A Political Christmas
Christmas marks the birth of a king.
The words and deeds of Jesus centered on one overarching theme, ‘the kingdom of God.’ Kingdom language marked the opening and closing declarations of his ministry. He began with the announcement,‘ The time has come, the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.’ (Mark 1:15). After His resurrection and before ascending to the Father, he made the cosmos-altering claim, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…’ (Mt 28:18).
Jesus has come to bring his liberating rule to every sphere of human life- personal life, relational life, cultural life, economic life, psychological and emotional life, intellectual life, vocational life, racial life, national life, international life, (I could go on…) and political life. In the words of the Dutch Theologian, Abraham Kuyper, ‘There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’
If Jesus is Lord, then all of your life in this world matters. There are no separate ‘sacred’/’secular’ compartments for the follower of Jesus. It’s all spiritual ground. It’s all ‘kingdom-of-God territory.’
But here’s a caution- Jesus-style rule is radically counter to our culture’s way of ‘ruling.’ Instead of using power to win and to dominate, Jesus used power to rescue, redeem, to sacrifice and serve. And He called his followers to do the same.
‘Kingdom life’ is the theme of my Advent psalm (Psalm 72) today. Psalm 72 is a prayer for those in power, a prayer for how they choose to use their power in this world. (Here is a link to the prayer guide).
As with all the psalms, I warmly encourage you to take time to marinate on Psalm 72. This could be a powerful way to prepare for the King’s birth (Christmas Day). Slowly read the words of the psalm out loud. Try to listen to at least two different translations on the audio Bible. Ancient Hebrew poetry is verbal art. It beckons you to linger, to engage your imagination, to envision the rich palate of word-pictures and imagery (ex, ‘May the king’s rule be refreshing like rain on freshly cut grass..’ v. 6 NLT). But most of all, it invites you to grow your own prayers on the words of the psalm, as a vine grows on a trellis. Take time to pray this psalm for yourself and those in your world who hold positions of authority. Whether parents or pastors, or those who exercise authority in spheres of business, healthcare, the arts, government and education. May we all learn to live as ‘Jesus-style’ leaders.
I love these lyrics of the song, ‘Long Live the King’ from the Center for Worship Leadership (see YouTube video in psalm guide): There is a king who rides in the heavens; His coming lifts the eyes of the poor; For all the powers of their oppressor can hurt them no more; He is a king like no one before Him; His justice falls like rain on the hills; And all who live their lives with the hunger will have their fill… Humbled low in a manger; Lifted high on a tree; Rose, victorious Savior; Jesus Christ our King. (words by Paul Elliott and Kip Fox)
Finally, I want to introduce you to a wonderful psalm prayer resource. Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt have produced an two-volume set of prayer books based on the Psalms, by Baker Publishing:
Sheltering Mercy (based on Psalms 1-75)
Endless Grace (based on Psalms 76-150)
Here is a sample, from their prayer based on Psalm 72:
A Prayer for Those in Power
Father, may Your will be done by all those in power. In Your grace, open their minds to wisdom; their hearts to justice; their souls to mercy. May they lead with love, seeking your pleasure over riches or honor or the approval of others.
If they seek your face, favor will follow— blessing upon blessing; every need met by your faithfulness. Give them a heart for the downhearted; the crushed in spirit; the lonely and forgotten. Show them how to walk in your ways— seeking justice for the weak; befriending the friendless.
In the din of voices, may they hear yours above all, and know the wisdom bought by fear of you. Let them not depart from it; keep them rooted in truth: river trees in good soil, enduring for generations.
A godly leader seeks the good of the people; becomes a conduit for your grace. Where you are glorified, the hungry are fed; the guilty pardoned; the enslaved freed. May your kingdom be established in the earth! We see it in fleeting glimpse and shadow: signs of the eternal rest to come.
In this age of darkness, may righteous rulers abound, preparing the way for your eternal rule. Let those in peaceful power continually expand their boundaries, carrying the cup of mercy to the ends of the earth— from north to south, east to west.
When your kingdom comes, our games of conquest will come to an end. All knees will bend— all crowns relinquished; thrones abandoned. You and You alone, will reign.
Is it too much, Lord, to ask for justice before that day? For leaders who seek your will above all? Who value righteousness over reputation? Mercy over material things? Who seek the liberation of the oppressed? The nourishment of the hungry? The rescue of the captive?
The halls of power are filled with wickedness. Raise up the righteous to drive them out, and so establish a colony of your coming kingdom.
Bless them with health; honor; resources; may the prayers of the saints give them strength. In all that they do, may they flourish— cup filled to overflowing; all the needs of the people met; more than we could ask or imagine. Give us a glimpse of Your New Creation— a picture of peace; of true justice; of this violent world at rest at last.
If we are to celebrate the kingdoms of earth, let us celebrate those that have looked to you. May we remember the godly over the great; the magnanimous over the mighty.
For you are the true King— the God who rules and reigns over all. You alone are worthy of Praise. Honor. Adoration.
For this fractured earth will one day be covered with glory as the waters cover the sea. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. (source: Sheltering Mercy, pp. 223-225)
How might 2024 be different if God answered this prayer?
Artwork: ‘Yoruba (Nigeria) Nativity,’ by Father Kevin Carroll (1948).
