WHEN DIRTY POLITICS ARE PLAYED
THEME: DOING RIGHT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WINNING THE FIGHT.
TEXT: MATTHEW 26: 47-56
One day a father who was in his study reading, and he heard a commotion outside the window. It was his daughter who was playing with her friends. And it got louder and it got louder and more heated and more argumentative, until finally he could restrain himself no longer. And he pushed the window open and said, “Stop it, honey, what’s wrong.” And after the reprimand she responded quickly, “But, daddy, we were just playing church.”
I my line of work, I personally do not like church fights. I like it when everyone in the congregation is getting together with one another. We are being kind and caring towards each other. But every now and then, problems will arise in a congregation. I have been involved in this thing we call church politics. It really happens all the time. Someone talks with someone else in the congregation. You would believe that a lot of church business is done outside of church meetings. This is just the nature of church. People are going to talk about issues with one another. This is fine as long as no one is hurt or gossiped about in a negative way. The problem I have is when church talk turns into church politics. This is where people are campaigning for their rights over another person’s rights. This is where people attack reputations and personalities. Unfortunately, I have seen this happen and maybe a few times at the center of the war. But I was the man at the middle of the battle field being fired at.
You maybe have felt that same thing before. Maybe not in a church setting, but in the work place or in the community, because you stood up and someone wanted to knock you down. You in the work place have had rumors spread about you and your family. You have maybe even lost a job because someone did not like you and they had the ear of your boss. Politics happen all round us every day. You could have been a victim and I bet some of you have been involved in playing dirty politics before. You have started campaigns against people. You were calling friends up in this town to side with you or to tell them the true side of the story. You have been talked about in a negative way because of politics in the work place or community or family.
Would you like to know how to deal with these situations? Would you like some help in knowing how to deal with people who play dirty politics against you? Many of us might be tempted to play back. You know an eye for an eye principle. If someone attacks me and my family, we will attack back even worst. So instead of showing Christ we show revenge to people. We hurt people in the same way they have hurt us. But would you not like to know of a better way than to simply fight back. Not a way where you lose but in the end you win. Do you want to know how to defend yourself from people who play dirty politics at work, church, and in the community and still maintain the attitude of Christ?
Fortunately, we have a case in the Bible where some dirty politics have taken place. It is found in Matthew 26:47-56 “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, accompanied by a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him." And immediately he went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said^ to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? "How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?" At that time Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. "But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
In verse 47 we see a typical politic fight. Someone has went out and caused some problems. This is the beginning of politics in life. Someone turns against you. Instead of dealing with the problem privately, they went out and rallied some people to their cause. It becomes a group mindset. They even over prepare for the work. Cubs and swords for Jesus, they were not going to war against an army, but one man. In dirty politics, there is no limit on the damage people will do. It is a totally unmerciful event. People are not looking to hurt you in bad politics; they are looking to destroy you. They do not want you to just get in trouble with the boss, or have to do some extra work. They are looking to have you fired from work and be the scorn of the town. People in the church playing dirty politics are looking to ruin the reputation of an elder, have the minister shipped out of town, or cause the congregation to completely reject a certain member. In politics people have an all or nothing mindset. It is the sign of overacting.
But you would never know that you are about to be set up by some people. Look at Judas, he comes with a kiss. Most of you know that a kiss in this culture is a sign of friendship and trust. It is a symbol of love. But Judas approaches Jesus like a friend but really he is an enemy. Most people who have it out to hurt you are not up front with their intentions. They will pretend to like you and want to help you. They are two-faced to you. Because they will hide the really intentions in the heart, like Judas who greets Jesus with a respectful term of Rabbi and kiss him. Outwardly he is looking like a friend, but inwardly he has evil intentions.
I remember the time that Don Simpson told us at Brown Trail about a certain man in the congregation. Don said that for some time he was hearing that this man was talking to people about having Don fired. He did not like Don and wanted him out of the church. He was planting rumors and gossip into any ear pots he could find. This is why Don was amazed one Sunday morning. After services, Don was greeting the members. The man walked up to him and told him he wanted to give him something. Don walked out side with the man and the man pulled out a fifty dollar bill. Don was somewhat shocked and did not want to take the money. The man kept insisting that he did. The man was telling Don of how happy he was that Don was with the congregation. He was stunted by this and did not feel that everything was right. Maybe he repented, but he did not feel good about the situation. Finally, he did and the man went on. The next week during the men’s business meeting the same man stood up and made a motioned that Don would be fired from the congregation. Don always reminded us to beware of the gift that comes from an enemy. There are hidden motives in some gifts.
But like every politic fight in church and in the workplace or the community. There are some who are against you and for you. In this case Peter is certainly for Christ. He pulls out his sword and cuts off an ear. Jesus quickly tells him to put the sword away. He is not helping but only escalating the situation. We must be careful about making matters worst in politic fights in life. We all have the natural desire to fight fire with fire. You come after me; watch what I will do to you. Maybe you have felt this way before. Someone starts to go on a political campaign against you, and you go after them with no mercy. You are looking to destroy them before they destroy you. But Jesus says this is not the way to handle people who play dirty politics. He tells Peter to put the sword back. In fact, if Jesus wanted to fight with force, he could have called 12,000 thousand angels to fight the battle. Just one angel can destroy an entire army, imagine what 12,000 can do.
Maybe you have seen this at church. Sometimes a minister will be fired. Maybe this is not right; he is an innocent victim of church politics. But instead of doing what is best for the church, he starts to attempt to attack the elders. The elders may be wrong in their actions, but the minister is wrong too. He starts to build people into a group to lead a charge to start another church or to go to another church. The preacher wants to hurt the elders like the elders have hurt him. And there are always people willing to follow the preacher into battle against the eldership. Instead of anything positive happening, the congregation and the Lord’s body is hurt in the town. Playing dirty politics to defend you from dirty politics makes everyone dirty.
So what are we to do when people are out to get us? You do not want to lie down and be destroyed. First of all, realize that those who play dirty politics are cowards. Someone that will talk about you to everyone else is a coward. Someone that will watch you doing your work or life in the community or workplace and is jealous or hateful and will not come to talk with you is a coward. You do not have to fight with a coward, they are already afraid. Second of all, in the end, doing right is always right. You may not win the first fight, you may not win the battle that time, but in the end, the Lord will give you the victory. You will be proved right in the long run. Jesus realizes that he must die to be glorified. You might have to lose this battle, but you will win the war. People will realize through right living that you are not to blame. Jesus gives this principle in Matthew 5:39-41 “"But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” Jesus is not telling Christians to be pushovers. He is telling them to defend themselves with right living. In that day, a person will only owe maybe a shirt and a robe or coat. If someone takes your shirt, give them your robe too. Because in this way, the person will be nude standing in front of you and you will be embarrassed by your own actions. Also, during that day, the Romans soldier came only ask a Jew to carry his stuff for one mile, if he made him walk more, the soldier would be in trouble. So Jesus is saying, you walk two miles, and I promise you that a soldier would never ask again. Can you imagine the soldier fighting to get his stuff back from the Jews? You act in such a loving and kind and serving nature that you will embarrasses the person attacking you. Doing right will win any politic fight in the long run.
A wise teacher once said “an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” Playing dirty politics against dirty politics makes everyone filthy.
