It’s Not Politics, It’s Personal
October 27, 2024
1 Samuel 18:1-15 , 19:1-10, 20:32-33, 24:1-22, 26:1-25 (esp 19), Psalm 57
Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan, Saul’s son, liked David very much. So Jonathan warned David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Be on guard tomorrow morning. Stay somewhere safe and hide. I’ll go out and stand by my father in the field where you’ll be. I’ll talk to my father about you, and I’ll tell you whatever I find out.”
1 Samuel 19:1-3
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“Don’t get political.”
This may be one of the most commonly heard statements by preachers from their congregations these days, and the truth is, it’s a much tougher order than one might think.
First, the gospel is inherently political. The first creed of the church, “Jesus is Lord,” is a statement of treason that declares “Caesar is not.” This is the kind of thing that literally gets people killed as political opponents of the empire, and yet as Christians we are called to pledge our soul allegiance to Christ, not to our flag or nation, no matter how Godly we may think it is.
Second, most of the times I’ve heard this statement came in response to the scripture itself, not to any political statement I may or may not have made. The Sermon on the Mount alone is filled with teachings that go against the grain of our individualistic and capitalistic culture. All I have to do is read the verses and someone will say, “What radical Marxist or Socialist said that?” The objector is usually not happy when I respond with “Jesus… see, it’s right here in the Red Letters.”
Third, and perhaps most importantly in our current political climate, is the truth that much of what we call political should not be political at all. In fact, much of it is simply about how we treat one another as descent human beings, how we show respect and love for all people, neighbor and enemy alike. These are fundamental truths of our faith and necessary for a healthy society, and yet to call out a candidate for dehumanizing a person or group of people is viewed as a partisan agenda. When people make broad brush statements that paint those who vote differently as an enemy of the state, or even an enemy of the faith, as I have been called many times, they often don’t even realize that there are members of their own family who are afraid to speak to them because of their inflammatory, derogatory and violent rhetoric. The truth is, it’s not political, it’s personal.
King Saul viewed David as a political enemy and a threat to his power. He wanted David’s head on the end of his spear. In America, we may not typically shed the blood of our political opponents, but it has happened and could easily happen again if cooler heads cannot find a way to prevail in the public discourse. One might say that as a King in his day, Saul had every right to kill any threat to his throne, and technically, that would be true.
For Saul’s son Jonathan, however, this wasn’t about politics at all. David was his best friend. His father’s rage was deeply personal and he risked everything to protect his friend from his own father. How many families, friendships, communities, even churches, are torn apart by political divides. Do we promote candidates that threaten harm to those we love?
Politics is always personal. Love must have the final say.