What’s Crackalakin Vessels,

I think today is a perfect day to post about something in Jesus’ character I am especially passionate about; his restraint in addressing the political climate of an oppressive Roman government.  Today the US is not oppressed by a monarchy and has an entirely different social structure/culture.  I feel truly blessed when I reflect on historical governments and the current democracy I participate in.  To compare Jesus directly to US politics is ignorant.  I say this with the acknowledgment that I also try to form Jesus around my vote.  I will be the first to admit my ignorance on political topics.

I am truly hard-headed on most things…except politics.  I wasn’t always this way and in order to fully express my belief on Jesus’ political standings, I owe yall some background. My moderate nature and ever-changing views can be attributed to Peabody family dinners and talking with my two best friends.  

Peabody dinners began expanding my views when my older sister started pursuing political science at UNC Chapel Hill in 2018.  Every weekend or holiday she visited would feature many family meals that were more of a show.  My mom, younger sister, and I would just sit back and enjoy as we watched my very conservative middle-aged father argue politics with his very liberal teen-adult daughter. My mom would try to get them to calm down and be nice, my younger sister would complain while asking to talk about something else, and I jumped in occasionally to poke at their debates even more.  Aside from the humor of my family dynamic, it has helped me consider many angles on various topics.  

My family has influenced my political views greatly; I would argue my friends have shaped them more.  Carolyn Gura would have no shame verbalizing her support for Trump.  Clayton Dowdle wears a t-shirt with Hillary Clinton riding a unicorn.  If you thought my family dynamic was strange, my best friends and I are even stranger.  The three of us were inseparable in our free time until we moved to study in different places (we are still best friends: thank you technology).  We did not make politics the topic of discussion as frequent as my family did but it would come up.  When it did it was always a polite debate with minor joking and never a hateful argument. Seeing politics discussed in a “civil” manner opened my mind to the acceptance of not placing myself in an extreme political box.  I found myself having my mind changed a lot.  Carolyn and Clayton are firm and passionate in their beliefs which I admire because they have helped me see both sides as well as learn what it looks like to put relationships above politics.  

Now that I have given you a background of my political influence, I want to talk about now.  When I think of current politics I think of social media.  Our president has various social media accounts and has communicated directly with Americans more than ever in our history.  A president on social media, as we have learned, is not the best idea.  Politicians have speech writers and campaign workers for a reason.  Aside from direct posting from the president, news now travels through social media the fastest, regardless of the source.  A big issue with this is the reliability of the “facts” and the exaggeration of most major events in attempts to gain more clicks and shares.  2020 has many events available for the click hungry news sources to exaggerate or present in a viral-worthy post that provokes 16-25 year-olds to share.  This year’s first-time voters are the most politically active in comparison to past election’s first-time voters. Why?

2020 has been a very politically draining year. The debate over science and safety protocol in the midst of a pandemic, long look at still present racism in society, increase in unemployment with a sudden drop in Americas once flourishing economy, a spike in poor mental health, lowered academic success due to online learning at all ages, and a supreme court appointment were all demanding political issues pilled on top of an election year.  No wonder there was a record turn out at the polls this year.  Young millennials and older gen z voters motivated each other through repost after repost.  I posted one political opinion on social media two years ago.  I have not posted my political views since because it changed my reputation from, Jesus freak to a _________ party member who is a Christian. 

In 2017 it was reported that about two-thirds of America’s population identify themselves as Christian regardless of denomination.  One of the US’s founding pillars was religious freedom for the protestant Christians.  Because of this many American traditions and historical writings have allusions and direct references to the Christian God. In the past few elections, the vote was not overwhelmingly won by one political party that had a consistent two-thirds of the voters.  This means that not all Christians share political party preferences.  Democratic government has led to an all-time high of the misuse of scripture and Christian faith in regards to political issues. Trump and Biden both claim to be Christians and they hate each other! My stomach turns every time I open social media and see a post bashing a political view all “in the name of Jesus”.  

Attention democrats, republicans, unaffiliates, and third party members: Jesus would not have been a member and candidate of your political party.

Don’t argue with me on that.  You can pick random scripture after random scripture to justify your party’s platforms but the character of Jesus Christ throughout the entire bible will not put him in a red or blue tie. Jesus separates himself from politics: Isaiah 42:1-4, Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 7:1-23; 12:13-17.  I don’t want to seem hypocritical in my quoting of scripture so allow me to clarify.  Those are 4 starting places to see (a) the character of Jesus as prophesied in the old testament and (b) it witnessed in the new testament.  I am not using them to argue a “side” to anything governmental, as I said above I don’t agree with that approach.  I have found these scriptures to help contextualize the absence of Jesus’ opinion on earthly governing authorities as part of the character of God.  Jesus is the; “king of kings”, “messiah”, “son of God” and much more as portrayed through titles used in the bible.  He was all of these things and yet was born into poor living conditions and did not care about the time period’s view on social class, wealth, government, and crime.  He went against all things that were earthly governing and socially acceptable.  This is the character of Jesus.  Jesus is God.  We are human.  If Jesus came for a visit (I’m not talking about Revelation’s depiction of Jesus’ return; let me stay hypothetical because I have no clue as to what the heck is going on in the book of Revelation) and was walking down the streets of Washington D.C. and you asked him who you should vote for I don’t know what he would say. I don’t know what his answer would be because he has the wisdom and divine power of God but, I do know he would not give you an American political party candidate.  I imagine he will come at you with a witty parable saying “hey silly that doesn’t even matter! You get to be a citizen in the kingdom of God with me!” and then we would all feel pretty stupid for asking Jesus what to bubble.

The jesus of 2020 is not Jesus Christ.  Jesus confronts all worldly views, governing laws, morals, and social conduct.  Jesus desires unity in the kingdom of God and a democratic party system does not embody that.  Jesus tells his disciples to continue paying taxes and to obey the roman law because although it wasn’t illuminating Jesus, It couldn’t come near to affecting the will and power of God. So why bother getting mad? Go cast a vote, study policy, follow presidents on social media, have a political opinion, but don’t put your vote on Jesus’ name. If we put a lawn sign on Jesus’ life then we’ve blocked out some of Jesus and put the power of our pen above the power of his salvation. News flash there are democrats and republicans in heaven.

May the Spirit prioritize itself in you,

A Vessel