How Do We Become the Kind of People Our Politics Needs?
Dr. Mark Foster
Part of 50 Days of Kindness
October 27, 2024

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth,
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. —Colossians 3:1-2, 12-13

Kingdom kindness (hesed) in Hebrew has to do with willing the good for others.

The problem is that we are living in a time of cultural contempt, where others are demonized for their difference.

God’s mercy is for everyone, not just for some.

Biblical kindness never seeks anything but the best, even for those who seek the worst for us.

If we are not careful and intentional, we can be driven by the same self-interest, self-protecting motives as other voters.

Politics: Wherever there are people in community, there will be

.

Politics is about how we live together and how we make decisions together: Who gets what, when, and how?

The goal at Acts 2 is not political uniformity, but spiritual

.

“Many people want Christianity and churches to (re)enforce their politics, and the corollary of this is that they do not want God to mess with their politics.” —Michael Wear in The Spirit of Our Politics

Our politics desperately needs people who have

anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

How Do We Become the Kind of People Our Politics Needs? (Colossians 3:2-3, 8)

First of all, vote. Voting is a gift that like prayer is our private act for public good. —Dr. Rockford Johnson

Remember that the

is not the Kingdom of God.

Have confidence in

. (Colossians 3:12-15)

“It is when Christians lose confidence in their security in God’s kingdom that they take matters into their own hands.” —Michael Wear

Resist

for the sake of your soul even when others yell at you, “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.”

Take

seriously because we are not mere materialists.

Refuse to take the bait of political

.

“Jesus… brings us into a world without fear. In his world, astonishingly, there is nothing evil we must do in order to thrive.” —Dallas Willard

John Wesley’s advice for voting from 1774

  1. Vote for the person most .
  2. Speak no of the person voted against.
  3. Not become “sharpened in spirit” against those who voted on the side.

Five Things to Remember as You Prepare to Vote (from Brian Zahnd’s “The Christian Voter’s Guide”)

  1. The of the Kingdom of God does not depend upon political contests.
  2. Don’t be naïve, political parties are more interested in Christian than they are in Christian .
  3. The bottom line for political parties is . The bottom line for a Christian is .
  4. Exercise your liberty to vote your conscience and conviction, while accepting that other Christians will do the same and vote than you.
  5. It’s more important that your soul be filled with than it is for your political team to the game.

Action Steps

Sunday, 9 Days away from election day: Pray over a sample ballot asking God’s

in your voting decisions.

Monday, 8 away: Consider your vote as a

expressing desire for collaborative effort for the common good.

Tuesday, 7 away: Be at peace recognizing that you are not voting for your

candidate but from the options given.

Wednesday, 6 away: Choose

over aversion and participate in the fun of Trunk or Treat at 6pm.

Thursday, 5 away: Choose

over othering and make plans now to serve others. (Mark 10:45)

Friday, 4 away: Confess your sin to God and be reminded of the tenderness you hope to receive rather than

others.

Saturday, 3 away: Do something kind for someone

so that it cannot be used as capital or reciprocated.

My additional notes:

”.