why politics ?
“Jesus called them together and said: ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Mk 10:42-45
What does this passage mean? Clearly, Jesus is instituting servanthood as a key element of discipleship. But he is also putting it in the context of ‘rulers over the Gentiles’ – he is giving a new philosophy of politics. He is encouraging a political system where the leaders act as servants of the people who raise them up; unlike the ancient Caesars. And the Bible is also living; it’s speaking against a system where MPs are self-serving within their expenses, where political parties target ‘swing voters’ with their policies and where ministers are more concerned about their own career than making the right decisions for their country. And the example of this is our own Lord – who served even though it cost him everything.
I believe that it is this servant attitude Jesus is encouraging here that is missing in today’s politics. That’s why I think that God is calling a generation to enter politics in humility, grace and truth; to serve both the people who elect them, and the Kingdom of God. Politicians control much of what goes on, and if Christians with a heart to serve the last, the least and the lost get into politics, we can come one step closer to God’s will being done on Earth as in Heaven.
I, personally, have long felt a calling to just this. A natural interest in politics, a small aptitude for public speaking, combined with a God-given belief in the power of servanthood make this calling seem sound; and God has been affirming this through various people and at various points. When I was at Soul Survivor this year, a powerful prayer session led to a word of encouragement and a further call to humility. I believe that God is teaching me humility to serve others and his kingdom through the political arena, to change the world from the top-down, and hopefully to meet some of those changing it from the bottom-up somewhere in the middle. For me, this is a way of living out my faith. I hope you are inspired to do the same.
David Bagg, 18
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David Bagg, 22/09/2009 |
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| | | iamnotpiercebrosnan (Guest) | 22/09/2009 22:19 | no reception committee?
cui bono
this article is pretty arogant considering the company you're in
| | | | iampiercebrosnan (Guest) | 22/09/2009 23:35 | Knave!
| | | | Rachel (Guest) | 23/09/2009 10:18 | This is a pretty awe-inspiring article - and a real encouragement that someone in your generation is thinking this way.
One thing I should clarify is that when Jesus "gave His life as a ransom for many" he didn't do so primarily to be an example to others. He did so primarily because we needed ransomed - and that is the heart of the Christian message!
Nevertheless Christians are called to take up their cross and follow Him - into whatever sphere of influence they head - and that includes politics. Any Christian heading that way for the purpose of their own glory and self-advancement is going to get their fingers burnt!
| | | | Joseph Won Hyun (Guest) | 23/09/2009 15:09 | I totally agree with your reflexion about impact the society. God Bless.
| | | | iampiercebrosnan (Guest) | 23/09/2009 16:32 | Chuck Norris > God
| | | | Jeremy Dillon (Guest) | 30/09/2009 17:28 | Nice to hear someone talking about the issues that matter. Keep it up. Let's get more people like this into politics.
| | | | Visitor (Guest) | 24/03/2010 03:21 | Hi! This is a really good article, and I'm really impressed to hear it from someone that's just 18. I think that if you think God is calling you into politics, then that's great, and you should go for it, especially if you can stay true to the ideas that you stated above. It's a challenging, but amazing calling that you have received, and I really hope you can make the best of it.
You've taken on a huge challenge, and I definitely admire you for it. Serving the "last, the least, and the lost" probably isn't going to be the most popular move you can make, especially in American society, where, even though we claim to be a Christian nation, we are constantly looking to serve ourselves, and ourselves only. If you can make Americans truly get back to the true teachings of Christ, and see how different the lives we are leading are from teachings like these, then that is truly a change worth making.
I have one more thing to say (Sorry this is turning out to be so long!) It's so easy to say these things. It's so easy to condemn the materialism of America, the corruption of politics, and the self-serving attitude we all have. It's a whole different thing to live your life in opposition to those attitudes. I encourage you, if you enter the field of politics as a servant, to really make sure your actions and your pocketbook reflect your concern for the less fortunate. And that is a lot easier to say than do. Don't be a hypocrite, make sure there isn't a plank in your own eye. I don't mean to be judgmental at all-- I don't even know you! I just hope that you can retain the sincerity and humility you've demonstrated in this article.
Thanks so much for sharing this, and again, sorry this is so long! I wish you the best of luck.
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