Captivating Beauty in the Midst of Exileنموونە

To navigate politics as Christians, we must first understand our place in God's grand narrative. From Genesis to Revelation, we see a consistent theme: God's people living as "foreigners and exiles" in the world. This concept is crucial for shaping our political engagement.

In the beginning, humanity was given the creation mandate - to take the raw materials of the earth and cultivate them for God's glory. This includes developing culture, art, music, technology, and yes, even political systems. However, sin entered the world, distorting this purpose. Instead of creating for God's glory, humans began to build empires for their own sake.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see God calling Israel to be a blessing to the nations. He gave them land and established them as a nation to showcase His goodness to the world. Yet, they often fell short, leading to exile, and it was in exile that God's people had to learn how to live faithfully in a foreign land.

Fast forward to the New Testament, and we find Jesus - the true Israel - establishing His Church as a "holy nation" and a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). This new community transcends national boundaries, existing as exiles wherever they find themselves.

Understanding this narrative is crucial. If we mistakenly view our country as a "new Israel," we'll approach politics very differently than if we see ourselves as exiles called to be a faithful presence in a foreign land.