2 Samuel 13 through 18; Matthew 2:13-23; Luke 4:16-30; 27:27-31; John 12:49; 14:10; Galatians 5:22
Absalom was called back to Jerusalem by his father, the King if Israel, David. He had been in self imposed exile, in hiding after vindicating the rape of his sister Tamar. He had killed his evil step-brother Amnon, the perpetrator of the despicable act. Though enabled to return, he was told that he could not see the face of the King, his father. Embittered at what had happened to his sister, angry at the weakness of his father.
It took him, Absalom, to bring about justice, the justice that his father's government lacked. How was he repaid? He had to flee for his life, away from his family, for two years. And now, as if not insulted enough, he could not see his father's face.
After some persuading and a little arson, he was able to get Joab to set up a reunion of father and son. He given 50 men and a chariot, things were looking up, and why not. A handsome man like Absalom, a man of justice, a man of strength was more fit to rule than his weakened father.
Men would enter the city gate where he would stand by the side. They would have legal matters, suits to bring to the discernment of the King. Why would these people think the King could judge their case in fairness when he was incapable of bringing justice to his own home. The people needed a fair judge, a man of strength to stand up for them. He would greet them with these words, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the King."
The people needed a new leader. He had the perfect leader in mind, himself. Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me, and I would give them justice." With these words of self affirmation, he won the hears of many in his generation, and for a time took over his fathers throne.
Years went by and there came another leader. A different kind of man.
He was born to rule. It was hard to say how old he was before he knew this. He did eventually realize his destiny, but this knowledge was not what drove him.
It wasn't easy for his family during his early years. Torn from his land by the persecution of his own government. Raised in a land of foreigners, with his family considered aliens. So much hardship for a young life. This hardship was not what drove him.
There was an incident years later when, because of a few words he said, many in his hometown literally tried to kill him. He had only shown them kindness. At first, they even embraced his words, but a few people in the crowd stirred up the rest. He could have been bitter. He should have been bitter, but he was driven by a greater purpose.
Somehow, it didn't work out for him to take his place as king. The only time he wore any royal robes, it was a cruel joke played on him, they even beat him up as the laughed at him. The amazing thing was that he secretly had command of a huge army that no one could withstand. He chose to not to call them forth. That was not his plan. Vengeance was not what drove him.
The driving force in his life was obedience. Obedience to his father drove him. His father loved him with the most perfect love. Like Absalom, there was a time he could not look into his daddy's face. His father even turned his back on him when he needed him the most. His father had to. He was judged, even for things he never did. He was even judged for the crimes done to him and his family. He never spoke in his defense. He never cried out. Righting these wrongs was not what drove him. He was driven only by obedience to his Dad.
He loved his daddy, and he even loved those who had him killed. His Father is God. He is Jesus.
These two stories highlight two attitudes. Obedience or alienation. As we look at the political climate in America, which is the more prominent attitude we see. When we look at the face of Christian involvement in politics, which attitude do we see. On the Right? On the Left? In the Middle? It is as if alienation is the driving force. Many times it isn't love that we see.
The body of Christ has participants on both sides of the political aisle. Both sides accentuate different aspects of the scripture. The right, many times focuses on taking a stance in the face of moral decline, citizens living out their God-given rights in a responsible manner, and allowing persons to responsibly run their business as is best for them. The left focuses on aspects of loving people where they are at in life, through community serving those in their needs whether the poor, abandoned, sick or immigrants, and stopping the unfair treatment of individuals whether due to racism or persecution. All of these are biblical goals, and all brothers and sisters in Christ with a biblical basis for their concerns should be welcomed as an equal into the debate. This does not mean that you abandon, or bury your political convictions, but express them in a Godly manner.
Paul in Ephesians wrote about not participating in unfruitful deeds of darkness. In this case he is probably referring to perverse activities (5:12a for it is disgraceful to speak of the things done by them in secret). Also in Ephesians 4:31 it states "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you". It is easy to picture perversity as a cultural sin to avoid, but it is harder to picture malice and slander as cultural sins. Speech, when tainted with slander and malice, even if in subtle tones, is just as much a cultural sin to avoid. Aside from the political slander that is so obvious, isn't it slander to infer that only true Christian's would be on our side of an issue, or that those Christians on the other side are pitied because they are just being deceived.
What would happen if Christians on the right opened their hearts to understand the Christians on the left. Could it be that they would learn something new? Would they be able to pick up a biblical concept that is missing in their political world view. A piece of the puzzle, as it were, that has been missing. This idea can go both ways. Those in the middle are not immune to extreme attitudes either. Likewise, their addition to the debate can only multiply the effect. Would we be able to add a few pieces that would complete a beautiful picture?
We do not all have to agree. But we do need to walk in Christian fellowship. God's power and the unity of believers are tied together in the Scripture. Is this the missing ingredient in Christianity in America, or the world? Instead of adopting the world's play book of alienation, lets adopt obedience to our Father. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self control.
