Sunday sermon.Let's get political, political . . .let me hear the Body talk. . .

First, this post is from my perspective as a follower of Jesus trying to understand.   So, for those of other faiths or no faith at  all, I just wanted to warn you.  I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on your own struggle, if you have one, with the same issues.  For those of you who are also following Jesus, I welcome your thoughts as well.  Feel free to comment.

The church is no place for politics.  Politics has no place in the church.

I've heard that all my life. 

We know how Jesus told us to act.  You remember,  love each other, love our enemies, they'll know us by how we love each other.  Take care of the poor.  Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Visit the lonely. Take care of the children. Tend to the sick. Visit the prisoner. Give more than expected. Expect nothing in return. Turn the other cheek. Don't judge.  Throw a party, invite everyone. Stand with the oppressed and care for the alien.  Don't story (typo, but a good one which I will keep, but it was supposed to be "store") up treasures. Give away what you have to the poor. If you've been given a lot, you'll be expected to give a lot.   Put away the sword.

That just doesn't fit our politics.

So obviously, Jesus just didn't understand.  He is too nice for our politics.  He wouldn't survive.

It's not that Jesus can't handle politics..

Our politics just can't handle Jesus.

If we tried that, our politics would not survive.  Many of churches might not make it. And we might not do so well either, unless we change.

It's not that Jesus is too nice. One of his last times at his "church", the temple in Jerusalem, where the political power of his immediate world sat,  during a rather hard hitting week-long series of "come to Jesus" meetings, he said a lot of tough things, not to mention turning over a few tables of merchandise.  Take a look at Matthew, Chapter 23.  The whole thing is pretty scary.  But in case you can't handle more than a sixty second bite, here's an excerpt, verses 23-24:


²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴ You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.


Talk about a negative campaign. Apparently Jesus misread the polling data.


Jesus paid attention to politics because the world he came to address was political.. The politics of his world to a great degree directed his earthly journey, his life.  And had a great deal to do with his earthly death. It still does.

 Think about words we hear in  political rhetoric every day.  Rich, poor, wealth,  health, sickness, justice, prison, taxes, war, peace, sexuality, immigrants, religion.

Jesus spoke the same words two thousand years ago.

And he wants them spoken today.  The way He spoke them. With the meaning that he plainly spoke them.  In truth. In love. Expecting nothing in return. No matter the costs.

But the politics of his day helped  nail him to a cross and Jesus, the man, died. But his Word did not.

Because He left behind a living, breathing body.  The Church.

And the only audible voice that Jesus has in this world is the voice of that Body.

That voice would never tell lies, but would speak in truth.  That voice would never be cruel.  That voice would always be uttered in love, and with love for the world, even when spoken with passion, yes, even anger.  It would always be sacrificial.

That voice would always speak out for the least, last and lost among us.

Jesus can handle our politics.

But can our politics handle Jesus?

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