Christians continue to get easily caught up in the foray of political dissent. Frustration and angst over politics have moved beyond civil discourse, even eclipsing gripes and complaints, and land, in many cases, in despondency. Moral upheaval continues unabated. The church in general and Christians in particular are not unaffected—whether they adopt one side or another or set themselves up as judges over everyone else. If the political persuasions today were geographically concentrated, I would have no doubt the violence we see around the US would escalate into a 2022 version of the Civil War between the states in the later 1800s. We would become no different from other countries engaging in religious wars, insurrections, and tyrannies. The disagreements are so heated that the slightest criticism is taken as hate and justifies extreme anger and outrage.

Is there hope for a better world? Shouldn’t we humans have come farther along in our quest for peace and freedom? This all sounds so familiar, harkening back to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr, Nelson Mandela, and other moral, social, and cultural activists who died in pursuit of a dream—a better world without the violence and repression that strafes our postmodern society.

Yes, there is some headway at times for Christian moralism, but the overall march is downward. Tyranny continually waits in the wings to spring its aggression on a struggling populace; rogue nations rise up with nuclear power in their reach. New rules of engagement are formed and discarded, it seems daily. History repeats itself, with present-day Alexander-the-Great wannabes and Julius Caesar junkies on the increase. In the end, the sword has proven to be mightier than the pen—historical realism that flies in the face of feel-good humanistic optimism.

As Christians, what do we make of all this? How should we act? What should we believe? More importantly, if we walk closely with God, devoted to His beloved Son, how does He want us to live in these trying times? Well, God has made that very clear in His Word. Unless we loosely identify ourselves as Christians by church attendance or having been raised in a Christian home, our identity, pride, moralism, and life calling are found in Christ—that hasn’t changed in God’s eyes.

Some take a passive attitude toward it all, wringing their hands in dismay; others stand on their digital soapboxes and shout out their angry platitudes.

But Christians have a higher calling. We must remember who we are in Christ and our mission here on earth. Our earthly allegiances, our political persuasions, and even our national pride are distantly secondary to our citizenship in a kingdom that is not of this world:

Jesus [said], “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” (John 18:36)

Are we fighting to prevent our “Christian” culture from being surrendered to those who want to kill it? Are we using the swords of anger and argument, legislative mandates, and judicial activism to accomplish the mission of Christ through us in the world? Are we fighting with our brothers and sisters in Christ?

So then … you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. (Eph. 2:19–20)

Are we consumed with an appetite for conflict, pressing our views, hungering and thirsting not after righteousness but after earthly things?

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phil. 3:17)

Are we Republican or Democrat? Are we socialist or capitalist? Are we authoritarian or Libertarian? Are we liberal or conservative? Are we left or right? Let us never forget how God defines us and our mission.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 3:9)

Let it begin with how we think about and act toward our fellow Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus … (Phil. 2:1–5)

Let it begin with me being less critical, less judgmental, and less argumentative. Let me put aside the pride, the arrogance of thinking myself as piously above the fray. Let me be more Christlike:

 … but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:7–8)

We can’t forget that our purpose in life is to glorify God and bring others to worship Him. That is why God sent His son Jesus into the world and why He has left us here to continue.

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:9–11)

So I ask myself, “Why am I so vehement about my political, social, and moral passions?”

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. (Ps. 139:23–24)