Introduction:
- Discuss…
- What challenges face Christians entering politics?
- What reactions do these challenges provoke from Christian friends and family when you say that you’re involved/interested in politics?
The challenges are legion, aren’t they? There are the obvious big ones with orthodox Christian views on a whole host of things including gender and sexuality, as well as the value of the unborn, being not only opposed but viewed as hateful. Yet, there are many other levels of difficulties too.
Political culture is one of gossip and political manipulation. Leaking to the press, plotting, climbing the greasy pole, spin, leveraging opponents. All are considered routine and run of the mill but should cause us some anxiety as a Christian.
Furthermore, there are more practical considerations. MPs spend many days away from home, they work long hours, they often can’t attend or participate in church in the same way. Likewise, politics is well known for scandals concerning the character and integrity of those involved, from expenses to sex to drugs, even parties. Politics is certainly a mucky business.[1]
With so much dirt involved should we even consider entering politics? If we do, how on earth do we navigate this environment?
Passage: 1 Peter 2:11
Before we rush into questions. Into what context is Peter writing? What truths have we seen so far?
Peter has largely been talking about the good doctrine of the gospel and the treasures available to those who believe. In this section, Peter begins the shift to what this all means for how Christians are to live.
- Why does he begin this turn by reminding them of their identity?
- They do not belong here; they are waiting for the kingdom to come (1 Peter 1:1-5).
- Their behaviour is to be in line with the kingdom to come, not the one they now inhabit (1 Peter 1:13-16).
- In light of their identity, how are they to live?
- Abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul.
Have a look at Galatians 5:13-21. How does this passage help us understand what is going on in 1 Peter 2:11?
Application:
- How do we see the works of the flesh in our political culture? In what ways do we see the battle between flesh and Spirit in our own lives as we engage politically?
- What happens if one does not heed Peter’s command (Galatians 5:21)?
Writing to Christians scattered across the ancient world, persecuted for their faith and weary in the hardship, Peter extols his brothers and sisters to get their own house in order. Amidst the suffering, the beatings, the marginalisation, and the loneliness the easiest thing would be to give up. To live like everyone else. To turn back to the easier way of the world.
But this is not an option. They are a new, chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, picked to declare the praises of the one who called them out of darkness into light – how then can they turn back to the darkness?
So maybe the ‘mucky business’ crowd are right? Maybe politics is too dangerous, and we must get out of there…
Passage: 1 Peter 2:12
- What does Peter exhort them to do here? Why?
- Live good lives among the pagans.
- This may cause them to glorify God.
Look back at Galatians 5:22-26. How does the fruit of the Spirit compare with the desires of the flesh? What would it look like to live good lives?
Politics is mucky. It is difficult and hard and requires compromise. But Peter calls on Christians to deal with the sin in their own hearts and to live boldly among non-believers as a witness to Jesus. He doesn’t call on them to withdraw from the world with a utopian piety longing for the kingdom to come. They are to fight the sin within, and fight for good publicly.
No matter what area of work we go into sinful desires will follow us. We need to seek wise counsel and help from others to discern whether we can handle the temptations these situations will bring or not.
For example, going into the drugs trade or human trafficking is obviously not abstaining from evil. But areas like politics are a lot greyer, as for all the bad there might be, there is also a lot of good; Politics can help those in need, restrain evil, and help build structures and foundations for the flourishing of society.
And Peter’s argument here is a good model for our political engagement. There are lots of bad and evil ideas out there that we are right to criticise and seek to overturn but note that Peter calls on Christians to put something positive in the place of evil.
Application:
- What might it look like to have a political approach that criticises evil but seeks to do good? Think about
- Lobbying against an unjust law like the 1967 Abortion Act
- Campaigning for your local MP in the General Election
- Holding the Government to account for failing to address rising crime rates
Think about the following situations you could face if you enter Parliament, what would it look like to abstain from evil and do good in these?
Mark has been an MP for 3 years. He is hard working and tired. He is constantly on the go. In Parliament he’s routinely in the office 08:00-23:30 and then when he’s finished for the week in Parliament, he has a 6-hour journey down to his constituency in Cornwall. He rarely sees his kids or his wife, and barely spends any time at church or with other Christians. He joins several other MPs in flirtatious gossip at the bar each night in a bid to ease his burdens.
Jenny’s colleagues hate the Tories. In their Parliamentary speeches they are hateful and arrogant. In their campaigning they’re even worse with slander, gossip, and vicious exposés routinely used to hammer their opponents. Her constituency party are frequently critical of her for not being like her colleagues and they’re threatening deselection.
Naomi is in a tricky spot. There is a bill coming up that will make it illegal for Christians to hold to orthodox views on gender and sexuality. If she doesn’t vote for it, she’ll lose the party whip and then her seat, then there will be no one left to fly the flag for Christian beliefs.
- Back in 1 Peter, what should these Christians expect as they seek to abstain from evil and live good lives?
- They will be accused of doing wrong
- People will turn to God and glorify Him
- How might this provide comfort and strength to Mark, Jenny, and Naomi? How might this comfort you as you struggle to abstain from evil and pursue good now?
Read Matthew 5:13-16. How do Jesus’ words affirm what Peter is saying here?
God’s people are to be salt, they are to be light, and they are to be distinctive in a world that needs the sure and certain hope of 1 Peter 1-2. To conform to the world and/or fail to share the distinctive hope of the gospel falls short of our calling.
Application:
- When are we most tempted to lose our saltiness or hide our light?
- How can we help one another to remain salty and shine brightly in politics?
Pray:
- Thank God for our new calling. Thank God that He gives us His Spirit in the fight against the desires of the flesh. Pray that He would lead you to do good and abstain from evil.
- Ask for discernment and godliness in seeking to navigate the mucky business of politics. Pray that God would provide friends and others who will keep you accountable.
- Pray that God would keep you salty and help you to shine brightly. Pray that because of your conduct people would glorify God on the day He visits us.
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[1] Credit to Tim Farron MP for this phrase which has since titled a podcast and a book of his.
