Politics and the Church
Last Friday at Amplify, we had Gavin White, one of the elders in King’s Church, talk to us about Politics and the Church. It was a really fun and interactive session that got us thinking about our roles as Christian in the society that we live in.
We started off with a quiz, with questions like ‘Who is the manager of Manchester City FC?’ and ‘Who is the lead singer of U2?’
The purpose of the quiz was to show that knowing the world around us and keeping up to date with current affairs is important in order for us to change it. We were encouraged to be like the men of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32 who ‘understood the times, and knew what Israel should do‘.
Gavin referred to the Parable of the Yeast in Matthew 13. As Christians, we are called to be like yeast that has an pervasive impact on our world (the dough/bread).
He also encouraged us with the fact that to make an impact on the world around us, we have to make contact. To reap the harvest, we have to be close enough to touch it. Therefore we are not to be taken out of the world (John 17:15) but we are to permeate it, infiltrate it, and change it.
We got into groups and talked about issues we are passionate about, how the church can address it and what we can practically do now to work towards it.
Many talked about child poverty, education, restoring families and immigration. We were encouraged to follow Jesus’s example of relating to the world, which is living a life of integrity and honesty, changing the hearts and minds of people around us and influencing society with truth and grace.
There was plenty of insight on what ‘right’ and ‘left’ means in politics, and Gavin also gave us a Politics 101 on what the three main British political parties represent. There was also a mock election where no one was allowed to abstain from voting.
I came away from the night learning that the gospel of Jesus Christ demands that we get involved in the life of society. We are to engage and change the world around us, not escape into our holy huddles, as prayer should fuel us into action.
Being radical is not the same as social rebellion, rather, it is to present a heavenly alternative to the world around us. Practical examples include washing the tea cups in the office, or not gossiping about the boss when everyone else is.
I was totally blessed by what Gavin shared, and encourage you to radically influence the area and culture God has placed you in.
Wan Phing Lim
