Christians in Politics
By Jonathan Kuttab
When I was growing up, politics was deemed a dirty word. Christians, I was taught, should stay out of politics. After all, it was Jesus who said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” As Christians, we should concentrate on spiritual matters, on the saving of souls, and steer clear of such worldly matters.
Yet, I quickly learnt that inaction was not an option and that failure to participate in the political process was merely to support the status quo, however unjust it might be. I came to discover that politics always impacts our lives, even if we try to avoid it. For instance, our very presence as Christian Palestinians in the Holy Land was a contested political fact with serious, existential consequences, and it remained so even if we were not politically active.
This is particularly true for those living in the United States, since this great country has so much influence, for good or ill, around the world. What our government does impacts the lives of millions in distant countries, and even the very survival of the planet. We cannot sit on the sidelines; we must be active! While maintaining a strict separation between church and state, individual Christians involved in politics should, in fact, be guided by Christ’s lordship over their lives. This includes their politics.
The question, however, is what form such activism must take? Which policies do we promote or oppose? How do we choose our candidates for office, and what legislation should we support or rally against? Sadly, the influence of Christians in politics in this country has not always been positive. To the contrary, many people cringe when they hear about Christian involvement in politics. The flags in our churches and the Christian slogans heard at marches and rallies have all too often been associated with bigotry, racism, sexism, exclusion, militarism, and intolerance.
As the country is seemingly ripped apart by so-called “culture wars,” Christians do not appear to be shining examples of peace, virtue, love, or tolerance, much less of caring for the poor, the needy, and the marginalized. Christ said, “Let your light so shine in the world that people shall see your good deeds and glorify your father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16). Do our politics bring glory to God, attracting people to him? Or, do they cause fear, derision, and disgust?
Nowhere is this more clear than in the case of our government’s policy in the Middle East. People there associate our government policy with realpolitik and hypocrisy towards the oil-rich countries, self-serving military incursions, and the arms trade. They also associate it with complicity in Israeli apartheid, the opppression of Palestinians, and an unquestioning support for Israel even when it violates human rights and international law. The Abrahamic Accords do not promote peace, but they are in reality geared towards billion-dollar arms deals and the maintenance of undemocratic regimes and practices. Sadly, Christian Zionism has fueled much of this policy by manipulating biblical language to support thoroughly unjust actions. Much of the work of FOSNA and Palestinian liberation theology has been involved in fighting Christian Zionism, called a heresy by Rev. Naim Ateek.
There are diverse opinions and legitimate differences among Christians as to what form their political activism ought to take. As American Christians contemplate how best to answer this question and the challenges of living out their faith in public, may I offer a few suggestions as to the direction this should take and principles that should govern such involvement:
Does an action bring glory to God and impress non-believers with the true value of following Christ?
Does an action promote justice, fairness, equity, equality, and mirror Christ’s love for all?
Does an action impact the lives and interests of the weak, the poor, and the marginalized? Or, does it promote only our own interests and the interests of the powerful and influential?
Does an action reflect an authentic stewardship over the resources entrusted to us or only our own interest and benefit?
Does an action bring us closer to answering the prayer, “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”—that is, does it reflect the values of the Kingdom of God or only our investment in the kingdoms of this world and their values?
Finally, does an action promote peace and reconciliation or only our own nation’s power and domination over others?
For an excellent series of meditations on the intersection of faith and politics, I highly encourage you to check out my FOSNA colleague Jesse Wheeler’s recent book, Serving a Crucified King: Meditations on Faith, Politics, and the Unyielding Pursuit of God’s Reign.
Take Action!
Contact Congress!
Stop Biden from Cozying up to Apartheid and Authoritarianism
(JVP Action) This summer Biden is heading out on a war crimes tour, cozying up to apartheid and making deals with dictators, placing the lives of Palestinians and Yemenis at risk. By shaking hands with Israel's leaders, Biden is greenlighting Israel's mass destruction of 1,300 Palestinians' homes. This March also marked seven years of Saudi Arabia's horrific war on Yemen which has killed nearly 400,000 Yemenis. Just like you and me, Palestinians and Yemenis are entitled to freedom and safety, and they shouldn't have to wait another day for it. At the link below, you can join USCPR in asking Biden to #CancelTheTrip as an act of real accountability for Israeli and Saudi war crimes. Contact Congress to amplify the call for justice!
Or, Contact Biden!
Urge President Joe Biden to stand up for Peace and Justice during his trip to Israel/Palestine
(Churches for Middle East Peace) As President Biden’s July 13-14 visit to Israel and Palestine approaches, events on the ground are propelling the region towards escalating conflict, violence, and suffering. Approvals of plans for more Israeli settlements in the West Bank are accelerating, as are threats to dispossess and forcibly expel Palestinians. No one has yet been held accountable for the May 11 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, though multiple media investigations have all concluded that she was likely shot to death by an Israeli soldier. And the East Jerusalem hospital network that is critical for the welfare of so many Palestinians remains drastically underfunded. The President must address these issues and others in his meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leadership.
Get Involved!
FOSNA invites you to join us in the following events and activities:
July 13
Theology, Liberation, & Palestine: Conversations in Honor of Rosemary Radford Ruether
Join Naim Ateek, Marc Ellis, Nora Carmi, and Kathy Bergen for a webinar conversation on the past, present, and future of liberation theology in the context of Palestine/Israel, in dialogue with and honor of the life and work of Rosemary Radford Ruether. On top of being one of the most important theologians of recent memory, Rosemary was a a dear friend and deeply important to FOSNA and the global Sabeel movement as a whole.
9:00am Pacific / 12:00pm Eastern / 7:00pm Palestine
July 20
Defund Racism: No More Tax-Free $$ for Israeli Settlements and Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians
(Good Shepherd Collective) This event is intended to introduce the #DefundRacism campaign, which targets pro-Israeli organizations disguised as 501c(3) charities that fund Israeli settlements using tax-deductible donations from the United States. These organizations are therefore complicit in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from places like Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan, South Hebron Hills, and many other places in Palestine.
Weekly
Sabeel Prayer Service. Join Sabeel every Thursday (6pm Jerusalem) for online Bible Study, discussion, and prayer. Examine scripture in light of the ongoing realities confronting the Palestinian Church and the pursuit of Palestinian liberation.
Wave of Prayer. Subscribe to receive Sabeel's Wave of Prayer, enabling friends of Sabeel around the world to pray over issues of critical concern to the Holy Land on a weekly basis.
Kumi Now! (Week 26) Nuclear Israel. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was signed on July 1, 1968. According to the U.N., “More countries have ratified the NPT than any other arms limitation and disarmament agreement, a testament to the treaty’s significance.” Only five countries are not party to the treaty: North Korea, South Sudan, India, Pakistan, and Israel. Currently, international data estimates that Israel has 80 to 90 nuclear warheads and has produced enough weapons-grade plutonium for up to 200. As we mark the anniversary of this important treaty, the Kumi Now community looks at the story of how the world came to know that Israel possessed nuclear weapons and examines what this means for Palestine and the region, so that together we can rise up.
Podcast: On the Ground for Palestine. On the Ground for Palestine is a weekly podcast to keep you updated on the news events and activism happening on the ground in Palestine and Israel. Each episode is short, less than 10 minutes, covering major stories from the past week, and is available as an audio-only podcast and as a video podcast. Our goal is to create something that is useful for activists for Palestine around the world.
