“Life in the city”. That is what is hidden in the Greek word we translate as “politics”. Polis is the Greek word for city. All cultures and kingdoms prior to Greek culture and kingdom had large cities. The city was not a Greek invention. The polis (city) was a key part of other kingdoms as well. But, when ancient Greece arose, the cities had a different feel- a different culture and ideal. In other kingdoms, the cities were provincial, mono-cultural, mono-religious, and mono-racial populations for the most part. Those who did not fit the majority were slaves, not citizens. Kings called for conformity. They punished divergence from kingdom culture, decrees and laws. There was not much of an effort to elevate or esteem cultures that were different from that of the king or historic people group of that particular land. This is somewhat of a generalization. But, it is a generalization with historic substantiation in most parts of the world.
Greece was more than a bit different. As a major trade country that had conquered both proximate and distant empires, ancient Greece was ahead of its time. By the third century B.C. it became perhaps the first multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic citizenry among the countries of the world. People moved freely in and among Greece’s cities. For us, it seems a foregone conclusion that you could be a citizen of a country and yet have your origin in another place. However, this was uniquely common in Greece.
Plato wrote profoundly about the unique and lively experiment of Greece. In The Republic, he appealed for civilization to be centered upon justice and human virtue rather than the monolithic demands and control of traditional kings and kingdoms. He explored virtue and how that contributes to a civilized culture. He was convinced that there needed to be a genuine concern by all for the common good of a diverse population. There needed to be an essential civility that would be based upon common virtue. He tried to spell out what those common, supreme virtues should be. Wisdom, courage, temperance (or moderation) and justice were the glue for healthy societies.
Aristotle viewed Plato’s understanding of the polis as ideal and unattainable. But, he improved upon it describing political structures that might best address how people live together in the polis. He also expanded the ideals of virtue and ethics. He held that it is essential for virtuous people to be organized and socially engaged in ways that benefit the whole. These thoughts on the city either stemmed from or drove Aristotle to conclude that there might even be universal laws that drive and shape virtue and healthy community. He stopped short of being a monotheist, but held that a common and universal good existed.
Greece was a rare civilization indeed, ahead of its time and perhaps in some ways ahead of ours. The Roman empire followed and carried Greek thought into the construction of their governance and culture. Though it strived for the best form of government that might achieve the needs of society, it languished to find success.
Jesus stepped into human history at a time when Rome was attempting to improve upon the Greek ideals. Jesus spoke to and acted upon the need, dilemma and solution addressed by the Greek philosophers in a more holistic way than they were able to dream or articulate. He spoke not only of the polis, but of a Kingdom with higher common virtues that were not mustered by will and inner strength or community need but by God and implanted and shaped by his Spirit. The citizens of this Kingdom would be even more diverse than the ideal polis imagined by the Greeks. The Kingdom of God promised to be a kingdom with people from every race, tribe and nation living under the rule of a faultless king and for the good of the world.
This diverse and complex citizenry would share a common forgiveness, love, Spirit, eternity and power to rise above the gravity of selfish living. Instead of sharing the Greek common virtues that were “put on” or mustered by will and determination, the citizens of Jesus Kingdom share a common fruit that is “put in” the forgiven- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is a very different Kingdom, with different politics and a different way of living not constrained to one city, country or civilization.
Now, here we are more than 2.000 years later and trying to figure out how to live together in the city (country) under the current politics that has been layered with thousands of laws and which seems to lean away from being virtue centric for either the citizenry or those who lead it. But, those of us who follow and have been transformed by Jesus must understand that His Kingdom produces what the polis never can or will. It offers something that is no longer even an ideal in this world.
In this current world, politics is reduced from the Greek ideal of improving how we might get along as we live together; to matters of control and forced compliance/diversity. In our context, politics is defined by factionalism, competing ideals and leveraging followers. Unlike the Kingdom of God which appeals for the selfish to become selfless servants and hence revolutionize society, politics appeals for little more than a sound economy, affordable education, a national defense and border protection- rather small goals. If achieved, society will not be transformed by any of these. The ideal of a society with higher purpose, deeper virtue and profound intimacy brought about by a common Spirit is not even a hope much less a conversation. The most profound hope is to have a government to either completely leave us alone or meet all of our personal needs. Both of these extremes exhibit a sickness in our expectation and lack of hope.
Here we are in the middle of the political season. In fact, it seems as though we are always in the middle of a political season. However, it is unavoidable at present. I am reminded how far we have moved from the ancients’ quest for creating a harmonious existence in the city. Even more, I am amazed at how far we have moved from the ideals of Jesus, even in our transformed communities. Some among us are even leveraging the name of Jesus for something far less wonderful and hopeful- the best a political party can muster. There is, however, a radically higher idea for society and an extraordinary community brought together by selfless, sacrificial love and expressing palpable, unbreakable unity. I wish with a deep sigh that the politicians could understand that the Kingdom is the only way to learn how to live in the city/country. I wish that they could understand that Jesus and his followers are not persona non grata, but the hope of this world. I pray that Christians might put more prayer for and less hope in the kings and kingdoms of this world- for those who lead. We simply don’t pray enough. And, we simply hope too much that somehow our government will fairly represent the Kingdom of God or help achieve what only God can achieve. I pray that believers everywhere will invest in Kingdom expansion the kind of energy that is put into political aspiration.
Our deepest desire should be to love God and serve Him. In doing so, we will better love and serve others. In doing so, we will better serve in the Kingdom. In doing so, we will do for this world that which politics will never achieve- transform society. I appeal to those who read this to vote and engage in the process. But, I appeal to those who vote to pray and understand that Jesus will do more in and through His children than government can ever do. The polis always thrives when God is at work and His Kingdom comes and flourishes on earth as it is in heaven.