a simple desire

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28 )

Michael Sattler wrote “concerning the sword: whether a Christian should be a magistrate if he is chosen? This is answered thus: Christ was to be made king, but fled and did not discern the ordinance of his Father. So we should do as he did and run after him. Then we shall not walk in darkness. For he himself says: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me,” Matt. 16:24. He himself further forbids the violence of the sword when he says; “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, etc. . . . It will not be so among you,” Matt. 20:25.”

I spent some time staring at both these verses and the statement of Sattler’s that Peters and Snyder use in their book Reading from the Anabaptist Bible . And it occurred to me that there could be some pretty political concepts here. I am not fully aware of the differences between Democrats and Republicans, but from what I know historically Republicans could be the “lord it over them” type. And the Democrats could be more of the “servant” of the people sort. But then Republicans have also said that they want to help “the little people”. And with the Democrats controlling both the White House and the House they are not exactly without power. I guess that is why Christians should not structure their faith according to politics. However that is not to say that Christians should not be political.

The political stance of being “the servant of the people” is not the same as what Christ is talking about. In politics the servant of the people is to be their representative in government working for what is best for the people. But that is servant-hood at a distance; that is not to say that a politician can not work for the good of the people and do good things. But Christ’s servant-hood was being with people, where they are, struggling as they struggle, grieving where they are grieving and rejoicing where they are rejoicing. I rather doubt that any political servant would give his/her life for the people he/she is representing. And last time I checked political servants are pretty well compensated for their servant-hood.

May your servant-hood be modeled after our Lord Christ’s and may God sustain you as you continue to be God’s servant in the world. Selah!