the politics of witness

My friend Allan Bevere, a pastor, professor, scholar and blogger recently posted (and Scot McKnight put it on his blog) on how people who had cried out, “Empire!” when George W. Bush was president, are now silent when Barack Obama is president, even though his administration is still carrying on much the same foreign policies as his predecessor. As important as that point is, what emerged in the conversation and from a comment from Allan ended up most important to me. The fact that in one way or another the church is political. The question then is just in what way? And from that what is intriguing to me: that the politics of the church should be the politics of witness.

First, political pertains to politics which we might see as just how people live together and work out all the ways that are necessary for the ongoing of life and good of everyone, or society (my own definition). Of course politics vary from nation to nation and from party to party within democratic nations. The church is salt and light in Jesus. And that is about witness. We’re here to become like Jesus and engage in the mission of God in Jesus. To become like Jesus means living in the same world he did, a fallen world in rebellion against God and at odds with the cross of Christ. So to become like Jesus, in the words of Paul, is to become like him in his death, and that is possible only in this life. And we are here like Jesus not for ourselves, but as a witness of God’s work in Jesus for the world. We, like Jesus are here for others.

Allan in a most helpful comment for me (#50, right now, hopefully that won’t change) contrasts the politics of witness against the politics of power and coercion that arguably and I think in general both the religious right and left have opted for. This involves beating the world at their game. Doing better what the world does. Getting voters to influence politicians, and seeking to influence the outcome of elections. And we know too well what goes with that, though we’re thankful for those who seem to do well as Christians in the dark gray world of politics.

My concern is not so much politics, though the gospel is inherently political because it’s about the kingdom of God come in Jesus changing not only individuals and not only impacting society through such change, but in and of itself providing an alternative as to how life is to be lived out. It is the beginning of seeking to live out the vision of Shalom, which by the Spirit we can realize substantially to a significant extent now, even though we await its completion in the resurrection when all is made new in Jesus.

If we’re Christians we are a witness of Jesus. And first and foremost we are a witness together of God’s grace through Jesus in reconciling us to God and to each other, even with all our diversity and differing views (including, and maybe we can say especially our differences in politics!). We are a witness to the good news of God’s coming in Jesus’ birth (the Incarnation), life, death and resurrection. And now Jesus is ascended as Lord over all and the Spirit is poured out on all peoples by faith. So that the community of God in Jesus scattered throughout the world, are enclaves of God’s active kingdom in the world.

When we think of witness and evangelism we often think of one to one activity. And that is indeed a part of it, and important. I want to be much more involved in that than I have. But the heart of our witness according to Scripture is as God’s people together in the world. How we live together for the world in God’s love. We are here not just for each other in Jesus, but as those growing up in his image, we are to be his witnesses to everyone.

What might you like to share from your own life or thoughts in regard to this?