The Nebraska Legislature is over two-thirds of the way done with session. If this were an even-numbered year (or short-session year), the Legislature would be adjourned by now—and my feet would be kicked up. But, twenty-five working-days remain in this “long” (odd-numbered year) session.
While it would seem the Unicameral is on the “downhill” in terms of the number of days left, they are otherwise climbing uphill with the enormous amount of work ahead of them. State Senators must still put together and approve a statewide biennial budget, debate dozens of key priority bills, and pass a few laws throughout that time—just to name a few things left on their agenda.
But as important as this work truly is, something greater is afoot: the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this historical fact which changed the trajectory of the world deserves our attention, especially as it relates to the work of politics.
I often hear from people who are dismayed and disillusioned with politics. They feel that politicians are nothing more than charlatans and sophists, who will say whatever they need to say to win re-election. They are annoyed if not downright angered by the influence of special interest groups and their control over the political process and its outcomes. They think that their voice and their vote really don’t matter all that much. And so on and so forth.
In short, people sometimes feel like politics is essentially irredeemable.
On the one hand, it’s hard to blame them. You might even feel this way. On my bad days, I sometimes feel this way.
On the other hand, we must never forget Jesus of Nazareth who was pierced for our offenses. Not just some of our offenses, but all of them.
Christ came to redeem every aspect of our humanity, and this includes our work in the political sphere.
In the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
This is the Messiah we worship. He is the one—and, in fact the only one—who can take the brokenness of our humanity and restore it. No effort of our own making, no political party, no legislation, no law, no nothing of that nature can restore us. Christ alone restores us.
When we look around and see the brokenness in our political parties, politicians, and governmental branches, we need only to turn to Christ, as easy and as difficult as that can be. Christ alone makes sense of our brokenness and provides the path for restoration and wholeness. He instructs us of the way—and, in fact, is the Way—for a politics that recognizes the dignity of the human person and fosters the common good.
Like with so many other dimensions of our life, when we can hardly see beyond its brokenness, problems, and sin—and think it practically irredeemable—this is the perfect time to turn to Christ.
This attitude reveals a heart yearning for further union with Christ, in order to see how He sees. Why is it that I think politics is seemingly so far beyond repair? How can Christ reveal to me the proper dignity of political life and how it is truly meant to be ordered toward the Kingdom of Heaven?
These are conversations that ultimately must take place in prayer with our Lord. Yes, others can speak some wisdom into these problems within our own heart, but Christ must be consulted so that our hearts can be transformed.
None of this, of course, will result in any of the everyday problems of politics being fixed overnight—after all, we are human, we are sinful, and our efforts will always fall short of the glory of God. Yet, Christ Crucified can help us find a way toward a politics that glorifies His Holy Name and does honor to the sufferings He took upon Himself for our sake. And there, even in a world gone mad, we can find peace and joy, because we hope in the promise that Christ makes all things new.
