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People often ask why I don’t talk more about politics. I know that political subjects are the fertilizer for most media likes and subscribers, but have you ever asked yourself “Why?” Our world is completely infatuated with politics. Politics is the world’s biggest religion. Even world religions bow and prostrate themselves before the State and its éxousian-authority.

In our present political climate, we’ve lost the ability to see ourselves in others. Each political team is a “conglomerate of tribalism” who are entrenched (over-identified) with one or two key issues. Americans “feed” on algorithms where we simultaneously consume while being consumed by one side of the discussion. We are the snake eating its tail. Quick test here: If the news makes us really happy or really angry, then we’ve lost something of ourselves, and taken the mark (pseudonym) of political power.

We must deconstruct our politics and recover how each person lives a different life. Our personal goals shouldn’t be divorced from our societal goals, but they are. Assumptions and feelings replace facts about how a society functions, and we vote for representatives who uphold our interests. I hope you see the depth dimension behind it all…the philosophies, ideas, and doctrines, spawning our political ethos or pathos. As we are seduced into the lies and our own falsehood, the beast grows by convincing both sides to hate the other. Jesus correctly identifies the persona behind politics and power of religion and State, the two powers that put him on the cross.

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

“Also it (the Beast) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.” (Revelations 13:16-17)

I’m not using this text in the common pre-millennial, pre-trib eschatological sense. I don’t interpret the Bible by the evening news. Those who do are propagandists who fear mongering on behalf of the religious industrial complex. My audience understands these texts to primarily be historical (learn more HERE) while also recognizing they’re invaluable metaphors for the depth dimension of life. We cannot find freedom in who we are in God without first understanding the principalities and powers who are our captors. For example:

Who can claim the above passage doesn’t reveal universal truth about the power of the State? The reason doomsday preachers get this wrong is by insisting the Bible applies exclusively to a future date (the ‘very soon’ fallacy of dispensationalism’s “end times” doctrines), instead of seeing the beast as universally metaphorical for all governments throughout human history. Yes, historically Revelations is describing Ancient Rome, but the truth about Satan’s éxousian then, is also true now. Once we recognize how this timeless ‘beast‘ governs “how we think” (mark on forehead), and “what we do” (mark on hand), then we realize how over-identified we are with it, proudly bearing it’s name, forfeiting ourself. If politics éxousian rules us from our place of identity, we can know we live a delusion.

We are NOT republicans…or democrats…and very few are true independents (most are in just relabeled republicans or democrats.) We ARE the image bearers of God. We ARE the Beloved. We forsake our true identity when we align with makers or takers. All political divides fall on these lines, but we are all both. These are two paths of being oblivious. I laughed watching the Pope wrestle with the politics of abortion and immigration…there is no middle road to destruction, only a superhighway.

The correction is fixing our faith. Faith cannot be in our government, nor a political party. Like all previous authorities, freedom comes via subversion. We cannot overpower this power. Every protest is the delusion that overpowering is possible. We must withdraw our faith in the State and repatriate faith in God in order to regain our selves and society. Christ following (not religion) mandates we love our enemies, not hate them.

Social media loves appealing to God or the Bible if they feel it justifies one’s politics. These are the most delusional of all. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8). Contemporary religion is not helpful. The business of religion is the great prostitute straddling the Beast (Revelations 17:3), she has dominion over the Kings of earth. So no, our goal isn’t Christian nationalism, nor bible rejecting liberalism. Your priest, Imam, Pastor, or Guru is no more help to you than the Sanhedrin was to Jesus. We don’t want a “Christian nation” where religion serves a political end. We seeking a kingdom, led by Christ followers.

God’s kingdom is obtained by serving, and divesting of power. We bring excellence and service to the world and forsake ourselves for others (Philippians 2:7). “Not my will.” We are not here to selfishly or irresponsibly plunder the world on our appetites. That political ethos leads to personal, societal, and ecological ruin. We are to serve one another, build one another up, learn from one another and make a society that is just for all people, in concert with creation. We must not forsake those in need, but have compassion. We cannot glean our fields to the edges. We cannot mistreat those who labor with us. Yet everyone is required to work, contribute in service to others. If a person won’t work, neither shall he eat. We are to pay our taxes, but tax collectors are not to extort. The kingdom of God is governed by the love of God working in the heart of each person. Society is redeemed from the inside out through freedom and love, not captivity and hatred.

“Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servantand, whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

If you’re skeptical, I understand. Cynicism is the fruit of captivity. May I offer this? Our world is only too far gone to the degree that we remain over-identified with our politics. Once we realize that we don’t live in distinction to everyone and everything and instead learn that each of us are the very means by which God has come into the world, then we need only manage the sphere in which we are placed. A free person who knows who they are in God, can love others as themselves, will forsake authority for influence, and joins in the restoring of all things. Only God has the authority, power, and means to do that.

“He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelations 21:5)