For many (or most?) people, it seems like every political election cycle brings with it an ominous cloud of doubt, incertitude, and foreboding. That which has been established and functional is assaulted with challenge and change, which all too frequently ends with arbitrary dysfunction ostensibly contrived for the sake of partisan appeasement or domination. With Jobian angst, we fear our consequential and unrelenting fate: “But the falling mountain crumbles away, and the rock moves from its place; water wears away stones, its torrents wash away the dust of the earth . . .” Even more, we often blame God for own specious human transgressions—“So you destroy man’s hopes” (Job 14:18–19).
This stressful state seems to be deeply and universally engrained in the human condition (and our collective affairs). Cynicism and suspicion are regularly coupled with despair and capitulation, until the terrifying tempest passes by, for a time. Unsurprisingly, our resolve and confidence can and often does wane as we wait for the noxious winds to return (as they always do). While such feelings may feel novel to those in the moment, the grander reality is that political change and political fears have been a constant in human history since its genesis thousands of years ago.
Being human, the followers of God have not been spared from social-civic interactions with their neighbors. Rather, we who live by faith also live in the now and on the earth and so encounter the same belligerent or transformative forces that those who live by the flesh experience. And while our Creator may be perfect, we exist far from that condition and so reveal our hearts and beliefs and dependencies during periods of political chaos. This can be easily observed in the biblical accounts as well as the during the early church movement, with prominent figures displaying their inner convictions and perceptions in times of trial and tribulation—for better or for worse.
In all cases, their stories put flesh and spirit around the parable of Jesus shared with His disciples two thousand years ago:
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it (Matt 7:24–27)
Succinctly, Jesus’ parable tells readers to listen to the Lord, to adapt their behavior according to God’s commands and advice, which will guarantee stable and productive lives regardless of what’s going on around them–socially and physically. The opposite holds true, of course, for those who ignore the Lord, remain hard-hearted in their rebellion, reaping the results of their foolishness or wickedness.
I can think of no two better examples than Joshua and King Ahab, both political-religious leaders of Israel but two men diametrically opposed in core beliefs and personal missions, inevitably leading to their final fates and fame (or infamy).
Joshua, the Son of Nun and the successor of Moses (ruling around 1400 BCE), was a man of noble character, great military mindedness, and a steadfast voice literally calling out in the desert for Israel to follow God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. During the initial establishment of the kingdom of Israel in Canaan, Joshua demonstrates the rock that his faith rested upon when he admonished his people,
Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Josh 24:14–15).
Joshua’s unwavering faith in God and searing commitment to God carried him and the people of Israel from Egypt, through the desert of testing and battling, all the way to the Promised Land. As Geisler concludes, “[Joshua] is a book of triumph for faithful obedience to God.”[1] Even more, it shows how faith in God, regardless of whatever storms people travel through, creates safe pathways to success and peace.
Alternatively, King Ahab is perhaps one of the most contemptible “rulers” of Israel in the Bible. Whereas Joshua is known for his great persona, leadership skills, and fearlessness, Ahab could be called “the Great Corruptor” in his abdication of Godly, royal responsibilities and his political capitulation to Queen Jezebel’s wicked, pagan schemes. The author of 1 Kings 16 writes,
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians and began to serve Baal and worship him” (vss. 30–31).
Ahab abandoned God’s kingly calling for him to appease his aggressive wife, to accumulate great wealth and comforts, and to cultivate political strength in the world. This rebellious king’s self-serving compromises resulted in the loss of his lands (1 Kings 21:26), the death of his queen (2 Kings 9:30–37) and the execution of all seventy of his sons (2 Kings 10:6–8). By focusing and relying solely upon the fruits of the flesh, Ahab only guaranteed himself and his progeny a short and sour-lived reign. He foolishly set his throne upon shifting sands, where it was destined to be toppled.
While some might presume that such parabolic teaching is for vaulted leaders alone, the truth is that we all are both leaders and followers to those around us. In fact, some of Jesus’ highest praise came for those from the lowest social classes (Matt 15:28) or with the most to lose, socially, for their faith in Him and God (Matthew 8:10). During periods of political chaos or change, everyone is involved, everyone responds, and everyone shows their heart in the matter at hand—be it in noble submission to God’s commands or hedonistic rebellion (or surrender) to human agencies.
Thus, it is no wonder that in the dawn of the Christian movement, when faced with unjust persecution and martyrdom for their political views, thousands of believers stood their ground, proclaimed their adoration and fidelity, and refused to deny Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Polycarp was one such ambassador for the Way.
A lifelong Christian and elderly pupil (age 86 years old) of the Apostle John, Polycarp had been targeted, politically, for his embrace of a monotheistic religion in a cultic period in Greco-Roman society, which demanded submission and oaths of loyalty and worship to the Emperor. Dragged before a proconsul, it was demanded that Polycarp denounce Christ and receive freedom or persist in his faith and be executed.
But the proconsul was insistent and said: “Take the oath, and I shall release you. Curse Christ.” Polycarp said: “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” And upon his persisting still and saying, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar,” he answered, “If you vainly suppose that I shall swear by the fortune of Caesar, as you say, and pretend that you do not know who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian.”[2]
In that instance, Polycarp’s righteous response showed the depth of his convictions and the lengths that he was willing to go to do the right thing. Regardless of the storm beating down upon him, despite the threats of ignorant and impious people unaware of the dangers of religious compromise for political gain, Polycarp did not waiver in his obedience and trust in God.
But the proconsul said: “I have wild beasts. I shall throw you to them, if you do not change your mind.” But he [Polycarp] said: “Call them. For repentance from the better to the worse is not permitted us; but it is noble to change from what is evil to what is righteous.”[3]
Polycarp’s timeless response is a model to follow for all believers and has been echoed throughout the lives of people like Joshua, King David, the Prophet Jeremiah, John the Baptist, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Stephen, Ignatius of Antioch, Perpetua, Justin Martyr, Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom, Athanasius, Wycliff, Jonathan Edwards, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and so on. Polycarp’s was and is the response of a person fully convinced, committed, and courageous in their relationship with God, for whom they owe everything. Deviation was never an option for people such as these faithful ones.
Once again, we are on the precipice of yet another political storm in America (one that has been building up for decades). It feels like the winds and rains have never occurred with such intensity, but the timeless truth still remains: God’s followers are to be submissive to the governmental powers (1 Pet 2:13) while also contending for the faith (Jude 1:3), restoring each other gently (Galatians 6:1), and walking in the light (1 John 1:6–7). Truly, this is a daunting task to accomplish on our own. Blessedly, we have Jesus—our guide, our protector, and our model—who also shared in the chaos of politics while on His earthly mission. He showed us how and why meandering through the storms of life can be done for the glory of God and the benefit of mankind.
Perhaps no one has ever summarized the Christian mindset regarding righteous political principles so eloquently than the great Reformer Martin Luther who, standing before the Diet of Worms for heresy, bravely proclaimed,
Since then your Majesty and your Lordships seek a simple answer, I will give it in this manner, neither horned nor toothed. Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.[4]
Though the political winds blow and the rain aims to beat us down, God’s followers do not waiver, we do not relent, we do not despair, for we personally know the One true God from whom all blessings come (Ps 16:2), and He is worth it all.
[1] Geisler, A Popular Study of the Old Testament (Baker, 1977), 96.
[2] The Apostolic Fathers, The Apostolic Fathers (Moody Classics) (Moody, 2009. Kindle Edition), 138.
[3] The Apostolic Fathers (Moody Classics), 139.
[4] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, 33: Career of the Reformer III (Fortress, 1957).