politics

Just by writing the title I can feel the tension growing as you read! They say there is nothing like religion and politics to get the temperature up as well as the voice levels; not to mention the heart rate.And this is the time of the year when we reflect on the political conference scene from Brighton to Manchester, from Lib Dem to UKIP, from Labour to Conservative. Then, just to top it all off, we are talking about the ratification of the Lisbon treaty and will we get the chance to say how we feel in a referendum like the Irish have done – twice!?

Now my guess is that not everyone is particularly interested in it, only when it directly affects us by increases in tax or the collection of rubbish bins or the cost of a home when it is time to sell it. I reckon most of us feel that we are pretty powerless when it comes to making a difference on the grand scale and it is very difficult to choose between parties vying for power and difficult to trust politicians and believe the promises that are made.

Jesus was born into a world where politics played a major part of life. For the majority of people, they too felt powerless and unable to make much of a difference. The invading and ruling power governed by tough jack boot tactics – you didn’t cross the Romans, not publically anyway.

You might be a Zealot. If that was so you lined up with the resistance of the day. You fought back with terrorist style tactics of your own to overthrow the alien presence.

You might be an Herodian or perhaps you lined up with the Sadducees. The way to survive was to co-exist with the invader. Tax collectors who took money from there own people to give to the Romans were particularly unpopular with the Zealots.

Maybe you were a Pharisee. This was a religious political party. If only everyone could just keep God’s laws for one whole day then God would vindicate his people and set them free from occupation.

Maybe you were an Essene. This group believed that the only way to survive was to retreat into the desert and set up independent communities, keep your head down and survive.

Jesus upset them all! You could gather a lot of enemies by following Jesus.

He upset the Herodians by saying that another Kingdom was at hand. He upset the Essenes by encouraging people to be salt and light in society. He upset the Zealots by telling them to love their enemies and He upset the Pharisees by hanging out with the tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus presents a completely different way – this ‘kingdom’ that is near. Jesus says in the face of all politics in Mark ch1 v15, "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"