Let your way of thinking be changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you.

[Adapted from Joelle Wight, “Hospitality as a Political Act,” 2024, in Project Zion podcast]

Scripture consistently calls God’s people to seek justice, defend the vulnerable, and challenge unjust systems. The question is not if disciples should be politically engaged, but how.

Donald Kraybill’s The Upside-Down Kingdom presents a model for Christian political engagement that challenges social, economic, and political structures. Jesus’ ministry defied conventional power dynamics, embracing the marginalized, challenging the wealthy elite, and rejecting violence as a means of control. He modeled a radically different way of engaging with the world, one that prioritized justice, inclusion, and peace.

This approach forces us to ask hard questions about modern political participation. If discipleship means embodying the values of Jesus, then political engagement should reflect his priorities:

• Justice over privilege—Policies should uplift the poor and oppressed rather than maintain the status quo of wealth and power.
• Community over individualism—Christian faith calls for collective responsibility, ensuring the well-being of all rather than promoting self-interest.
• Peacemaking over dominance—Rather than seeking control or coercion, disciples should advocate for nonviolence, reconciliation, and diplomacy.

Unfortunately, many modern political movements—even those claiming Christian values—operate in ways that contradict these principles. They may prioritize power over justice, nationalism over inclusion, or wealth over the common good. This creates tension: how do disciples navigate a political landscape that often conflicts with Jesus’ teachings?

One answer lies in the example of early Christian communities. In the Book of Acts, believers shared resources, supported the needy, and refused to align themselves with oppressive systems. Their faith was inherently political—not in the sense of partisan allegiance, but in the radical way they lived out God’s kingdom on earth.

This challenges contemporary disciples to ask: Are we aligning ourselves with Jesus’ vision of the kingdom, or are we conforming to worldly power structures?

The gospel calls for a politics of discipleship—one that prioritizes justice, humility, and compassion over domination and division.

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