How Much Should We Focus on Politics?

(Note: Some parts of this post draw inspiration from a recent sermon by Jack Graham.)

As the first commandment states (Exodus 20:3, NLT)

You must not have any other god but me.

So if we focus our attention and passion on politics more than on God, then that's a problem.

But assuming we haven't gone that far, how much attention should we focus on politics? This is a difficult question, especially when politicians and courts pass laws or issue judgements that appear to have moral and/or spiritual implications.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks his disciples (verse 13, NLT),

Who do people say that the Son of Man is?

His disciples respond by repeating some of the theories floating around about Jesus: that he is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.

But then Jesus changes the subject. He asks (verse 15, NLT),

But who do you say I am?

I think the point of this passage is that, it is easy to get sucked into political debates, especially when those debates bleed into matters of faith. But the much more important concern is how we, as individuals, view matters of faith.

To Peter's credit, he gives the only answer that matters (verse 16, NLT),

You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

That's not to say that political issues aren't important. Certainly, peoples' lives are affected by what politicians do. But, in our prayers, let us first emulate Peter's focus before moving on to other matters.