Monday, August 27, 2007
Religion, Politics and Persecution
Although his opening paragraph about the nature on minorities in democracies is a bit naive, though more true for his native UK than here in America, The Bluefish writes an excellent post about what it means to the church to be in a minority. His real point is to define "persecution" which he does well but then does not examine the political ramifications of genuine persecution.
Now, of course, when people attempt to appear persecuted, or innocent, for the sake of gaining political power then the power never comes. We see that in the efforts of homosexuals to portray themselves in this light. There is absolutely no innocence in homosexual behavior, nor is there persecution in denying them their attempt to portray themselves as innocent.
The political power that comes from the phenomena cannot be accrued nor can it be wielded, for the power is not truly ours. Genuine innocence would be unaware of such power's accumulation or it's uses. This is no path to power.
So what does a Christian do, particularly in a society that is increasingly secular? The answer should be straightforward, become a better Christian. As we become closer to Christ, as His ultimate innocence is imparted to us, we will be His instruments to weild the power that innocence accumulates. But we must be careful. When we monitor that power, or seek it rather than innocence, it will disappear in the blink of an eye - power is effemoral stuff indeed.
What do you seek today? Do you seek wealth and power, or do you seek Christ and His redemption and His imparted innocence? I suggest you actively, and unswervingly seek the latter.
What do you do when you used to be a majority but no longer are? I think that is an issue the church has to face up to in the years ahead. There is no such (biblical) thing as a Christian nation in these last days, but Britain certainly used to be shaped by some sort of Christian principles. Britain was not a theocracy where the law says you must worship God alone. But, it was a nation in which the government's divinely appointed role of punishing evil and praising good was more accurately focussed it is today.There is enormous power in persecution, and particularly in persecution of genuine innocence. All of history pivots on the persecution of an innocent (Jesus), but consider more modern examples such as the non-violent revolutions of Ghandhi or Martin Luther King.
A society that favoured freedom for the church is a nice one to live in when you're a Christian, though that's been a rare priviledge in history. I can't help wondering whether it really does the church any favours to be the majority vote. The church often looks strongest when its weakest in the worlds terms.
What is sure is that Christian are to submit to authorities as they imperfectly punish and praise. That was the case when the law was 'christianised' and it is today. Christians should live blameless lives, be the 'best' people in society, the ones who fight for the cause of the oppressed, who help the needy, who serve without recognition. That should always have been the case. I don't know whether it is today, or ever was.
What is the case are increasing numbers of headlines claiming Christians are persecuted. All who live a godly life are persecuted so its something a Christian almost welcomes as a verification of their faith. However, Titus 2 tells us that it remains possible for Christians to be maligned for being ungodly in marriage, lacking self-control and being bad employees. Such opposition isn't actually persecution - it's deserved. We follow the Jesus who appeared as grace incarnate to make us pure, where is our purity? If we make mistakes we facing the punishment or consequences not persecution.
Over the last couple of weeks I've been studying John 13-17. Jesus speaks there of how the world has hated him without cause. And he says the same will happen to Christians. A sinful world doesn't need reason to hate Jesus and his people. Our presence is enough to incite opposition. Our purity is meant to make the gospel attractive to those who will believe, and yet is the stench of an abattoir to those who refuse to believe.
Now, of course, when people attempt to appear persecuted, or innocent, for the sake of gaining political power then the power never comes. We see that in the efforts of homosexuals to portray themselves in this light. There is absolutely no innocence in homosexual behavior, nor is there persecution in denying them their attempt to portray themselves as innocent.
The political power that comes from the phenomena cannot be accrued nor can it be wielded, for the power is not truly ours. Genuine innocence would be unaware of such power's accumulation or it's uses. This is no path to power.
So what does a Christian do, particularly in a society that is increasingly secular? The answer should be straightforward, become a better Christian. As we become closer to Christ, as His ultimate innocence is imparted to us, we will be His instruments to weild the power that innocence accumulates. But we must be careful. When we monitor that power, or seek it rather than innocence, it will disappear in the blink of an eye - power is effemoral stuff indeed.
What do you seek today? Do you seek wealth and power, or do you seek Christ and His redemption and His imparted innocence? I suggest you actively, and unswervingly seek the latter.
