Our understanding of politics is coloured by our thoughts of politicians. For most Malaysians, politicians are “persons who strive for power by manipulation.” So, when we hear “politics,” we recall a way of living symbolized by contracts to cronies, datukships to developers and ego maniacs. However, politics really means “public life and affairs as involving authority and government, a particular set of ideas, principles, or commitments in politics.”
Eugene Peterson – pastor, poet, theologian, scholar, author, Bible translator (Message version) – has a chapter called The Last Word on Politics (Revelation 12 – 14) in his 1988 book Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the praying imagination. In it, he writes: “The gospel of Jesus Christ is more political than anyone imagines, but in a way that no one guesses. The ‘kingdom of God,’ an altogether political metaphor, is basic vocabulary in understanding the Christian gospel.”
Those who have read anything by Peterson know that he is above-all a pastor: one who spends his life faithfully listening to, speaking with and guiding people to live lives centred on God. Peterson believes God gave St John the Revelation – and the command to write it as a book – in response to St John’s prayerful agony over the persecution and politically motivated deaths of some of his church members. With Peterson as guide, we perceive that the Spirit enabled John, the apostle-pastor, to see things in the light of heaven and to hear truths in the voice of God. John was thus equipped to help people through the wickedness they face daily.
Peterson reminds us that Jesus’ birth generated ferocious wickedness in Herod and Pilate.
We usually think of Jesus’ birth in babyish terms. Our images of his birth are mostly of baby gurgling, baby clothes, baby food; the joy of the animals, the gifts received, the happy families. At Christmas-time we re-enact the birth through happy songs, twinkling lights, bright gifts.
The story of the birth of Jesus is re-told in Revelation chapter 12. This time, Mary – the virgin who birthed Jesus, the Word of God – is portrayed as a lovely lady dressed in the rays of the sun, crowned, and adorned with twelve stars: she represents the cosmos. A twenty four voice choir sings joyously as she goes into labour, to give birth. Then Satan, the dragon, appears: as ugly as she is lovely. And when she gives birth, the dragon tries to destroy the child, only to see the child rescued and taken to the throne of God while the mother is taken to safety. This version of the birth of Jesus is not seen or heard at Christmas-time in the malls, but is vitally important for enabling us to live out God-centred lives in a world where truth is attacked and ignored. Christ-followers who miss the cosmic dimension of reality will be expend their energies on getting blessings instead of receiving energy to resist evil and blessing others.
Space does not permit review of the other visions which are included in chapters 12 – 14 of Revelation, and Peterson’s discussion of them. Suffice it to say that it has been the experience of Christians over the centuries that much knowledge of the scriptures is required in order to read Revelation with understanding, and Peterson is a very good guide – one whose seeks not to enthrall us with predictions, but to invigorate us and enable us to live God-pleasing lives.
Peterson concludes that the way to survive and flourish politically is to engage in worship, listen to preaching and practice holy living. This passage is worthy of close reflection:
“There is no avoiding politics. The moment one life impinges upon another, politics begins. And our lives do impinge on others whether we will it or not. We are centres of power – power that can curse or bless – and are responsible for managing and directing that power. Power doesn’t disappear or diminish when we enter the way of faith. If we are naïve with power or disdainful of it, we will certainly either misuse it or allow it to be used by others who are neither innocent or scrupulous.” [Page 131]
Peterson the pastor, following St John, urges us to live in the light of the unseen, but real; to live in this embattled world, where moral and spiritual contests are ever present. He tells us to be God-centred by worshipping the Lamb who is developing his Kingdom. He warns us to beware of false religions: which are identified by how they approach power. If we disengage from public life and affairs (politics), we fail to use power to bless and we allow the wrong use of power.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done: by my being God-centred, i.e. applauding right use of power, e.g. Khalid (Selangor), and exposing unscrupulous use of power, e.g. Isa (Bagan Pinang).
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Some quick questions:
a) would Christians also applaud the right use of power by BN and, likewise, expose unscrupulous use of power by PKR?
b) how would the Cross ‘factor in’ to our politics? if the Cross matters, *how* does it matter? what exactly would the Cross of Jesus have to say to our politics, the way we do it, our agendas, etc.?
c) the Lord’s Prayer (from which Thy Kingdom Come came, smile) also includes the phrase, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”…does forgiveness ‘shape’ our politics at all?
For sure Jesus was NOT a-political but I suspect many Christians make the mistake of immediately linking him with politics *the way the world understands (and does) it*. (Of course, many Christians are also indifferent to the political situation, but I’m sure we all know that by now…)