By Matt Reffie

If the past few years of American politics have taught us anything, it should be that neither extreme of the political spectrum is worthy of our time and attention. Unfortunately, the political dichotomy of Left (liberal) and Right (conservative) has so dominated American culture that even we “good Christians” have been too often woefully swept up in it. Instead of being salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16) we’ve conformed too much to either the Left or the Right, embodying the same flavor as our non-Christian friends and neighbors in each of these camps. Now more than ever it may be time for us to take a step back from the political approach of our parents and grandparents, lest we waste the precious resources and energy God has so generously given us.

At present, though, it seems we are heading in the opposite direction. Instead of stepping back for perspective, and to catch the wind of where God is leading, we seem to be swept up in either the latest social media outrage or the newest vein of political conspiracies. To be sure, each of these draw attention to real and important issues, but they do so in some of the least constructive ways. Social media outrage can be great at drawing attention to issues that might otherwise be lesser known. But it typically stops there for that particular issue. Nothing, or very little, is accomplished before we’ve moved on to expressing outrage over the next headline. I’m certainly guilty of this myself, and it is largely because the cycle is designed this way. Our current political system wants my shared outrage, but rarely encourages me to work towards real solutions. Conspiracy theories also typically draw our attention to some important information that had previously been conveniently left out. However, it almost always goes beyond presenting missing information and adds its own unhelpful rumors and speculations. Instead of leading us to doing something constructive with what has been revealed, it endeavors to keep us listening in for the next shocking missing piece.

In both methods we’re trapped as consumers, passing on the shared outrage and new information, but always with someone else’s forced conclusion, that the ‘other guys’ are misleading you. To be sure, the issues hotly debated by the Left and Right are important issues deserving of our efforts and attention. If you consider for a minute which social and political issues most inform your votes and activism, these are not trivial matters to be left to governments and politicians to decide without our input. But the trouble is, these avenues distract Christians from both the real problems and possible real solutions. They suck up our time, money, and energy resources while mostly just lining the pockets of those who perpetuate them, all while seldom offering any real solutions or the willingness to do the hard work required.

How much has your family, community, and local Church lost to these kinds of political trappings? I think you’ll find that more often than not they are under-performing causes compared to the attention and resources they’ve consumed. How deep down these holes do we go until we realize it hasn't taken us anywhere useful? Our children, friends, and neighbors need our presence for the very real day to day. They need sound social, health, and financial advice in the now. They need grounding in critical thinking, which we need to model by resisting the powerful urge to just repeat, like, and share headlines we didn't think or write for ourselves. Whether we're drinking from the pool on the Left or the pool on the Right, neither provides us living water, and neither is deserving of our patronage. Neither represents or demonstrates true concern for God's Kingdom and his values. Surely God works in and through both, but neither bears his image in a manner and consistency worthy of our vigor.

So where does your vigor lie? What cause or duty will you give yourself to this week? Will we mimic and puppet the resounding gongs of Left and Right while pundits and politicians get fat off our good will and concern while accomplishing so little? Or will we resolve to do the hard work of helping real people in our communities? If you think the government policies are making lower income people or immigrants lazy, then go meet and help a family in your community become self-sufficient. If you think gun violence needs to be curbed, go volunteer as a mentor, hotline help, or mental health advocate in your community. If you can't change policy (which generally hasn’t changed substantially for the better in decades) then go help change the real life circumstances for those in your community. Helping people is almost never so complicated or controversial. It doesn't divide our assemblies. It doesn’t squander God’s resources. Yes, political engagement is part of our Christian duty, but political endorsement is simply not modeled in Scripture. We need to be more cautious of whose banners we fly, whose messages we propagate while bearing God’s name, and whose real life we may be inadvertently harming or neglecting in the process. There are real people in your life and community who need your care and attention far more than politicians and political figures do. Let's endeavor to stay grounded in daily realities, resisting hype, and abiding in the careful direction of our Savior to those in our lives in need, whether family, foe, or stranger. Reject the prevailing dichotomies and their superficial battle lines and instead once again walk the way of Jesus, bearing with all those around us. May our allegiance and energies ever reside with God alone.

*If you agree heartily or disagree with this article, please like, share, or comment about it on social media. But then also go do something about it!

Matt Reffie is a self-described itinerant Christian, whose life-ministry is focused on traveling between communities, often finding himself with those on the fringes of society in general, and Christianity specifically. He has a passion for helping others find a faith and relationship with God that is both deeply personal and highly pragmatic, always carefully reminding that God's Kingdom is wonderfully diverse. He has served the Church primarily in youth and college ministries, but also as a deacon and occasionally in counseling and pastoral roles. While serving within a variety of denominations, he has always been drawn to the in-between spaces, seeing the heart of his ministry as a call to cross-pollination and bridge-building, both within Christianity and without. More than anything, Matt likes to meet new people, enjoy the beauty of God in them, and help them find their own God-rhythm in whatever small way he can.