How Did Jesus View Politics?

 Political activist. Note what happened days before Jesus was put to death. Disciples of the Pharisees, who favored independence from the Roman Empire, joined by Herodians, members of a political party favoring Rome approached Jesus. They wanted to force him to take a political position. They asked if the Jews should pay taxes to Rome. 

Mark recorded Jesus' response: "Why do you put me to the test? Bring me a denarius to look at.' They brought one. And he said to them: 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to him: 'Caesars.' Jesus then said: 'Pay back Caesar's thing to Caesar, but God things to God.' " (Mark 12:13-17) Commenting on the reason for Jesus' response, the book Church and State-The Story of Two Kingdoms concludes: "He refused to act the part of a political messiah and carefully established both the boundary of Caesar and that of God. 

Problems such poverty, corruption, and injustice did not leave Christ unmoved. In fact, the Bible shows that he was deeply touched by the pitiful state of the people around him. (Mark 6:33, 34) Still, Jesus did not start a campaign to rid the world of injustices, although some tried hard to get him embroiled i the controversial issues of the day. 

Clearly, as these examples show, Jesus refused to get involved in political affairs. But what about Christians today? They don't get involved either.  They stay neutral. That is what Jehovah wants. 

Next time: Are We Nearing Armageddon? 

From the jw.org publications