Lisa Sheffler, author
Happy Friday! In our modern world, we are quick to consume information and then move on immediately to something else. You can’t do that with the Word of God and be changed by it. It takes reflection, meditation, and the power of the Holy Spirit. So on Fridays we slow down and take some extended time with God in prayer.
Reflect
Read Matthew 22:15-22 one more time.
Reflect on what you learned from this passage.
Connect
A politician stands in front of a packed arena with American flags flanking him on either side. In a booming voice he proclaims that voters are not merely selecting a president — they are taking sides in a conflict over America’s identity. The election “is about who we are and what we stand for as Americans.” The conflict was, in fact, a war. “This election is a war for the soul of America! If we lose, there may be no turning back.”
This is not a scene from 2020, but from 1992. And the language of war has dominated political conversations in America and abroad even longer than that. It seems like every election is portrayed as a fight to the death with the future of the country hanging in the balance. Every political opponent is an existential threat and mortal enemy. There can be no compromise and they can be given no quarter. The opposition must be utterly annihilated, or the nation may not survive.
Fear of an enemy, loyalty to one side’s, and extreme urgency are powerful motivators, and rulers and politicians of all stripes, from every type of government have used them throughout human history. It’s no wonder that politics can make a nation more and more tribal and less and less accepting of dissent. How can you tolerate dissenters if the fate of the nation is at stake? What hope do we have if our side loses? “None!” the booming voice from the platform declares.
Christians know better. Or we should. God is our hope!
Our faith is not in political parties, but in Jesus Christ. Our allegiance is not to a candidate, but to our King. Our obedience is not to political talking points, but to our Creator. We can be lights in the political darkness and ports in the cultural storm. Full of Christ’s love and a willingness to serve, we could make a real difference in people’s lives during these chaotic times. But not if we’re giving to Caesar what belongs to God.
Let’s worship God alone and give him all that we are and all that we have. Then we’ll be able to resist the call to go to “war” with our neighbors, and see them instead as people to love. We can stand for what we believe without every political disagreement becoming a battle.
Christians, let’s commit to engaging in politics in a way that honors God, blesses our community, and reflects the character of Jesus.
Respond
What is your biggest takeaway from this week’s passage? How is the Spirit prompting you to respond to Jesus’ command to “give to God what is God’s”? Is there a change you could make this week?
This will be a question that we ponder throughout this series, but begin thinking about it now: How can we engage with our government in ways that honor Jesus and show love to our neighbors? You might want to write down your response for now, and see how it develops as we move through our series.
Although our Table series has concluded, our desire to help people feel known and loved is not! We are still pursuing our vision to reduce loneliness, anxiety, and addiction by having meaningful conversations where people experience Christ through us.
Conversations about politics can be tricky, but what a wonderful way to discover someone’s thoughts and concerns about the future and meet them with the love of Christ by offering a listening ear and a caring heart. Is there someone from a different political perspective that you could have a meaningful conversation with? Not to persuade, but to seek to understand? To listen to their concerns and fears.