Politics and Patriotism According to the Apostolic Fathers
I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. –John 17:14-21 (CSB)
Every generation of Christians have to wrestle with the controversy of what political influence the Church should have, if any at all. Evangelicalism has had a strong impact on the development and history of the United States, and therefore it is common for Evangelicals to look fondly on American patriotism.
Voting is considered an essential duty. American churches often see the US government as the “good guys” in war and conflict. The United States has consistently been labeled throughout the generations (by both Christians and non-Christians) to be a “Christian” nation.
However, there has been from the beginning many Christians who have not seen it this way, which has led to heated debated in denominations. This debate has taken different forms, but the controversy still remains today in the United States. The Protestant Church in America has become extremely divided, and yet often the hostile division seems to be less theologically motivated and more politically motivated.
Now, I want to make clear that both are definitely connected. But what I mean is that while our theology should be driving us in how we see political/social issues, many of us in the United States Church are responding by jumping into political camps, which are by design secular.
This puts the theology in the backseat, and the Christian has a hard choice to make if they insist on staying driven by politics that surround them. They either have to reshape their understanding of Scripture and its commandments to better fit the political side they’ve joined, or they try to separate their politics and theology. I would suggest the former often results in dangerous theology (on either political side) and the latter results in a superficial faith, as one cannot serve two masters. Both Conservative and Liberal Christians are guilty of this in their own ways.
Perhaps some of us are concerned about the welfare of our society. Maybe we see injustices happening and the Church not responding in a satisfying way. Or maybe we are scared of what could happen in the future if the party we align with loses political influence. I don’t think these concerns are invalid, but we should be concerned with how we as the Church are often seeking the solution. How were topics like politics and patriotism addressed by the early Church?
We see some pretty unique insights from Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and so on. But since I have been focusing specifically on the Apostolic Fathers lately, we will just look into them. Although for anyone interested, the beliefs seen on politics by the Apostolic Fathers are pretty similar to the later Christians of the 2nd and 3rd century.
Where is our Treasure?
In the 50th chapter of The Shepherd of Hermas, our protagonist (Hermas) is told by an angelic messenger (the Shepherd) how Hermas and the Christians should understand their current living situation:
“ He (the Shepherd) spoke to me: “You know,” he said, “that you who are servants of God are living in a foreign country, for your city is far from this city. If, therefore, you know,” he said, “your city in which you are destined to live, why do you prepare fields and expensive possessions and buildings and useless rooms here? If you are preparing these things for this city, you obviously are not planning to return to your own city. Foolish and double-minded and miserable person, do you not realize that all these things are foreign to you, and under someone else’s authority?
…So take care; as one living in a foreign land, do not prepare for yourself one thing more than is necessary to be self-sufficient… So instead of fields, buy souls that are in distress, as anyone is able, and visit widows and orphans, and do not neglect them; and spend your wealth and all your possessions, which you received from God, on fields and houses of this kind. For this is why the Master made you rich, so that you might perform these ministries for him. ”
In other words, because our citizenship is in Heaven, we are currently foreigners on earth until Christ returns. Therefore, living as foreigners, we should not be so focused on worldly investments. Whatever finances we are blessed with, we use for our necessities, and give the rest to those in need.
This is certainly a hard instruction for myself and many Christians. It’s frankly the opposite of the so called “American Dream”. But is this just some strict teaching the Apostolic Fathers gave, or does it match Scripture? Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” (CSB)
When reading passages like this and the sad story of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-31), it can be tempting to water down the radical calling Jesus gives us. But this watered down understanding of Jesus is certainly not how the early Church saw it. They took the call to go out of their comfort and live in complete trust in God very seriously.
Is it wrong to start a business or work one particular career in a city? Absolutely not! The fact is, many Christians in the New Testament and after still ran businesses and worked. This also isn’t what Hermas is stating, as it says to work, but to work for just what’s needed and to use blessings to help the poor.
It’s not living in a house or running a business that’s the problem, it’s the purpose and potential excess of it that’s the concern. Is the business simply to make money and prosper, or is it to do God’s will and help others? Are the house/belongings for luxury and excessive comfort, or to keep your family safe and be hospitable to others? To put it the way Christ put it, where is the treasure and our heart in these things?
Living as Foreigners
The bigger issue being brought up in this passage from Hermas is the question of where our loyalty is. Is our loyalty to the Kingdom of God, or to the city we live in? The Shepherd tells Hermas that the servants of God dwell in a foreign land. Does that apply to Christians in the United States?
Time and time again I hear Christians panic that America is going in some direction that is sinful and will grieve the Holy Spirit. Frankly, it is a false understanding to think God favors or has favored America as a nation over any other nation on earth. The United States is not Israel from the Old Testament.
While the Lord God is the sovereign creator and ruler of all things, Jesus calls the devil the ruler of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). If this is true, is there such a thing as a Christian nation?
In the Old Covenant, God promised to Abraham that He would make a great nation from him, which He certainly did (Genesis 12:1-3). Throughout the Old Covenant, Israel was God’s nation, and the people were God’s people. But something significant happened with the arrival of the Messiah. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well:
“Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth. ”
Revelation 21 promises an age where we will dwell in a New City that will be God’s City (as mentioned by the Shepherd to Hermas in the previously quoted passage). But in the meantime, it is no longer about a human-constructed temple or particularly city. Instead, it is those who worship in Spirit and truth.
2nd Clement cites the words of Jesus to not fear who can kill us, but who has power over our souls (similar to what Jesus says in Matthew 10), and concludes, “And consider, brethren, that the sojourning in the flesh in this world is but brief and transient, but the promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom to come, and of life everlasting.” (5.5)
I do not want this to sound insensitive to the countless Americans who have worked extremely hard for their businesses, land, or success. But when we truly examine the divine prosperity and community of love and fellowship that is to come, no amount of worldly success could ever come close! The fear of political structures that could come from who gets voted and who doesn’t is not a Kingdom driven fear. It is a fear of the flesh.
The understanding for Christians to live as foreigners is something consistently taught by the Apostles. 1st Peter 1:17 refer to Christians living as strangers, and Paul states in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. James 4:4 warns Christians not to be friends with the world. So again, where is our loyalty?
Once again looking to the Apostolic Fathers, the author of the Epistle to Diognetus says:
“Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or custom. For nowhere do they live in cities of their own, nor do they speak some unusual dialect, nor do they practice an eccentric way of life.
…They live in their own countries, but only as nonresidents; they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their fatherland, and every fatherland is foreign.
…They live on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws; indeed in their private lives they transcend the laws. They love everyone, and by everyone they are persecuted. They are unknown, yet they are condemned; they are put to death, yet they are brought to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in need of everything, yet they abound in everything.”
Political Alignment
Is it wrong to have appreciation and care for your country? I don’t think so, as long as it doesn’t become an idol or stumbling block. We can appreciate good things that come from our cultures, but the aim should always be to glorify God, love our neighbor, and build up the Church in love.
Politics affect people’s lives positively and negatively. Because of this, I believe it is good for the Church to be educated in political issues so they can know how people are affected and how they can help them. But I believe it is within the culture and shining of the Holy Spirit that the Church does this, and not by gaining political power or influence. The Church should model justice and love for their neighbors, not ally with secular authorities to dominate what they believe is just.
We see in Joshua 5:13-15 the titular protagonist being humbled by the Messenger of God (possibly Christ pre-Incarnate). Even when Joshua was getting ready to take over the land and help form God’s nation, God still refused to allow His people to have an “us versus them” mentality. If God was above the political affiliations of His own nation, then God absolutely cannot be tied down to the Republican or Democratic parties!
When engaging and discussing politics, our focus MUST be always on the Kingdom, and not in the nation we live in. The fact is, every political party has strengths and weaknesses, and all are made by man. Therefore, as much as our culture demands us to align with one side against the other, the Church cannot fall into such pressure. The care for nationwide prosperity, keeping patriotic traditions, or fear of leadership changes should not shape how the Church stays unified and trusts in Christ alone. As Jesus promised, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Mark 13:31 CSB)
Rebellion
When asked about whether or not the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus was put in a tough spot. If He instructed the Jews to pay the taxes, many would consider Him a sellout to the nation of Israel. If He instructed the Jews not to pay the taxes, then He would be implying a rebellion against Rome. As always, the answer Jesus gave stumbled His accusers:
“But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.”
We see in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of Paul and Peter that these instructions were lived out in the Church. The Christians serve a King not of this world, and as foreigners, they will obey the laws given to them and not revolt. Only when the laws of the land prohibit them from worshiping and obeying God is peaceful noncompliance engaged. Polycarp made this case when facing his death sentence on trial (Martyrdom of Polycarp 9-11).
Once again, this is a difficult instruction to accept for many of us. Among other injustices and disobedience to Christ’s commandments (genocide, rebellion against government, slavery), it’s hard to read what the New Covenant calls for and honestly call America (or any country) a Christian nation. Theology aside, it’s also historically inaccurate when claimed that America was founded on “Christian principles”. It wasn’t. Going back to the main question the passage from Hermas challenges the Christian to answer, where is our loyalty? Is our true citizenship in our country, or in God’s Kingdom?
Seeing then, all things have an end, these two things are simultaneously set before us-death and life; and every one shall go unto his own place. For as there are two kinds of coins, the one of God, the other of the world, and each of these has its special character stamped upon it. The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die into His passion, His life is not in us. –The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 5
Bibliography
Holmes, M. (2006). The Apostolic Fathers in English (3rd Edition). Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Academic.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.