It was a crisp autumn day. The wind was blowing through the trees arching over the street. Premature foliage was scattered across the sidewalks. My sister and I marched up to the next address on our list. A pleasant older lady opened the door and smiled at us. I introduced us as we campaigned for the political party to which this kind lady was registered. We encouraged her to vote in the upcoming election and asked if she wanted any political ephemera. She took a bumper sticker and thanked us for our efforts. She promised to have her husband display the yard sign that they had in the garage. Encouraged, we moved on to another house. \u00a0I remember feeling proud that my sister and I could do something for the upcoming election. It was 2000 and a heated presidential election was on the horizon. My sister was fourteen and I was sixteen. We were too young to vote, but we could campaign. This was the start of my limited political journey.<\/p>\n
Almost a quarter of a century ago, this walk down memory lane resurfaced as I read N.T. Wright and Michael Bird\u2019s book, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies<\/em>. These theologians address the Biblical perspective of governing institutions and structures, give a historical overview of the Church\u2019s impact on politics, and provide a theological outline that challenges Christians in their political perspective and involvement. The authors do an excellent job addressing different eras and styles of politics and Christian responses to these. Woven throughout the book is this challenge: Christians should be living examples by loving our neighbors, serving our communities, and pursuing justice.[1]<\/a> It was one word that stood out to me: service. This word and similar forms of it appear over twenty times throughout the book. Most of the time it relates to serving as Jesus did. As an advocate of servant leadership, this is a concept to which I can deeply relate.<\/p>\n Jesus humbly came to earth as a servant.[2]<\/a> He asks his followers to emulate his example by serving him and others.[3]<\/a> In their book, The Servant Leader: Transforming Your Heart, Head, Hands, & Habits,<\/em> Blanchard and Hodges eloquently summarize Jesus\u2019 call to servant leaders:<\/p>\n In His instructions to His first disciples on how they were to lead, Jesus sent a clear message to all of those who would follow him that leadership was to be first and foremost an act of service. No Plan B was implied or offered in His words. He placed no restrictions or limitations of time, place, or situation that would allow us to exempt ourselves from His command. For a follower of Jesus, servant leadership isn\u2019t just an option; it\u2019s a mandate.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n Leadership and service are not something commonly seen on the political stage. Being leaders that serve our communities, and our world is a way for us to reflect Christ.<\/p>\n I live in an Islamic republic with social injustice, poverty, and political corruption rampant. Sharia law can be legally enforced. Proselytizing is illegal. Sharing the Gospel in my context means serving the people and living in a way that reflects Christ and challenges them to question what is different about me. Racism and ethnic hostilities are a part of daily life. I can reflect God\u2019s perspective of each person being equal in his eyes[5]<\/a>through how I treat people, serving those who are accustomed to being servants. In a corrupt society and government, I can choose to be respectful and uphold the truth. In my context the Gospel is shared by first being a lifestyle; one that hopefully intrigues and stimulates curiosity in those around me. Ultimately pointing them to the One who came to serve and offer hope.<\/p>\n In Jesus and the Powers, <\/em>Christians are encouraged to be both focused on the hope the cross brings and be active in our part in working for the Kingdom of God.[6]<\/a> Considering the dark and challenging political climate of our world, readers are challenged to \u201c<\/em>live luminously visible lives that appear odd to others because of our allegiance to Jesus and adopting a life patterned after Jesus.\u201d[7]<\/a> If appearing \u201codd\u201d is a mark of successfully living a Gospel lifestyle, I have succeeded! In fact, \u201codd\u201d is probably a mild expression compared to what my African friends and neighbors must think of me. I am a Christian, American, single, and a woman who has left what my neighbors consider the \u201cgreatest nation of the world\u201d and has chosen to live among Muslims in the desert of North Africa. I have given up what is their dream, to live in America, and replaced it with the country that they hope to one day leave. My Muslim friends do not yet understand the hope that the Cross of Jesus has given to me. They do not know it is a privilege to live out my calling in service to our God.<\/p>\n As we are just weeks away from another presidential election, it is ironic how my political journey has shifted over the years. I am no longer the teenage campaigner knocking on doors. Instead, I am living abroad, applying for absentee ballots. American politics seems far away as I navigate how to live as a foreigner in an Islamic republic. My interactions with the political realms will continue to change. As I was challenged by this book, by God\u2019s help may I never become apathetic and indifferent to the people and authorities around me.<\/p>\n \u201cLive as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.\u201d<\/em> 1 Peter 2:16-19 ESV<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies<\/em>, ePub ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2024), 160.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> See Philippians 2:5-8.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> See Matthew 20:26-28.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Kenneth H. Blanchard and Phil Hodges, The Servant Leader: Transforming Your Heart, Head, Hands, & Habits<\/em> (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2002), 12.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Galatians 3:28.<\/p>\n