POLITICS for the POLIS-- Let’s Talk/Let’s Thrive

There are some words that are interpreted as “bad” when they are heard or read, but that is not the whole picture. For example, in the sentence “Remember, there will be CONSEQUENCES,” we immediately think punishment or misfortune. But a definition of the word is something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions.[1]   So, the CONSEQUENCES of our actions are not limited to punishment but also reward or good results.

The word POLITICS gets the same rap. As soon as we hear the word, we immediately get our guard up and become more leery or defensive as the conversation takes place. Or we may just check out and immediately turn our attention to something else because it is too complicated and too stressful, especially when it feels like we can barely keep our head above water. We especially DO NOT want to hear about politics at our house of worship, especially from the pulpit. Isn’t our time together in the sanctuary supposed to be a refuge or escape from the real world? Don’t bring politics into it, just preach Jesus.

The word “Politics” comes from the Greek word polis, which referred to the city-states of the ancient Greek map. Aristotle called the polis “the highest kind of community, aiming at the highest of goods.”[2] It is a community where people are cooperating to not only survive, but to have a good life. According to Ryan LaMothe, the state/government is an integral part of ensuring that society is thriving through institutions and policies.[3] In other words, politics are the systems, laws, policies, and even social norms that ideally should ensure the well-being of the polis, whether it be the citizens of a town, city, state, or nation. Politics that are done for the common good is a blessing. Politics that are done for the benefit of a few at the detriment of others is a curse and blight on society. Politics determines how we are going to live our lives. It determines factors such as childhood, education, health, work, family, retirement, and even our longevity on this earth.

Jesus taught in Matthew 10:29-31, that the God that cares when a sparrow falls to ground, is the God that cares for us as well, so we must believe that God is concerned about politics, or the “how” of determining the well-being of God’s community of creation. We, as followers of “The Way,” believe that Jesus was born and raised in a community that was being crushed by the politics of the Roman Empire.[4] Jesus was not shielded from the violence of the Pax Romana or Roman Peace that was only enjoyed by the very rich and was obtained through horrific, wide-spread, military action in response to any political disturbance or uprising. Jesus was not oblivious to the quid pro quo that was taking place between the religious leaders of the temple and the Roman government or the harm to the people that they were divinely obligated to care and advocate for. And Jesus was not one of the 5% of the people of Israel that enjoyed wealth. Jesus lived among 95% that were always at the point of being destitute due to the oppressive economic policies of heavy taxation from both the Roman Empire and the priestly hierarchy of the temple. The people were laden down with debt to pay these taxes and very often had to sell themselves and even their children into slavery to pay it off.[5] These are the people that Jesus was feeding, healing, and restoring back to society so that the injustice of the imperial politics might be corrected.  These are the people that Jesus taught God’s political plan, which is to love your neighbor as yourself, vs. the politics of the empire that did not acknowledge their very humanity.

Obery Hendricks writes that the very prayer that Jesus taught us to pray[6] and is recited together in church houses across the country each Sunday, is political in that it speaks to whom we give our allegiance to and to whom we depend on for our well-being, as a polis.[7] The very first line that comes out of Jesus’ mouth, “OUR Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” is a political slap to the face of the “CAESAR IS GOD, ALL HAIL CAESAR” policy that was enacted to keep everyone in their place and anything that deviated from that would be considered treason. Jesus then continued with “Your Kingdom come (not Caesar’s) Your will be done (again, not Caesar’s) on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread (because the politics of Caesar is not providing for us, no matter what he says) and forgive us our DEBTS, as we forgive our DEBTORS. (free us from this economic oppression that is destroying our communities, our families, and our well-being.) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (may we not be tempted to return to the unjust and unmerciful politics of Caesar.)”  Every time we pray this prayer we are calling out for a world where God’s will--the polis of creation thriving through the politics of Loving God and loving each other, might be done. We are bringing politics into the church.

But what we must realize is that we bring politics into the church without saying a word, simply by stepping inside, because we cannot separate our lived reality from our faith. But this politics is not something to dread or get stressed out about because it is the “good news” to the poor and freedom for the oppressed.[8] In the Kingdom of God, politics of the polis, is for the well-being of all, not just a select few. We are then called to take this “good news,” and share it with our words and deeds on behalf of those who are most vulnerable when the politics of the polis-- no matter if it is the local community or the nation as a whole--is oppressing instead of liberating, and/or harming instead of healing.[9]

Whoever came up with the notion that politics and religion are the two topics to avoid at all costs, must have known that when people come together for the good of the polis, especially in the name of their God, is when empires fall, and community is built for the good of all. And that is something that the Caesars of the world want to avoid at all costs. Let’s reclaim politics as something that is moral and good and can be a tool of liberty and justice for EVERYone. Polis, let’s talk, share, advocate, and act for the common good of all. Polis, let’s THRIVE.

[1] “consequence.” Britannica.com. 2025. https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/consequence (30 Jan 2025)

[2] Kenny, A. J., & Amadio, A. H. (2025, January 13). Aristotle | Biography, Works, Quotes, Philosophy, Ethics, & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aristotle/Political-theory 

[3] LaMothe, R. (2017). Care of souls, care of polis: Toward a political pastoral theology. Cascade Books. 7.

[4] Obery M Hendricks, The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of the Teachings of Jesus and How They Have Been Corrupted (New York: Doubleday, 2006). Loc. 897 (Kindle Edition)

[5] Hendricks, The Politics of Jesus. Loc. 897-1168

[6] The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 (The doxology at the end of the Lord’s Prayer was a later edition)

[7] Hendricks, The Politics of Jesus. Loc. 1716-(1929

[8] Luke 4:16-19

[9] Matthew 25:31-46

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Amanda is an ordained minister of the Christian Church-Disciple of Christ faith and a proud public school
music educator. She is married to J.W. Groves, a mandolin playing son-of-a-gun, and the mother of a
beagle. She loves MCM (Mid-Century-Modern) pink bathrooms, Food Network, and her governor, Andy Beshear. She resides in South Marshall County. You can find her on BlueSky @amandagdoc.bsky.social and on Substack
@Revamandasgroves.