From the very moment of their creation, humans were intended to rule. In Genesis 1 God speaks to humanity and says to them “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God created humans to glorify Him through ruling His creation well.
In spite of the fall and our own sinfulness, God is still committed to that plan. At the very end of the Bible, in Revelation 22, we see God’s people dwelling with Him in a universe made right, and in verse 5 we read something incredible: “They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
They will reign forever. Redeemed humanity will fulfil its original purpose: to rule and reign over creation with Jesus. But if the purpose of humanity is to rule and reign, what does it look like to rule well? That question sits at the heart of politics; politics is the art of ruling well. And if that is what God created us for, it should come as no surprise to us that God is immensely interested in and has a great deal to say about our politics.
Working for the wellbeing of creation
Digging a bit deeper, God is interested in our politics because He loves the world he has created. Whether it’s the students at our university, the population of our country, or the natural world, the way that we rule and the policies we set will have a tremendous impact on the people and world God created and loves.
We see this in Biblical history, the kind we find in books like 1 & 2 Kings. It is not a coincidence that the pinnacle of the Old Testament, where God’s people are secure, happy, and close to God, coincides with the reign of Solomon, the king who ruled with God-given wisdom. As the book of Proverbs puts it “By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.” Good rulers work for the wellbeing of God’s world.
Think of the life of an individual. They will be born into a family, into a community, into a society, all of which are shaped by the government. Will their family receive state support to raise them, and if so, what kind of support will that be? To what extent will their life be shaped by the poverty or wealth of the family or community they are born into? Will they receive a state education? Would their family be permitted, or even encouraged, to educate them at home?
Then as they grow into adulthood, what are they permitted to do, or not do, within the confines of the law? What are they encouraged to do, or not do, through tax incentives or further education provision? And if they have a crime committed against them, or have a medical issue, or have a pothole on their road, will the government intervene, and if so, how? All of these are political questions.
So when you as a politics student are studying theories of government, or wrestling through the intricacies of macroeconomic policy, or weighing up the merits of different approaches to producing legislation and balancing the different branches of government, these are not abstract questions with no relation to the heart of God. No - the answers to these questions will shape the lives of the people God loves, and the state of the world He created and entrusted to us.
Worshipping the God we work for
However, studying politics isn’t just about shaping God’s world for the better. As we see in Genesis 1, human rulership in the world is an image, a picture, of divine rulership over all creation. That means that when human beings engage in rulership and in politics, they are reflecting their role as image bearers. Every instance of political rulership, good or bad, is either a pointer to, or a distortion of, the perfect rule of God over His creation.
Of course, God’s image is supremely displayed in Christ – as we are made in the image of God, so Christ is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). And therefore the perfect display of leadership is found in the King of Kings, who shows us that power is given not to dominate others but to seek their good. When we see humble politicians, who truly live out what it means to be a “public servant”, we are pointed beyond them to the Suffering Servant, who humbled Himself to death on a cross in the service of all humanity, and is now enthroned at the right hand of the Father.
When we see foolish or imprudent politicians, whose poor decisions have disastrous consequences for their people, we are reminded that though we may have foolish earthly rulers, our heavenly ruler is perfect in His knowledge and wisdom, and governs His universe for the good of His people and the glory of His Name.
When we see compassionate politicians, who care deeply about the suffering of the least fortunate or most vulnerable in their society, we are pointed beyond them to Jesus, the King of Kings, who wept at the tomb of Lazarus, ate with tax collectors and sinners, healed the sick and proclaimed good news to the poor.
When we see corrupt politicians who ignore injustice in their society, or abuse their power for their own personal gain, we are reminded that though we may have sinful earthly rulers, our heavenly ruler is Holy, Holy, Holy, the Righteous One, who always does good, because He is the source of Goodness itself.
That means that as we study politics, we can constantly look at the leaders of earthly societies and say either “Lord, I am so glad that You are not like them” or “Lord, I am so grateful that they are like You”. Studying and engaging in politics leads us to worship as we consider what it means to rule well and come to recognise God for the uniquely good and gracious King He is.
Witnessing to the world
But studying politics doesn’t just point us to God and His goodness. It helps us to see the world around us and its many problems, reminding us that all is not as it should be. And in doing so, it fills us with a desire for something better.
Take human political leaders as an example. Whether we are followers of Jesus or not, we are all familiar with feelings of frustration when our political leaders fail us. This sense of frustration reveals something about us; that we long for perfect political leaders, who are always wise, just and compassionate in their decisions. Yet the more we study, the more we find that no earthly politician can satisfy this longing. All of us long for a ruler that the world, apart from God, cannot supply.
However, that desire does not stop at political leaders. We long not only for good politics, but for the polis, the city, the society that good politics will bring about. We long to inhabit a society free from injustice, from poverty, from division, disease and death. Yet as we study political history, and all the elections, revolutions and constitutions it contains, we find that though some were better than others, none of them brought about the perfect society we long for. All of us long for a “better city”, as Hebrews 11 puts it, one that can only be built by God.
In this way, the study of politics stirs up the longings of both Christian and non-Christian for the perfect society, brought about by the perfect ruler. As followers of Jesus, we get to point those around us to the good news that this society is on its way. King Jesus will bring the perfect Kingdom, which all who repent and believe can enter!
However, the good news is not just in the future. Jesus announces at the start of his ministry:
“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The perfect future society, governed by the perfect ruler, has broken into the present through Jesus and all who are united to Him. As Peter Leithart puts it, “God's city renews the cities of men”. In and through His people, the politics of heaven is breaking into the politics of earth. This is why believers both inside and outside of politics pray “Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” Wonderfully, we get to invite our friends who don’t yet know Jesus to join the kingdom of the perfect King, and become agents of His renewal throughout the kingdoms of man!
Conclusion
Why then should Christians be excited about studying politics?
Studying politics, and aspiring to shape policy, is a chance to bring about the wellbeing of individuals, societies and the whole world that God created and loves. Studying politics offers us an opportunity to reflect on the goodness and wisdom of God’s rule, and the character that His rule reveals. Studying politics offers us an opportunity to point our fellow students to the perfect ruler and society we all long for. And wonderfully, studying politics is an opportunity to invite our friends into the Kingdom of the Servant King, into the Heavenly City that renews the cities and societies of earth.
We were created to rule with God over his creation, and in Christ this is what we will spend eternity doing. That means that as we study politics, we are both doing what we were first created for, and practicing for eternity; what could be more exciting than that?
Reflect and discuss
Think: Think back over what you have studied so far in your degree. Where have you seen God's fingerprints? Where have ideas presented to you challenged what you believed to be true?
Live: What do you think your coursemates would know about what is important to you from the way you live? Is there anything you want to change here?
Speak: Are there topics in your subject that are closer to talking about your outlook on life, God or the gospel? Pray for people on your course and for opportunities to share about Jesus with them this term.
Taking it further
- Politics Network Resources
- CARE (Christian Action Research and Education)
- Good News for the Public Square, Timothy Laurence
- Political Thought - A Student's Guide, Hunter Baker
- The air we breathe, Glen Scrivener
