Thread by @JonathanLeeman

I've not read this book or other things by this author. But I'd like to riff on the title for just a moment. "Jesus for President" is one of two crucial errors Christians are liable to right now, and perhaps the more common one these days:

https://twitter.com/ShaneClaiborne/status/772995602212909057

the idea that Christianity serves the instrumental purpose of civic betterment or bringing heaven to earth now. Isn't that one of the enduring lessons of Palm Sunday? That Jesus didn't come to "Run for Roman Emperor?'

The opposite error is quietism or passivity, as if Jesus' gospel message was uninterested in "the obedience of faith" (Rom. 1:5) or "good works" (James 2). Justification by faith alone yields lives interested in justice (see also James 5).

The first error is an over-realized eschatology, the latter an under-realized one. The first will produce a people who make too big a deal of this election season, the latter a people who care too little. The first a foolish zeal, the latter a sinful complacency.

"Jesus for president" is an attack on the indicative of the gospel; "I don't care who is president" is an attack on the imperatives or the call to obedience which follows the gospel. As I said, the former error is probably the more usual one, both on the left and the right.

The unaccountable, unexpected wisdom of Christ, which is foolishness to the world, threads the needle.

Where does a Christian politics begins? With the declaration, "Jesus is Lord." He is Lord of all, including the president. Let's not diminish him to the lowly office of president. He's not running for president or for Lord. He is Lord, with all authority in heaven and earth.

Christians should live in light of his finished atoning work and Lordship no matter who's in office. We do so publicly and privately--in the ballot box, ball field, and bedroom. We are not indifferent to who holds office, but neither our hope nor work depends upon who does.

Our political posture should not be to withdraw, but nor is it to dominate. It's to represent--represent our king.

In a way, election day is just another ordinary day for us. Get up, get dressed, and go to work loving our neighbors and pursuing God's righteousness and justice, because Jesus is Lord. No big whoop. Nothing to see here, folks. Put your head down and get back to work doing good.

Some days are good, some bad; some elections produce good outcomes, some bad. Either way, don't hyperventilate. Our hope is secure and our job is clear: declaring Jesus' Lordship in evangelistic word and every deed, including the political ones.

P.S. Maybe all this is what the author says in his book. I don't know. Again, I'm merely responding to the title as a platform for offering another perspective.