How does talking about politics make you feel?
Have you ever discussed political issues in a faith context before? What was that experience like? Do you think Christians should have political conversations at church? What would make those conversations “successful”?
Do you tend to think of Jesus as more human or divine? Do you think your view of Jesus’ humanity or divinity impacts how you view Christian politics? If so, how?
What is the significance of the word becoming flesh? Why did God become human? Do you think that God’s humanity is political?
How do the Old Testament prophecies about a Jewish messiah impact your understanding of Jesus’ identity? What political expectations did the Jewish people have of a messiah and to what extent did Jesus fulfill those expectations?
Before the angel visited Joseph, he planned to divorce Mary quietly. Why did he plan to do this? What does it mean that he didn’t do it? Do you think that Joseph’s actions were radical for his time? How might Joseph’s decision not to divorce Mary be seen as political?
What does Mary’s song of praise tell us about the meaning of Jesus’ birth? Do you think her song has a political message?
What is the political backdrop of Jesus’ birth? Why did Mary and Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem in the first place and how did the political landscape shape how they had to navigate Jesus’ birth?
What makes Jesus’ birth different from other births? What’s significant about those differences? Do you think Jesus’ divinity means that Christianity is not and should not be political?
Why did the angels first tell shepherds about Jesus’ birth? What do the shepherds’ presence at Jesus’ birth tell us about his role in the world?
What is the role of the wise men in Jesus’ birth story? What does their presence at his birth tell us about Jesus’ identity?
Why does Herod fear Jesus’ birth? What does his fear tell us about Jesus’ role in the world?
What about this story is political and what lessons does it have for us about politics?
Do you think Christianity is political? Why or why not?
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