Navigating Power and Discipleship

Dear First Pres SLO Family,

Grace and peace to you in the name of King Jesus, the one whose reign covers all people and places—all thrones and administrations.

Let’s get right into it.

When I was traveling in a poor section of the West Bank in Palestine a few years ago, I looked over and saw a medical building under construction. It had a sign on it that said: This Construction Funded by USAID. A Gift of the American People. I asked my guide, a Palestinian Christian, about it and he said that the funds given by Americans were tangible evidence that they were committed to the peace process in Israel-Palestine.

I honestly felt proud in that moment. It was proof that no matter who was in office at any given time, American funds were representing us—representing our hope for a peaceful resolution in that troubled place.

Who would believe that now?

Earthly power can be wonderful, and it can bring suffering. The Bible has a few things to say about power, or the powers. Over the next month we’re going to look at what the Scriptures say about power—what Jesus says and models for us about our relationship to whoever occupies any earthly throne…or strangely shaped office.

Some of it you’ll like, some of it you won’t, but all of it will remind us of just who’s ultimately in charge in this crazy, pain-filled world.

The goal isn’t to provoke yet another pointless argument about politics. The goal, as any good teaching should always be, is to deepen our understanding of what God expects of us in this life. The goal is to grow together in what it means to be Christ’s disciple. Hint: It has very little to do with what country we’re from or which flag we salute.

Speaking of flags, I fly a good-sized American flag at my house at various times in the year. I fly it because I believe in the promise of what this country is supposed to be, I fly it to commemorate special days in our history, and I fly it to honor my dad’s oldest brother—an immigrant from Italy who only lived here for three years—who gave his life for this nation in the Second World War.

This life is complicated, but we only make it worse when we jump to conclusions and make unfair judgments about each other. Between now and Easter we’re going to focus on the intersection of discipleship and political power, and also on the non-negotiables of being a Christian in any state.

 Come and see—come and hear—and then go and do.

Blessings to you and yours,

Pastor John

PS: This Sunday’s text is Matthew 22:15-22