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The Real Change We Can Believe In
By Abigail Welborn | posted 05/13/2010
"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'" (Luke 10:8-9 NIV)
I used to be less like a news junkie and more like a news ostrich, hiding and hoping no one would see me. Then along came Facebook, the one-stop shop for sharing links of any kind - funny, informative, inflammatory. I find myself reading a lot more about news and politics than I used to because I want to know what my friends are reading (and I want to tell them how wrong they have it!). But the more I read, the more I feel helpless to effect change and angry at those who are acting unjustly.
Why does political debate get me so riled up? In part I have such strong feelings because the issues are in some cases literally life and death. Even issues that are "just" about money have a profound impact on our lives. We argue and disagree because no one person can ever be completely right, so we each have parts of the truth. But most of all, we disagree because we are looking for answers in the wrong place.
While I believe that government is an essential part of human society, I want to remind you that the government does not have the answer. The government can help, but it can't solve our real problems - greed, hatred, jealousy - because they are a result, essentially, of our sin.
So what is the answer? Do you remember the old Sunday School joke that ends with the kid saying, "I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure looks like a squirrel to me"? Well, in this case, Jesus is the answer. He came to proclaim that "the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 1:15 NASB). It's here. It's you and me, living more like Jesus, causing others to live more like Jesus, causing a movement, a peaceful revolution that transforms society and government from the inside out.
This idea was brought home to me several years ago when I read The Secret Message of Jesus, by Brian McLaren. I can tell that it's time for me to read it again, because I've been forgetting that the real power is not in government but in living out the kingdom of God. He writes:
[W]e all might agree that the poor and hungry should be helped and fed in theory, someday, and perhaps even that the rich should be willing to part with some of their wealth to help make that happen someday. But what if someone arose and said, "The time is at hand! The time is now! Shut down your weapons factories! Open your checkbooks!"
I am not sure what the Christian should think about the government's role in activities that we are also called to do individually, such as helping the poor and seeking justice. Should every traveler on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (see Luke 10:30-35) be required to give a small portion of money to the inns along the way in case a traveler is stranded? I don't know. But I do know that if we see someone who is suffering, we are not serving Jesus if we pass him by.
Whatever government does, we are not excused from loving our enemies, helping the poor, and being Jesus to a world trapped by darkness. We are to minister where God placed us, be that in the work place, in the grocery store, at school, or anywhere else in society. All of us, making our individual choices, together can have a positive effect more profound than any government policy. And that's real change.
Abigail can be reached via email here. She is not expressing an opinion on Obama's policies but is merely utilizing his slogan for rhetorical effect.
