Christian writer Philip Yancey recently wrote a timely article about the relationship between political leaders and church leaders (“A Tale of Five Herods,” Christianity Today, January 2007.) It is timely because of the political electioneering we all will be facing over the next several months.
Editor’s note: This column first appeared in the March 1 issue of the Baptist Message. It appears, by popular demand, again in this patriotic issue.
Christian writer Philip Yancey recently wrote a timely article about the relationship between political leaders and church leaders (“A Tale of Five Herods,” Christianity Today, January 2007.) It is timely because of the political electioneering we all will be facing over the next several months.
Yancey noted the temptation among some Christians to “long for access to political power.”
He reminds us of the “relative” importance of politics when compared to eternal matters and provides us a warning against too much jostling for a place at the political table.
The article illustrates the point by outlining the role of the five Herodian rulers in New Testament events, from Herod the Great to Herod Agrippa II. None of them turned out to be a friend of the gospel.
Yancey rightly concludes, “Herod the Great and his offspring, the epitome of worldly success in their day, ended up as bit players” in the real story-the gospel of Jesus.
We are wise to heed the lesson regarding seduction by worldly powers.
While this is a needed lesson, I want to propose a different one from the same illustration. There is not only the danger of Christians trying to cozy up to politicians but also of politicians trying to cozy up to Christians.
The Herods can teach us something on that score as well. During these days, politicians of every stripe are pursuing audiences with Christian leaders in order to garner their support.
It seems to be extremely popular this campaign season for a candidate to openly profess to be a person of deep religious faith. It is really tempting for us in the church to be complimented by this, especially when we too often have been given the back of the hand.
However, before we conclude that “faith” has carried the day, let’s remember the Herods.
This strange family of Idumeans (Edomites) had an almost compulsive curiosity about religious matters, particularly Judaism. They wanted very badly to be considered bona fide Jewish leaders.
Herod the Great even had genealogical records expunged so no one could claim a better ancestry than he. He fostered the rebuilding of the temple with “religious” fervor and sought the counsel of the Jewish religious leaders. But this same malicious monarch, giving the lie to his feigned appreciation of Jewish prophecy, ordered the deaths of all the small boys in Bethlehem (Matthew 2) in an attempt to eliminate a rival “king of the Jews.”
Herod Antipas, Herod the Great’s son, considered John the Baptist a righteous and holy man and regularly listened to him preach (Mark 6). But he caved in to familial and political pressure and executed John, a man he otherwise admired. Later, his fascination with Jesus was blunted by the Lord’s refusal to perform parlor tricks. So, Antipas did nothing to prevent the crucifixion. So much for his convictions!
Herod Agrippa I continued the Herodian bloodletting by executing God’s Apostle James while believing himself to be a divine messenger (Acts 12). Though he got his just desserts, he inflicted great harm on the church.
Finally, a seemingly sympathetic Herod Agrippa II, great grandson of Herod the Great, crawfished out of an association with Christianity when Paul’s invitation to discipleship got too public and too personal (Acts 26). Political expediency trumped his reputed spiritual sensitivity.
What are we to make of the Herods?
In varying degrees they claimed appreciation for religion, and wooed the faithful, but they were not to be trusted. When decision time came, to a man, the Herods chose against the things of God and even harmed the cause of the kingdom.
Many office seekers are soliciting the support of the church and the denomination. Many of them will testify how important religious faith is to them. Some of them will be true believers. Some are merely pretenders. Some are sincere about their faith but will cave in to political pressures. Others claim personal beliefs but will not let it inform their public policy decisions. This, then, is the lesson. Be cautious about your confidence in politicians.
I do not want to be cynical, and, thus, fail to appreciate the authentic faith of many of our elected leaders. Nor do I want to discourage genuine people of faith from pursuing public office. But politics is a brutal proving ground. It can up-end the most well-intentioned among us. It often results in the proverbial “strange bedfellows.” Therefore, the Psalmist offers this advice, “Put not your trust in princes” (Ps. 146:3).
Pray for politicians. Encourage them to do right. Be prudent in your endorsements. Put your trust in God!