Too many Christians have allowed political allegiance to their party to diminish their ability to grieve lost lives. When someone unjustly dies in this country (the USA), many Christians’ political affiliation has become justification rather than seeing and naming the tragedy of a life lost.
Very often, Christians, in the name of political affiliation, discard the value of human life. When Christians view humans through labels such as liberal, conservative, leftist, and rightist, they’ve not only done a disservice to themselves, but also to the witness of their faith.
When Christians lean into the motives, perspectives, and narratives of their party toward the opposing party, they begin to inch and leap away from the sacredness of seeing people as image bearers, thus making it hard to call out the injustices happening in our society. One Christian’s affiliated party may call the work they are doing good, while the other may see it as evil. Scripture reminds us to be aware and warns us when we begin to live out such hypocrisy.
Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“
As a society, we are losing our ability to properly grieve each life that is unjustly lost. The constant stream of media commentary on violence numbs us to the sacred worth of every person. One may wonder, is humanity even sacred at all?
2020, just six years ago, allowed many Christians to see the evidence and pain of injustice, and to feel and hear the pain of non-whites in this country. In 2020, while working remotely from home, spending hours slowing down from the hustle and bustle of work and extra-curricular activities, many Christians witnessed injustice firsthand and heard the pain of those who suffer. For a moment, we Christians seemed to recover our shared humanity and allow the scales of political idolatry to fall from our eyes.
From sharing social media posts to picking up books by authors of color to leaning into protests in our cities, Christians were taking action against injustice. Fast-forward six years to 2026: it feels like so much of the work toward a more inclusive, equitable, and just America is nothing but vapor.
The days of seeing, the days of hearing, the days of starting to believe what you see and hear for so many are gone. Perhaps I have been naive, and all along, the people I thought were beginning to get it never really took steps to remove their blinders.
These words from George Orwell’s 1984 speak powerfully to our current moment:
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” – George Orwell, 1984
There is a third way, a Kingdom politics that God is inviting Christians into. The invitations are for Christians to pledge their allegiance back to the party of the Lamb. To be disciples who do not allow the party of the donkey or elephant to influence their view of neighbor and to view EVERYONE, immigrant included, as their neighbor, projecting forth the image of God.
The Kingdom way is for followers to understand that God calls us over and over again in Scripture to welcome the foreigner/immigrant, to take care of the widow/orphan, people on the margins, and people who find themselves voiceless.
Will you today reclaim your allegiance?
Pray with me.
Lord, I repent for allowing politics to be my filter and an idol in my life. I repent of allowing politics to influence how I am called to live, lead, and love. Today, I join and pledge my allegiance back to You, Lord, back to the Party of the Lamb, and not the party of the donkey or the elephant.
My heart and identity belong to you, not in the labels of being a Republican, a Democrat, or any other political label. I will no longer be a pawn in a political game. I am a disciple of the Way, who will be known for my love rather than for all the things and people that I have been against.
Hear my prayer, ohLord!
Josh Samarco 