Kingdom First

Introduction

Question: Have you during this past year (or ever) looked at what someone says or does and say something like, “He (or she) acts that way because that’s what he really is and who he really is? She behaves that way and maybe even believes that way because it’s who she is on the inside.

But when it comes to ourselves, we might say something like, “I did this or said that because of my circumstances.”

I hate to be late to anything and like to start things on time. I’m early. When I work with people who tend to be late, it would be easy form me to say, that person is disorganized, doesn’t care about the others he or she is making wait on them. If this is you and the times you or I happen to be late - or even forget a meeting - how often do we say to ourselves: “The problem is, I’m disorganized and don’t care about the people I just left hanging?”

No. We might say, the reason I’m late is a meeting ran over, I was on a call. Traffic was heavy.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The fundamental attribution error/bias happens when we assume that a person's actions reflect what kind of person they really are, what kind of person she is.

A cognitive bias that we have all been sucked into, especially during a political season

So when it comes to the political scene, this is what it sounds like, "The corrupt Democrats. You know why they act that way? They want to take away your freedoms and control you. That's their character. They're all corrupt." Well, clearly, something's wrong with these people, right? Something's wrong deep on the inside, right? The Democrats are all socialists. I mean, we know they are.

"The heartless and racist Republicans, you know why they act that way? You know why they believe that way? Because I've met all of them. I've done research. I know every single Republican is heartless and racist." They won't admit it, right? You're not gonna admit they're racist, but we know they're racist. We can see their hearts, every single one of them.

No, you've all been sucked into this cognitive bias.

Political rhetoric feeds this; it draws us in and leads us into saying all kinds of silly things and believing all kinds of silly things that just aren't true.

And you're better than that, and I'm better than that, so let's just not do that anymore but understand and identify that when we or someone we know falls into this trap we can say "You know, you're suffering from a cognitive bias."

When we list out things that are bad or the bible would call sin, Cognitive bias might not make our list. However, Galatians 6 tells us otherwise.

Galatians 6:1–6 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

“I’m not overspiritualizing...

Even if someone is caught doing something wrong - Sin - word here is overtaken; either to be caught or trapped.

You who are the spiritual "party" must set that person to rights in a gentle, humble, way.

If you think someone who doesn’t see the political landscape the way you do is doing something wrong, being overtaken, caught or trapped and you're being spiritual by trying to set someone “right”- that's not it.

The “it” is when we assume someone’s character by the political party he or she is in, they way someone votes, etc. Right now, that is dividing our nation, states, communities, neighbors, friends, and family. And it’s a big deal. Paul called it sin.

Calling it out is a tricky process so watch yourself. Temptations might be: assuming you have the whole picture when you don't; assuming their situation; assuming you are morally right and; making the other person an enemy.

Choosing to Carry Someone’s Burden

Paul: You who claim a superior spirituality/morality prove it by acting spiritually/morally

Here's how to do it: First, before saying a word - listen, learn about the other person’s burden, pick up part of it and carry it with them.

When Jesus minded people choose and we have to choose to carry someone's burden, do you know what we do? We listen, we learn and we lean in.

Jesus minded people love which looks like this: carry their heavy load; their pain point, their grief. This takes us below the behavior to the heart.

Then there’s this:

Restore that person gently. NOT, convince them to think or vote like you.

Keep an eye on them. look out for them and care for their well being. Idea of mending nets.

Put another way: shouldering a load of responsibility and care; I've got your bag. This is love.

When we choose to carry somebody's burden, what divides us diminishes and what unites us surfaces.

Unwrapping Political Ideologies from the Teachings of Jesus

The error isn't in who they vote for, the error is in allowing ourselves to be divided over political parties.

Jesus is the King Who Came to Reverse the Order of Things

We cannot be a party first people

We cannot be known for being left or right ore more republican or democrat.

The question every follower of Jesus has to face and answer is Are we willing to put our faith filter ahead of our political filter?

Christ follower/his kingdom first

Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, independent second

We must be Kingdom people who use our influence to influence the party

We do the world a huge disfavor when we wrap our political ideologies with the teaching of Jesus, and everybody tries to do this.

Jesus did not come to be a footnote to a political platform. He did not come to support an existing structure.

He didn't come to take sides, He came to take what? Take over.

I’ve heard many say this election is a choice between the lesser of two evils. When forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, you still have to call out the evil.

When forced to choose between two imperfect candidates, two imperfect platforms and imperfect planks within the platform, we have to call out those imperfections. And not for our sake, and not even for a party's sake, for the world's sake.

What if we joined a political party not because we agree with it but out of calling to call out its imperfections and help transform it for the sake of the world?

Culturally Disruptive Unity

Early Christians began to reshape the world because they refused unconditional loyalty to the emperors, even the good ones.

And in doing so, they moved the ethical and the moral needle for an empire that honored and was organized around citizenship, and wealth and power, where people purchased their way up the ladder and purchased their way to social standing. And do you know how they did it?

They had the audacity to believe the clear message of Jesus: I've come to establish a new kind of kingdom and everyone is invited to participate in it. Andy Stanley calls this culturally disruptive unity which is summarized in these words:

Galatians 3:28 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

It might be a little hard for us to imagine how disruptive even Paul’s words in this passage were. What seems clear to us wasn’t so clear to the people in the first century.

We often read right over 'em like, "Yeah well duh yeah." but these were show-stoppers. This was like, "What?" There is neither Jew nor Gentile, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, no that's not how it works. He's our God. Wait, wait, wait, we're sharing God? Classes of people whose circles rarely overlapped came together voluntarily and regularly to worship the crucified God

This is very appealing and it shocked the world. It brought the world a humane value system where the dignity of women was restored and morally reprehensible practices such as slavery were eradicated.

It also means this: there is neither democrat or republican, or libertarian or independent...

This is why it would be so Foolish for any local church or any group of churches or the church in general, to ever be divided over political issues, or a political party because those parties will one day be over and Jesus will still be the king.

Let’s Do What the Early Church Did

Listen, learn, love

Vote our Christ informed conscience (what we’re for)

More importantly, shoulder each other’s burdens

Understand where they sit.

Bear own load - individual responsibility to bear one another's burdens.

And when you help me carry my burden, I get a better understanding of where you sit and consequently where you stand.

We may never agree politically but we can love unconditionally, because we'll gain a better understanding of each other.

And even if we never understand each other, and even if we never agree, BUT if we carry one another's burdens, do you know what we do? We do the most important thing, we are the true church living and loving in the way of Jesus

Let me say it another way - and this is maybe the most culturally disruptive idea in our time:

You do not have to understand me or agree with me to love me. And I do not have to agree with you or even understand why you view things the way you do to love you.

We can disagree politically, love unconditionally, and together, work for unity.

So let's do this. follow the king who turned everything upside down. So let's listen. Let's learn. Let's love. And together we can be part of the work of God to restore and unite our communities, the nation and the world.