We can do better than "rising above" politics

some thoughts on our excuses to disengage

Last week I reflected a bit on a title Jesus is given in the book of Revelation: the all-ruling one. I wrote about some of the things I do and don’t think that means, particularly in our current US election season.

This week, I have a couple more thoughts on it.

In addition to using the idea of Jesus or God as all-powerful to claim that God anoints particular rulers whom we should then support forever no matter what—I wonder, also, if people of faith sometimes use this idea as an excuse to disengage from the political process. To “rise above” the discussions and debates. To stay out of it, because God’s our ruler anyway, so what does it matter whom we elect to earthly office?

But I don’t think people of faith are meant to try to rise above politics. Because the reality is that we aren’t above politics. No one is above politics. 

We are all deeply impacted by the outcomes of our elections. Our communities are deeply impacted. People of color, women, queer and trans people, people living in poverty are all especially deeply impacted. 

And our world—our beloved Earth, who struggles to sustain herself and us, and against whom we continue to do violence—she is deeply impacted by it. And when she is sick, we are all sick.

Whether we vote, and who we vote for, will make a difference for her — and so for our collective future as humans. / Photo by NASA on Unsplash

When I was in college, one campus minister declared, memorably, “Jesus isn’t from the Left or the Right, he’s from above!”

At the time, it was a helpful reframing for me. Because at the time, I associated Christianity with the Republican Party. I may not have put it quite this way, but part of me definitely believed that Jesus was from the Right.

(Which is not even remotely true. It’s just what I picked up from the loudest Christian voices on the internet when I was a teenager.)

Now, I see “Jesus isn’t from the Left or the Right, he’s from above!” as complicated. I’m nervous about it being used as an excuse to disengage. And disengagement is not what we need right now. 

So, those are some thoughts for those who want to “rise above earthly concerns” this election season. 

I also have some thoughts for those who resonate less with the “we don’t need to engage politically because people of faith are above politics” mindset and more with the “both parties are the same because both support genocide” thought. 

For anyone in that camp – I hear you. I resonate with you. I feel what you’re feeling.

And I wonder: Would you consider reading Melissa Florer-Bixler’s piece “Voting for more tools in my toolbox” and telling me what you think? She’s a lovely and thoughtful Anabaptist writer, and I really liked her take on voting for politicians who can be moved by left organizing. 

“When I vote,” Florer-Bixler writes, “I think about who offers me more leverage to shift the powers, however provisional, towards the world I want to see come into being.” 

I think this is powerful. We may not like where either party is at now. But which leaders might listen? Which leaders might change in the directions we want to see them change?

In a similar vein, I deeply appreciated

Marcie Alvis Walker

’s questions in this thoughtful Instagram post, directed toward parents of undecided Gen Z-ers. Some of Alvis-Walker’s questions:

• “If a war breaks out, who do you want to be in charge?⁣”

• “Who do you think would best protect your right to vote?”

• “Who do you think could possibly change their stance on Gaza? Who’s most likely to make things worse for Palestinians? Who’s most likely to welcome Palestinian refugees? Who would most likely keep them from entering our country?”

Some things to think about.

So, how about you? Have you seen God’s all-ruling-ness used as an excuse to disengage politically, and what would you say to that? Have you heard other reasons people have for disengaging politically, and what would you say to those reasons? I’d love to hear.