This post is based on the intersection between religion and politics in the US over the past few decades. The "religious right" is by far the most vocal, but there is also a faction of American progressives with religious trappings. At the risk of gross oversimplification, I can distill these broad categories as follows.
The Christian Nationalists on the right demand political power in order to enforce their vision of God's justice and morality at gunpoint.
The Christian Socialists on the left demand political power in order to enforce their vision of God's compassion and charity at gunpoint.
Every political debate becomes a tug of war. Both will wax eloquent about how their vision is holy and just, and those who disagree are vile sinners. I know many readers are outside the US, but may nonetheless see parallels with their own local and national debates. If you are not Christian or even outright irreligious, you will also see similar false dilemmas.
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Don't like library book censorship? Groomer!
Object to the welfare state? You hate the poor!
Oppose "deporting" illegal immigrants to prison camps? You support crime!
Denounce government schools? You want people to be stupid!
Condemn taxes and tariffs? You're selfish and greedy!
Resist calls for war? You're a coward!
This goes on and on ad infinitum as people bicker. Such behavior is not the way of Christ. When tempted in the desert, He was offered political power. He refused. Christ asked people to follow instead of demanding their obedience. Remember also, God does not show favoritism, but what we do to the "least of these," we do to Him.
The parables of Christ depict His kingdom as an inverse of human governments. He healed the sick, He fed the multitudes, and He washed the feet of his followers. Government offers its counterfeit of these services, but built on a foundation of violence instead of love. The Bible says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me." Contrast this with government taxes, liens, confiscations, and SWAT raids.
The question of politics is always framed as, "which side are you on," but I ask you, "should we be taking sides with any of these factions in the first place?" A man cannot serve two masters, so we must choose between Christ and Caesar. Politics enshrines the Seven Deadly Sins as virtues. Our task is to navigate the issues of our day using scripture and reason as our guiding light, not the vanity of men, their invented titles and laws, or their squabbles for power.
