Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals: Amazon.co.uk: Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw: 9780310278429: Books
Amid all the buzz of politics and elections, Jesus for President is a refreshing reminder that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in the Jesus who gave his life for us. Politics for ordinary radicals who want to love the world into the kingdom of God.
This may seem to contradict my previous post, but it really doesn’t. I just finished reading Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw. And I’ve decided to drop my vote for…
Jesus and politics never seem to have mixed well, but the ironic part is Jesus' way is the only way that politics will ever really work. If people do politics God's way, then there would be no corruption, discord, or division within a nation. God needs to be allowed back in the government. He needs to be influencing our leaders. Felix was a corrupt politician. He was the governor of Judea. He was the leader of the Jews when it came to capital punishment. When it came to Paul he had two choices: kill Paul or listen to Paul. He had the choice to do nothing or to accept salvation. Felix enjoyed Paul's company, so he did not kill him, but he never let Paul go while he remained in his position either. He chose to do nothing. For two years he heard Paul's testimony, but he never made a personal decision. He was fascinated, but never wanted his life to change. Procrastination is the thief of time. Unsaved people are people who refuse to believe in Jesus. They do not understand their need for him. They procrastinate by pushing him away when they need to accept his authority. They are in a committed relationship to their sin, so they don't care about what God has to offer. The worst part is when they know the truth, but think they deserve to go to heaven anyway. Self-righteousness will never get you anywhere. It is time to stop procrastinating and see the truth for what it is. Politicians need to take a good look at their lives and turn over their positions to Jesus' leadership. Proverbs 21:1-4, John 17:13-19, Acts 24:22-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, & 1 Peter 2:15-17
Jesus for President is a radical manifesto to awaken the Christian political imagination, reminding us that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in Jesus and the incarnation of the peculiar politic of the church as a people "set apart" from this world. In what can be termed lyrical theology, Jesus for President poetically weaves together words and images to sing (rather than dictate) its message. It is a collaboration of Shane Claiborne's writing and stories, Chris Haw's reflections and research, and Chico Fajardo-Heflin's art and design. Drawing upon the work of biblical theologians, the lessons of church history, and the examples of modern-day saints and ordinary radicals, Jesus for President stirs the imagination of what the Church could look like if it placed its faith in Jesus instead of Caesar. A fresh look at Christianity and empire, Jesus for President transcends questions of "Should I vote or not?" and "Which candidate?" by thinking creatively about the fundamental issues of faith and allegiance. It's written for those who seek to follow Jesus, rediscover the spirit of the early church, and incarnate the kingdom of God.
