This was published at Out of Ur blog; it is now edited for a new day.
Somewhere between 6pm and 8pm, Central Time, on November 2d, 2010, the eschatology of American evangelicals will become clear. If a Republican (or a Tea Party candidate) wins and the evangelical becomes delirious or confident that the Golden Days are about to arrive, that evangelical has an eschatology of politics. Or, alternatively, if Democrat wins and the evangelical becomes delirious or confident that the Golden Days are about to arrive, that evangelical too has an eschatology of politics. Or, we could turn each around, if a more Democrat oriented evangelical becomes depressed and hopeless because a Repub wins, or if a Republican oriented evangelical becomes depressed or hopeless because a Dem wins, those evangelicals are caught in an empire-shaped eschatology of politics.
I can’t imagine 1st Century Roman Christians caught up in some kind of hope whether it would be Nero or Britannicus who would succeed Claudius.
Where is our hope? To be sure, I hope our country solves its international conflicts and I hope we resolve poverty and dissolve our educational problems and racism. But where does my hope turn when I think of war or poverty or education or racism? Does it focus on my political party? Does it gain its energy from thinking that if we get the right candidate elected our problems will be dissolved? If so, I submit that our eschatology has become empire-shaped, Constantinian, and political. And it doesn’t matter to me if it is a right-wing evangelical wringing her fingers in hope that a Republican wins, or a left-wing evangelical wringing her fingers in hope that a Democrat wins. Each has a misguided eschatology.
Now before I take another step, it must be emphasized that I participate in the election; and I think it makes a difference which candidate wins; and I think from my own limited perspective one candidate is better than the other.
But before I take the next step I’ll say this: if our candidates lose won’t make one bit of a difference for our obligation to follow Jesus today. Not one bit.
Participation in our election dare not be seen as the lever that turns the eschatological designs God has for this world. Where is our hope? November 2 may tell us.
What I hope it reveals is that:
Our hope is in God. The great South African missiologist, David Bosch, in his book Transforming Mission impressed upon many of us that the church’s mission is not in fact the church’s mission but God’s mission. Our calling is to participate in the missio Dei, the mission of God in this world. So, at election time we can use the season to re-align our mission with the mission of God. Therein lies our hope.
Our hope is in the gospel of God. God’s mission is gospel-shaped. Some today want to reduce gospel to what we find in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, while others want to expand it to bigger proportions, we would do well at election time to re-align ourselves once again with the gospel as God’s good news for our world. Therein lies our hope.
Our hope is in the gospel of God that creates God’s people. God’s gospel-shaped mission creates a new people of God. In fact, the temptation of good Protestants to skip from Genesis 3 (the Fall) to Romans 3 (salvation) must be resisted consciously.
We need to soak up how God’s gospel-shaped work always and forever creates a gospel people. The first thing God does with Abraham is to form a covenant people, Israel, and Jesus’ favorite word was “kingdom” and Paul was a church-obsessed theologian-missionary. Herein lies the challenge at election time.
We are tempted to divide the USA into the good and the bad and to forget that the gospel has folks on both sides of political lines. Even more: we are tempted to think that the winners of the election are those who are blessed by God when the blessing of God is on God’s people. God’s gospel-powered mission creates a new people, the church, where we are to see God’s mission at work. Therein lies our hope.
Our hope is in the gospel of God that creates a kind of people that extends God’s gospel to the world. Chris Wright’s big book, The Mission of God, reminds us that election is missional: God creates the people of God not so the people of God can compare themselves to those who are not God’s people, but so that God’s people will become a priesthood in this world to mediate the mission of God, so that all hear the good news that God’s grace is the way forward.
Our hope is in God’s mission in this world, and that mission transcends what happens November 2d.
Well said. I appreciate the insight and perspective here.
Hi Dr. McKnight,
I’m an undergraduate student at Cedarville University in Ohio and I’d like to preface my comment by expressing my appreciation and enthusiasm for this blog. Thank you for all that you’re doing here and in your books.
I wanted to ask you a question. During the spring semester, I’ll need to write a senior seminar paper. I’m quite interested in Pauline studies and narrative theology. However, I’m having a hard time finding a concrete topic. Do you have any suggestions/guidelines as I go about this project?
Thanks!!
Amen! and Amen!
And we mainliners have an eschatology of politics as well.
I was just talking to a friend about how much of the hope of people in churches is based upon politics.
Great observations!
Scot, This is splendid.
It’s not an either-or. Elections matter and the lives of people around the globe hang in the balance of any election in the US.
I think it is perfectly appropriate for some of the people of God to be depressed about the outcome of an election without embracing an eschatology of politics. It is empathy with God’s creation that creates this sadness, not submission to a Constantinian mindset. It is facing and having a natural human response to reality. The follower of Messiah is not less a follower for seeing the handwriting on the wall and knowing that political decisions sometimes produce horrific and (depending on your perspective) senseless suffering. That the risk for this kind of suffering increases when one party is in power naturally produces an emotional response.
I respectfully dissent.
Well said, Scot, well said! We can vote, we can discuss which party is more or less Christian, but ultimately the answer for the redemption of the world has little or nothing to do with the political machinations of any nation but EVERYTHING to do with citizens of the Kingdom of God acting out that citizenship in their everyday lives. And even those citizens can do nothing for the good of the world without the lordship of Jesus and “fundamental transformation” of their spirits to be in line with the Holy Spirit. That is our hope and change.
It is a refreshing word and blessed my morning. Thanks Scot.
@Albion #7 – That is a good point. Obviously, elections had serious impact in 1930′s Germany. But even in that case, our ultimate hope should not be in the electoral process but in the “end of all things”. Even if a government is elected in that makes things worse, while it is bad in the short term, when considering eternity and the ultimate end where the Kingdom finally prevails, even that grief is short lived.
Robert: Agreed. It just seems that Scot is equating depression with hopelessness or conflating the two as if my hope in God is compromised if I care about politics.
In any event, I think our hope is sure but in this world, given matthew 25 and the kingdom work we have to do, I think it’s fine to tell Kingdom people that their depression or, for that matter their hope, is not a bad thing. Kingdom people don’t stand above it all with placid hearts. We can care about elections, and their impact, without taking our eyes off the prize, so to speak.
Thank you for this wonderfully pastoral-theological reminder!
I also love the non-individualistic language Scot intentionally uses: “creating a people” etc… Amen! My only comment is that while this reminder and warning is spot on, I suspect that there is also a temptation for Christians to misread a post like this and fall into a theology-does-it-all mindset. I’m not saying this post is saying that. What I’m saying is that I think there’s a temptation out there (especially among evangelicals) for a post like this to be read as a confirmation of a view of the world in which mundane work solving social, environmental, cultural, political, health and other structural problems is seen as just putting faith in “the wisdom of the world.” It seems such a temptation should also be continuously resisted. Again, I don’t think Scot’s post says this. I do however think that many Christian, theologians, and pastors (especially evangelicals) are tempted to think this way. While our theology should never be centrally about these things, at the same time shouldn’t our theology be broad enough to integrate meaningfully with the real issues in “worldly” fields such as public health, finance, governance, law, criminal justice, or art? I sense a strong temptation among theologians, pastors, and laity to actually answer “no” to this question in the process of rightly affirming God, faith, and theology central. A case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater?
After observing the spasmodic genuflection among the left re: Obama’s election two years ago, I am tempted to respond in kind. However, John Boehner just doesn’t get me there, so I’ll settle for a brisk round of “told you sos” and call it a Wednesday.
Good piece.
I voted a few minutes ago. I believe I did the right thing, but it surely required very little effort, commitment or soul-searching on my part. Aside from the research that went into deciding how to vote, all I did this morning was fill some lead into a little box on a piece of paper and hand it to an election worker. The problem with putting too much emphasis on the political aspect of our mission in the world is that it glorifies the least costly of all our attempts to improve the world. Next to an African-American minister in the 1960′s who is repeatedly thrown in jail for speaking out against racial oppression, I have done virtually nothing. Yes, there are big issues at stake in this election; but in terms of my personal life, my involvement is at the absolute low end of what it means to put forth effort on behalf of God’s Kingdom.
Good point.
However, while Paul’s prayer request in 1 Tim 2:1-4 that we might live quiet, peaceable, godly, holy lives is hardly a “Vote for Britannicus or we’re all doooooooomed!” slogan, I take it to imply a common-sense level of interest and prayer for current events.
albion,
We must have read different posts, as Scot clearly acknowledges the importance and place of the political process, even affirming his participation in it. He never suggests placidity or any such response. He point is clear: Too many Christians express their hopes & fears in ways that suggest this political process is the most significant reality instead of finding our hope in the Kingdom. It is not an all or nothing proposition- he acknowledges and affirms the place of the political in our lives.
Peace,
Jamie
Jamie: This is what I’m responding to: “if a more Democrat oriented evangelical becomes depressed and hopeless because a Repub wins, or if a Republican oriented evangelical becomes depressed or hopeless because a Dem wins, those evangelicals are caught in an empire-shaped eschatology of politics.”
I read this to mean that I have an empire-shaped eschatology of politics if I find the results of the election depressing. I reject that notion. I agree that Scot acknowledges the importance of the political process but, again, it seems to me he is contending that an emotional response to the election is verboten for the kingdom-shaped believer. I’m just not there.
Maybe another way to say it is that God’s mission to the world, for an American believer living in the greatest aggregation of political and military power in the world, includes participation in the structures of power as a follower of Jesus. After all God created these structures and we can hope that changes in law, rules and regulations can alleviate the suffering of “the least of these” in this country and around the world. So I have no “hope” in a political party per se, but I can work for the things that God cares about within those structures as well as without. And mourn when things go south.
It seems like a small point but I think it’s significant.
I’ve been writing on this at my blog all week. And I concluded today with a post very similar to this one. I think Christians should vote with the goal of limiting evil and promoting good, but we should not put our trust in government to be the solution to the problem.
http://www.studyyourbibleonline.com
@Albion – I think must of the commentors appreciate and agree with the position you’re raising. However, I think you’re probably taking too tough a line on a statement that could be more nuanced (had to get that word in for a discussion about politics!). I think you’re both saying the same thing.
Excellent post Scot, thank you. Thank you also to Michael Hochstetler who puts all of this into perspective. The people who get emotionally involved in elections need to engage that passion tomorrow to do what God has called them to do in their community.
ABSOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY FANTASTIC! Thanks, Scott. Well said!
Great post, Scot!!! Sorry, Albion, but to the degree that you will be depressed (or rejoice) tonight, you have an empire-shaped eschatology of politics.
Now in the spirit of “sin boldly”, GO MY SIDE!
Interesting, I was just talking to a friend at work who is not yet a US citizen. Eventually, he will have dual citizenship. There are privileges to his citizenship in the country of his birth but he is fond of the opportunities here for him and his family. I so appreciate the physical reminder that believers are citizens of a different kingdom (as a Robert @8 also said). We care about this place and we try to be good citizens but our hope has to do with our OTHER citizenship.
Great post! I referenced this in my post on the elections today: http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=hope-beyond-the-election-polls. You said it better than I could, Scot.
I’ve been thinking similar thoughts this past year, getting so frustrated with both political parties. Thank you for your perspective.
What a wonderful post, Scot! One of your best. The church needs to voice this message again and again. Our hope is in the Gospel not in the result of political elections. Thank you!
This is so true! Thank you for articulating my own thoughts so clearly.
albion, I believe Scot’s use of “depressed” and “hopeless” put things in stark terms. Both terms, understood literally, are (in my opinion) describe responses that make Scot’s statements stand true.
As to God’s part in creating the structures you are describing, let’s not go there. (wink) I see your point and acknowledge it, though ultimately disagree with it. Thanks for explaining.
Peace,
Jamie
@albion, @Jamie, @anyone involved in the thread that is more interesting/revealing to me than the original post by ScotMcKnight…..
Wow…I didn’t vote and justified to myself that “i don’t know enough about the candidates” and “no one truly stands for God anyway, they all have their own evil little motives”. Seems like this guy Albion MAY be the only guy who is catching the Divine vibe in this election…..that maybe God DOES care about “the least of these” (I’m sure all of us christians feel the same). What do I know?
i geuss my “respectful dissention” was by NOT voting….maybe I’m agreeing with “Scot” in doing (or NOT doing) so. I could go on and on but this hole is deep enough.
Amen, Scot! Needed words.
Thanks for the response Jamie. I’ll defer to your wisdom on the structures issue. : ) There is a false dichotomy in Scot’s post that Jason at #12 is getting at. It’s obvious enough to me but I’m beating a dead horse. Blessings.
albion, I think Jason (#12) points out a very real risk (though not inherent to Scot’s position). Interestingly, I wonder if the very thing Scot is talking about contributes to what Jason is talking about. At any rate, thanks for engaging!
Peace,
Jamie
I loved Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore sanity last week, and agreed with much of what he represented. (“take it down a notch”). Christian Conservatives painted him as politically liberal (I’m certain he is, personally), but the rally itself wasn’t overtly so. Liberals likely shrunk back at Jon’s comments that Tea Party members weren’t actually racists, and Juan Williams shouldn’t have been fired.
But all that to say that, for a raging moderate, there’s also similar potential for a misplaced eschatology. It’s this: if we can all get along, the world will be a better place. Hope will come.
I loved the message. Jon had Cat Stevens playing “Peace Train” (and for fun Ozzy Osbourne playing “Crazy Train.”)
But it also struck me as a message completely devoid of real Gospel Hope. The eyes of the gospel know that sin has fundamentally broken our ability to receive and give, and that the death and life and spirit of Christ is the only power to do otherwise. Hope is there, not in moderate “be nice-ness”