At the UCCF Politics Network, we are passionate about sharing the gospel with our friends. Whilst politics is a key way in which we can act to serve our communities and pursue the good of our neighbour, politics is a temporal good. It cannot fix our greatest problems nor create the peaceful utopia we long for. It can try, and it might do some good in the process, but we need to recognise that it is only ever going to have limited success.
Now, this might sound like a reason to despair, but we believe that there is one who will deal with all our problems, who will create a land of peace and blessing. His name is Jesus. Which is why we are committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The one who brings eternal good.
There are many ways of doing this in the world of politics, but we are especially excited about Meals with a Message. The premise being, gather some pals for food and start some big chats about faith and the deeper questions of life. You can find out more about what they are and how you might host one here.
Feel free to make it your own, but we pray that this talk on the role and purpose of government might serve you well in sharing the hope of Jesus. Give it a watch and have a think through the discussion questions below. But before you do, start by discussing this question...
- Where does your help come from? Where do you turn in times of trouble? Who/what do you expect to fix the problems of this world?
Questions
- Do you agree that “in a world as diverse and as disordered as ours the government is essential”?
- Do you accept that the three main purposes of the state are to maintain order, punish wrongdoing, and support human flourishing? Are these values enough to give the state its authority?
- If government is insufficient to uphold itself, as Damilola argues, but depends on external sources of authority, what does our society consider a legitimate source of authority? Does this work? What alternatives are there?
- What do you make of the “government must sort this out” mantra? Does it reveal an existential longing for help? What are some of the issues with turning to the government for help?
- Do you agree that no one ideology, government, or political party can give us the world that we long for? Why/why not?
- If government is unable to bring about the world we long for, what do you make of the Bible’s claim that Jesus can? What do you make of his offer?
- Where does your help come from? Has this video changed your approach to government at all? Do you think Jesus is a source of help worth trying out?
