Rise Above the Fray. We Are Citizens of the Kingdom of God

I’ve been a political Centrist almost all my adult life. I believe it is a good place for Christians to be. Why? Because Christians have more important work to do than fight with others over politics, economics, or social trends, no matter how abhorrent these ideologies may be.

History has demonstrated that countries come and go. There is nothing exceptional about any of them except Israel. And, as we know, it shuffled off the human stage several times before it was restored, most recently in 1948. A Christian giving more than secondary allegiance to any nation is like lashing yourself to a sinking ship.

Yet, the Kingdom of God is permanent, and Christians are citizens of it. Individuals can choose to live by Kingdom principles now, and that’s a good thing. Yet, it is foolhardy to think any political party, activist group, or religion can create the Kingdom of God, with perfect righteousness and justice, here on earth. Many have tried, and all have failed.

According to the Bible, the Kingdom of God will be fully realized only after the end of the world and the final judgment (Revelation 11:15) when Jesus Christ is present to rule and reign. We can do nothing to hurry it along.

Political action and social activism focus on power and money grabs. They want to change the system to something they think will be better. Christians understand change starts when individuals realize they have sinned against a holy God and need redemption. Spiritual transformation must come before social institutions can change.

Bible-believing Christians are in an existential holding pattern. What can we do while we’re waiting to land? One is to be standoffish about political and social agitation. We have other fish to fry, and that is reaching all factions for Christ. Being a Centrist helps achieve that end.

What is a Centrist?

What is a Centrist? It is someone who is not on the far Left or far Right of the political spectrum. We get our values from the Bible, not the flavor-of-the-month political ideology. This graphic shows how I see the political and social landscape today.

As you see, you can register with any of the well-known parties, but your values make the difference. Centrists seek the Common Good, not power based on class, race, creed, economics, geography, or any other status. It insists on a playing field that is as level as possible considering the unregenerate minds of the players.

Political polarization signals an unregenerate mind, and that mindset is a growing problem. People are becoming more entrenched in their political and social views and less willing to listen to or engage with those who hold different opinions. This kind of polarization is harmful. As we see every day, it leads to increased division, animosity, and violence.

The Centrist position should never be equated with being “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:15-16) or being “wishy-washy.” It is the polarization of extreme positions that crushes freedom. We believe God has a better way of handling differing views: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18).

Let’s see how Christians can bring about change that honors the Lord.

The Political Left

Classically, Left-wing views were associated with a commitment to social justice, equality, and individual freedoms. Left-leaning politicians tend to advocate for policies that support these values, such as progressive taxation, social welfare programs, and protections for marginalized groups. The Left also tends to prioritize the environment, education, and healthcare and often advocates for policies that support these areas.

These are noble ideals. They only become toxic when manipulated by the Marxist-Progressive fringe, which is now dominating classical Liberal political thinking.

Today, the Left is dominated by Marxist-Progressives. They are fringe extremists by any definition. Classical Leftists now seem like Reagan Republicans by comparison.

Some critics of Left-leaning policies say Liberals hurt society more than they help. They argue that they create a dependency on the government, discourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and can even harm the economy. For example, some economists argue that high taxes can stifle economic growth and that overly generous social welfare programs can create a disincentive to work.

The Marxist-Progressive fringe is typically anti-religion. They have taken Christianity out of the marketplace of ideas and seldom miss an opportunity to belittle Christian values. They typically embrace secularism, humanism, and hedonism at the expense of a lawful and economically stable society.

Perhaps one of the greatest faults of Leftists is that they think “justice” is possible on this earth. They feel they can bring in the Millennium by their good works. Evangelical Christians know that is an imprudent idea.

True justice is only found in Christ and his Kingdom. Justice, equality, and equity are all illusions. The “justice” that allows a man to transition to a woman steals the justice of fair competition between women athletes. The “justice” in allowing minority races to get the best education is stolen by school administrators who suppress the achievements of others.

The Political Right

The Right-wing spectrum is just as broad as the Left-wing. They have political and social leaders who have sound ideas, yet they also have their fringe as well, such as those who unrelentingly believe in conspiracy theories.

Right ideology is often associated with a commitment to individual freedoms, personal responsibility, and traditional values. Right-leaning politicians tend to advocate for policies that support these values, such as low taxes, free markets, and limited government regulation. The Right also tends to prioritize issues such as national security, law and order, and the protection of individual rights.

The typical person on the Right seeks stability. They want to live peaceful, prosperous lives and want their children and grandchildren to benefit from an orderly society.

One drawback of the political Right is that their policies are falsely perceived as exclusive or discriminatory towards certain groups. For example, some Right-leaning policies have been criticized for exacerbating income inequality, neglecting the environment, and limiting access to healthcare and education for marginalized groups.

Critics also argue that some Right-leaning policies can be harmful to individual rights. People on the Right know these claims are mostly untruthful political rhetoric. The Right indeed needs to be more open-minded in some areas, but they must reject wholesale accusations.

The greatest weakness of all Conservatives is resistance to change. Yet, we must objectively consider the pros and cons of ideas different from our own.

I broke out of that intellectual mind trap when one of my university professors, Dr. Glen Adams, reminded our history class, “We are liberal in the areas where we want to see change; conservative in areas where we fear change will hurt us.” We can all smile as we realize that even conservative congregations want liberal givers.

Christians are more likely to be on the Right-wing, especially when they are Bible-believing people. That poses the problem of Christian Nationalism, which we must all reject.

I am a proud American, but I do not mix that with my faith in Christ. No flag and cross for me. They are separate. The Bible ultimately judges my allegiance since I am, first and foremost, a citizen of the Kingdom of God. My votes go to those candidates in the American Republic who uphold Kingdom values.

Centrism Bridges the Gap

One way to bridge the divide between these two positions is through a Centrist position. Centrism is the political position that lies between the Left and Right and advocates for a balance between political, social, and economic policies. Centrists often believe that government should play a role in promoting social welfare and fairness while also supporting free markets and individual freedom.

One potential benefit of Centrism is that it can reduce political polarization by promoting compromise and collaboration between different political and social views. Centrists can promote greater understanding and cooperation across the political spectrum by seeking common ground and finding solutions that address the Left and Right concerns.

Educating people on the importance of a balanced political system and the value of collaboration and compromise can help create a more informed and engaged citizenry. This can help to promote a culture of dialogue and mutual respect and foster a more beneficial and effective political system.

Another potential benefit of Centrism is that it can lead to more effective governance. By prioritizing practical solutions and evidence-based policy-making, Centrists can avoid the pitfalls of ideological extremism and focus on policies that impact people’s lives. By promoting transparency and accountability, Centrists can also ensure that the government operates in the best interests of the people it serves.

Centrism can offer a way forward by bridging the divide between Left and Right and promoting greater understanding and collaboration. By taking a balanced approach to social and economic policies, Centrists can promote both effective and fair policies that address the needs of a wide range of people without reverting to the suicide pact of identity politics and the polarization it brings.

Why Centrism is Important to Christians

Christians should be Centrists because we represent Christ, not any political party or currently popular social campaign. We take the long view and want to be all things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:22–23) that we might win some. Our role is not to be neutral but to be in the center of human need to proclaim the gospel to all.

Centrism has challenges and may require greater compromise and flexibility than other political positions. It may also need to develop a clearer vision and sense of direction to gain support and legitimacy in a polarized and divided political landscape.

Ultimately, the key to overcoming political polarization is recognizing human ideas of justice, equity, diversity, and all the rest will not improve society. Dividing people into groups of any kind are power play that only engenders hate and violence, as we have seen in recent times.

By embracing a Centrist position and Christian kindness, we can build bridges between different political perspectives and help create a more stable society.