Conventional wisdom states that it is improper to bring up politics at the dinner table. Fearing either a tedious monologuing of one’s political opinions, or perhaps worse, an opinion wrongly stated (or itself so sordid) that sparks open conflict over the dinner plates, it is widely accepted that it’s better to just keep schtum when it comes to politics.

For those involved in politics however, it’s not quite so easy. Your work, your very existence even, is intimately tied up in your political activity, opinions, and allegiances. As such any one even loosely connected to politics is prepared for the inevitable onslaught of questions once the cat has been let out of the bag.

In polite conversation one can expect the mild-mannered questions about how one got into politics, why, and what their work involves or the policies and campaigns of concern at present. Less polite conversation can also be expected: “you better not be a… [insert party of choice here]”. “How anyone can support… [insert policy of choice here] I will never know”. With more extreme variations perhaps more common.

At heart, politics can evoke feelings of tribalism. My team vs yours. Good vs evil. Right vs wrong. Nationalist vs Unionist (or an increasing number of other combinations).

Christians are not immune from this temptation. In fact, being a Christian can turbo-charge one’s view of politics with a spiritual fervour in which it is all too easily for one’s chosen party or policy to become aligned with the will of God and therefore supposedly receive divine sanction as the ‘Christian’ option.

So, upon meeting someone of a different opinion it can be all too easy to think “how on earth can you belong to THAT party?” Yet, at this stage perhaps take a step back have a cup of tea and consider the following.

Seek Understanding

Of course, at CARE we believe God’s Word gives us guidance for politics and policy, that His will can be known, and that politics and policies can be more or less in line with what the Bible reveals to be good and right and true.

Yet whilst the Bible gives us some very clear principles, for example to care for the widow, the foreigner and the orphan, (Deuteronomy 10:18 for example), or to choose and uphold life (Deuteronomy 30:19), it isn’t at all apparent how that translates across into present political context. The principle is obvious, the policy ramifications less so.

And therefore, Christians have relative freedom to figure out how to apply and uphold these principles in the places God has put them. And this freedom might lead us into different places and to different conclusions from other brothers and sisters who also love Christ, take God’s Word seriously, and wish to uphold justice and righteousness just as much as us.

For a whole host of reasons such as life experience, geographical location, historical context, and professional insight, Christians will look at the political situation in front of them and come to different conclusions. Our unique experiences and perspective on life may lead us to weigh up the relative importance of an issue differently to our Christian brother or sister. Likewise, for whatever reason, we may take a different line on which policy approach is most effective to say tackling homelessness or improving educational standards.

Seek Persuasion

Again, this is not to say there aren’t some conclusions that are better than others, but it is a plea for understanding and Christian charity when we encounter someone with an opinion different to our own. And it is a plea for persuasion and conversion. If someone disagrees with you, put your arguments and your position to the test and seek to win them over. It is all too easy to approach politics as a zero-sum game in which everyone who is not with you is against you, worthing of being shunned.

There is a danger here, that we too easily play down the moral dimension of politics, and this is indeed correct. Too often politics can be viewed as simply a game of neutral management of resources rather than the arbitration of competing visions of what is good and just.

Have Humility

Yet, whilst politics is undoubtedly a moral exercise, the gospel gives no pretence that the kingdom of Christ will be built by our own hands. Christ’s kingship is shocking precisely because it subverts the political expectations held of the Messiah after all his kingdom is not of this earth (John 18:36).

Of course, Christ’s coming brings a foretaste of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15) and this remains the longed-for anticipation of believers that ought to being manifest in the church. but as T.S. Elliot writes: “We have to remember that the Kingdom of Christ on earth will never be realised, and also that it is always being realised; we must remember that whatever reform or revolution we carry out, the result will always be a sordid travesty of what human society should be – though the world is never left wholly without glory.”[1]

Politics this side of Christ’s return is only ever a limited and fragmented contribution to a fractured good. It is meaningful. It can achieve some things. But it will never bring about the kingdom for which we long. That is Christ’s work alone.

This frees Christians to participate meaningfully in the world. In view of, and indeed seeking to mimic more closely, the kingdom that is to come without any utopian illusions that earthly political power corrupted by human sin and greed is ever the means to perfect justice.

No, the Christian politician is always in the business of seeking that which is more just, more good, more true whilst accepting their efforts will always fall someway short of the shalom of the New Creation.

Look Back and Remember

Was this not the path set forward before us by some of the heroes of the faith? Daniel who served in the tyrannical Babylonian regime yet was commended by God for his work. Joseph who brought prosperity and security to Egypt in times of desperate trial. Esther whose place in the halls of power is a result of tyranny and exploitation yet who God uses to rescue his people.

All three of these heroes of the Old Testament served in powers the Bible depicts as the enemies of God’s people, and whose presence serves to typify rebellion against God. Yet all three play a role in God’s salvation story and receive God’s favour and blessing.

Perhaps we are far too easy to discount some areas as too grubby or too compromised a place for Christians to be. There is wisdom to considering one’s limits and ability to handle such circumstances, but Daniel, Jospeh, and Esther do seem to suggest faithful participation in the world doesn’t come in neat tidy packages. Indeed, God frequently works through times of trouble and angst amidst the messiest stories to bring about his salvation plan.

Perhaps God, has placed you or called someone you know with a missional purpose to be a faithful presence advocating for the love of God and love of neighbour. So next time you meet someone and think “how on earth can you belong to THAT party?” try the following:

• Seek understanding. What experiences and insight has led them to their conclusions?
• Seek persuasion. Where can you find common ground? What does the Bible seem to say about this issue? What does the best policy and research seem to say about this issue?
• Have humility. Avoid utopian pretensions and acknowledge the limits of your own knowledge, experience, and abilities
• Look Back and Remember. God’s salvation history tells tale after tale of God using His people in messy and broken situations to serve His good purposes.

This is not a call for a whimsy tolerance where anything goes as long as you claim the label, Christian. But it is a call for generosity and grace towards others who, for whatever reasons, end up in a different place to you. And it is a commitment to persuade rather than to shun those with whom you firmly disagree.

It is also a warning that pursuits of purity too often lead to doing nothing and too often lead to a stunted view of the complexities of living in a broken world. It is far too easy to sit on the sidelines and snipe at others, far harder to roll your sleeves up, get in the arena, and face the challenges and ambiguities participating in the world brings. After all, being a faithful witness to God often leads to uncomfortable and difficult places.

[1] T.S. Elliot, The Idea of a Christian Society, 1939, p.59.