Can Politicians be Followers of Jesus?

[Bootstrap]

Also, I'm wondering why the subject line on this post has been changed to "Can Christians be followers of Jesus"?

See the rest of the content of the post you quoted from. That's why.

It's easy to call out politicians and say they should leave politics and join the Kingdom of God. How many will actually do that? In the meantime, how are we living out our own calling?

[GaryK]

Also, I'm wondering why the subject line on this post has been changed to "Can Christians be followers of Jesus"?

See the rest of the content of the post you quoted from. That's why.

It's easy to call out politicians and say they should leave politics and join the Kingdom of God. How many will actually do that? In the meantime, how are we living out our own calling?

I see.

[Bootstrap]

Also, I'm wondering why the subject line on this post has been changed to "Can Christians be followers of Jesus"?

See the rest of the content of the post you quoted from. That's why.

It's easy to call out politicians and say they should leave politics and join the Kingdom of God. How many will actually do that? In the meantime, how are we living out our own calling?

I see.

And I'm particularly interested in thinking about Two Kingdom theology and what we actually mean by it. That's often something we use to clarify what we should and should not do, but it feels like we have less clarity and agreement than we might think. And it's important to relate that to what the Bible calls us to.

Is this the right thread for that, or do I need to start another?

[GaryK]

See the rest of the content of the post you quoted from. That's why.

It's easy to call out politicians and say they should leave politics and join the Kingdom of God. How many will actually do that? In the meantime, how are we living out our own calling?

I see.

And I'm particularly interested in thinking about Two Kingdom theology and what we actually mean by it. That's often something we use to clarify what we should and should not do, but it feels like we have less clarity and agreement than we might think. And it's important to relate that to what the Bible calls us to.

Is this the right thread for that, or do I need to start another?

It's up to you.

[joshuabgood]

Because one declares Jesus as King, that is political ruler, and no faith (allegiance) to any other political roller, Christianity, some would say, is by definition, though not exclusively, political.

I've always found the idea that Jesus is "political" a bit absurd. He isn't running for office or participating in any worldly power structures. It seems like an attempt to make a divine being fit our very earthly ideas of what "power" is.

I know John Howard Yoder was a big proponent of this idea, but I think that's because his notions of "power" were very upside down, and eventually his personal confusion led him to write intelligent sounding but ultimately confused books.

His kingdom is on earth as also in heaven. It isn't based of a worldly model, however, it presents a real threat.

[JohnH]

And I'm particularly interested in thinking about Two Kingdom theology and what we actually mean by it. That's often something we use to clarify what we should and should not do, but it feels like we have less clarity and agreement than we might think. And it's important to relate that to what the Bible calls us to.

Is this the right thread for that, or do I need to start another?

It becomes very muddy to try to talk about actual two kingdoms theology (or whatever term we want to use for it) when the actual application seems to… just be a platform against a politician or political movement/party someone doesn’t like.

Once the descent into partisanship begins, two kingdoms just becomes another tool in the partisan’s toolbox.

[JohnH]

It becomes very muddy to try to talk about actual two kingdoms theology (or whatever term we want to use for it) when the actual application seems to… just be a platform against a politician or political movement/party someone doesn’t like.

Once the descent into partisanship begins, two kingdoms just becomes another tool in the partisan’s toolbox.

Edit: I want to make it clear that I see this behavior from both sides of the political spectrum.

[Bootstrap]

His kingdom is on earth as also in heaven. It isn't based of a worldly model, however, it presents a real threat.

This is the week of Easter. Yesterday was Palm Sunday, where Jesus rides into Jerusalem and is hailed as a king. The Jewish leaders rebuke him, the Temple Guard takes notice, and this sets up the ultimate conflict between the two kingdoms.

As Jesus is tried, it's clear in the Gospels that the secular leaders are actually on trial in Jesus' eyes. The Jews were expecting the Messiah to kick the Romans out with force, but Jesus died and was resurrected instead. That's real power - but not worldly power. As Christians, can we take this power even more seriously than we take the power of Rome?