The Church and Politics | Ballot Box | Week 2
Opening
“A church is as a small working model of New Creation, that is a place where New Creation is happening; where people are finding new life; where fresh things are happening; where strangers are being welcomed; where broken, battered, and outcasts are being healed and looked after. And this is a sign to the world that Jesus is Lord.” N.T. Wright
Consider beginning your group time with a discussion: is your house group a small working model of New Creation? How or how not? What would have to change for that to be true?
Overview
Even in this political season, the church will glorify God not through political power cycles but through actions that emulate Christ and are intrinsically woven into societies. The problem, though, is that often instead of glorifying God, we lose gospel influence through political idolatry or political indifference. In idolatry, we look upon politics to save us from our problems; in indifference, we are oblivious to the needs of the world around us.
God’s authority is ultimate and perfect, but He allows human authority to order society and sanctify His church. The political climate we find ourselves in can be a place where God purifies His church, cleansing us of both our idolatry and our indifference. We do not reject or run from politics but represent God’s good and great rule within and for it. We have to learn to collaborate without compromise and critique without contempt in order to do that.
Discussion Questions
- How have you dealt with politics in the past?
- What stood out to you from Sunday’s sermon?
Practice
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Read the Scripture aloud with your group and faciliatate a discussion with the following questions, following the leading of the Spirit.
-What stands out to you in this passage?
-How would you have been tempted to answer this question?
-How often do we fall for people’s traps in arguments/online discussions?
-What can we learn from Jesus’ answer?
-How can we model this in our own lives?
Closing
Pray for hearts of reconciliation and a willingness to not have to be right. May the church’s witness shine brightly in our political climate.