How Should
Christians Handle Political Differences ? J . D . Greear
came , primarily , to reconcile people to God and transform them from within , not to install governments . The apostles did not run for office . Paul didn ’ t go to Rome to reform the Roman Senate ( which it desperately needed .) Jesus ’ s followers found the lost and the forgotten and made them citizens of heaven .
The early church and the apostles operated not as a political organization but as a living , breathing organism — the body of Christ .
Jesus invited people from different political viewpoints into his closest group . Simon the Zealot would be called a nationalist today , maybe even a terrorist . Matthew , the tax collector , would be seen as a member of the rich , privileged class . Fishermen were the proletariat , the working class .
At the time , people were divided over Rome ’ s occupation of Israel . Talks around the campfire could have included calling each other out and questioning their stance on Rome : “ Are you Pro-Ro or No-Ro ?” Maybe Simon was like , “ Aw , not that pinko Commie Matthew ,” and Matthew was like , “ Not that MAGA hat – wearing , knuckle-dragging Neanderthal Simon .” And if you passed by their tent late at night , they ’ d probably have had their fingers in each other ’ s faces as they argued .
But here ’ s the point : the unity they found in Jesus superseded their differences , and they ended up loving each other enough to die for each other , because the cause they rallied behind was more important than their political agendas .
This is why , as a pastor , I don ’ t pontificate about many of my secondary political views . I know that if I discuss these things from
47