Part Two: Trump, Zelenskyy and the Kingdom of God by John Avant

Last week I wrote about my belief that Christians should seek the Kingdom of God first rather than speaking on every political issue, especially the ones with which we have limited expertise. 

But does that mean that Christians should be quiet all the time when it comes to divisive issues? 

No. 

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬

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We are commanded by God to “do justice.”  So when I am faced with a decision on whether to speak out on a political issue, I first ask whether I am certain that I KNOW what justice actually is related to that issue.

This is easier said than done because of our own biases and sinful nature. I can be wrong. And being wrong on these kinds of issues can be the worst kind of wrong

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For instance, in my own denomination, in the mid-1800s, many pastors proclaimed boldly that some of the worst abuses in the history of mankind, such as owning another human being, actually represented biblical justice!

So I seek to be biblically careful when I speak with certainty on an issue. For me, it needs to be as clear as it was for Dietrich Bonhoeffer to speak against Hitler and the holocaust. 

I believe there are some issues that are exactly that clear. I will speak publicly anywhere at any time about the sanctity of life, the horror of the sexual mutilation of our children, and the evil of racism. 

Some issues are clearly biblical issues, but HOW those issues should be handled in the political policy arena is more difficult. 

For instance, clearly the Lord calls us to be peacemakers. But there are also times when God actually commanded war. We should oppose evil dictators and corrupt governments, and seek peace. For me, this war is too complex for me to speak with moral certainty. 

So how do we do what God tells us to do related to something like the war in Ukraine? If we are not able to personally “do justice” related to this issue, do we do nothing?

No!

We are not called to passivity! 

The kingdom of God is not a spiritual spa where we go to relax. 

Jesus said the Kingdom is forcefully advancing! (Matthew 11:12)  We can join the advance of the kingdom by “loving kindness” as God challenges us to do through the prophet Micah. 

I was discussing this topic of when to speak and not to speak with my daughter.  We don’t always agree politically. But she said something I loved:

“Not speaking doesn’t mean not acting. I may not be able to do a thing about Ukraine but I can help a ministry at my church that keeps people from freezing to death because housing isn’t affordable for them. I can contribute to the ministries they have to immigrants.”

Can you imagine what would happen in this nation if every Christ-follower chose to love and serve others in this way instead of spending their time in online controversies? We would likely see revival in this nation in a very short time.

And that is the way the Kingdom of God works.

Before I speak on an issue I also consider the impact it may have on my opportunity to share the gospel and to minister to other brothers and sisters. 

Last Sunday, I was very glad I did.

I spoke at a one-day conference at a church in South Carolina. During the service, an elderly Ukrainian pastor prayed.  My wife and I have done some mission work in that part of the world. Consequently, I have learned some bad Russian. Afterwards, I began to talk to the pastor and his family. It was incredibly emotional and powerful.  We talked about mutual friends who had suffered greatly for the Gospel. I was enthralled to hear his story of how he became a pastor under Soviet persecution.

For years he had no Bible of his own to preach from. One day a group of Christians in Finland wrapped some Russian Bibles in waterproof plastic, and floated them down a river into the Soviet Union!  This pastor‘s aunt saw one and fished it out of the river. He began to use this Bible as he preached!

As they were leaving, his interpreter came to me in tears and said “When the pastor and his family woke up this morning, they were so disturbed about our government’s recent response to the war that they were not going to come to an American church. But at the last minute, they decided they should come. I can’t tell you what your message and the time you just spent with him means to this family.“

In this situation, I could’ve taken a political stand on an issue about which I have little expertise. Instead I chose to be quiet and it led to a kingdom opportunity that I would’ve totally missed had I spoken publicly. 

These issues are not easy. And I certainly don’t claim to have given a perfect way to handle it in this post. But these things are biblically clear to me:

— God calls us to humility

— God calls us to unity in his body

— God often calls us to speak boldly

— God often calls us to be quiet

— God always calls us to  justice and kindness  

I hope this helps you as you think through these challenging issues for yourself.

And the good news, in the midst of all the bad news, is that Jesus is coming soon to make all things right!

“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new….”” Revelation 21:5