Politics is important only because it affects so much of our daily lives.

Yet I despise when people use their faith or scripture to make political points, as if faith and politics should be in concert with one another. Partners if you will.

Jesus said to give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. (Mark 12;17)

Jesus never said we are to create Heaven on earth. That’s his job when he returns.

While he was here in human form, he never criticized the current government. I can think of three reasons for this:

1. He knew the Roman Empire’s days were numbered. Its downfall was inevitable—as are all other governments and empires—so there was no point to speak against it.

2. He was already despised by the religious leaders. So much so, they sought to murder him. He exercised wise prudence by avoiding the wrath of Rome on top of it.

3. Jesus came to Earth to die, to save our immortal souls from God’s judgement. He came to build a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one. At least for now.

When people focus on politics over God, what they’re really doing is focusing on themselves, their ideologies, and righteousness. They’re not teaching; they’re lecturing, and don’t you dare disagree lest you be deemed a heretic.

They are like the Pharisees who paraded around in public to show how much better they were than everyone else, possessed with a special knowledge and intelligence everyone else lacked.

Am I being too harsh, perhaps even overly judgmental? After all, shouldn’t our government treat people fairly and with compassion?

Absolutely, and scripture does say we should get involved: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)

But when it comes to preaching or teaching about Jesus, Jesus and spreading the Good News to the broken and lost should be our singular focus, not how politicians and governments are failing at living up to our “Christian” standards.