Friday, May 15

M.A. in Politics


The beauty of today’s politics is that people can laugh at it. It has always been so since sometime. As India counts the votes, most people will laugh and some cry.

Politics is a dirty word, yet essential. I wonder why universities award a degree in politics! I must find out what is the syllabus academies follow. I guess one aspect surely is inclusive in their syllabus: Horse-trading. Even without any university education, some of our politicians excel in horse-trading. Imagine if they were to have adorned a degree in politics!

As Christians, what can we make of politics? Politics and faith, politics in faith, politics and Church, politics in Church, politics and social governance are all hotly debated subjects among Christians. From the forests of Nicaragua to the streets of Poland, Christians and the Church of Christ have been active in politics. But, the social and the moral values that today’s politicians harp are the very same that the Word of God spoke a thousand years ago. So, what is the big thing in politics?

Looking at the story of Jesus, we know that he lived in a politically charged society. Palestine was a nation under siege. Theocracy and autocracy respected one another; they balanced each another. Then, in the fullness of time, Messiah emerged in the middle of it all. In St. Luke’s Gospel, the Luken Christ spells out his involvement in society. In fourth chapter, 20th verse Jesus concludes the lesson by saying, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”. Here, Jesus makes a complete claim of the situation. Nevertheless, the same Christ tells us, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

The life of Jesus never tells us to alienate from politics. In fact, Church of Christ is one of the most politicized institutions in the world. Hence, even a person who isn’t interested in politics is drawn into it. However, Christ tells us to give God ‘what belongs to God’. This is the balancing trick in the act. Talk shows, debates and all other products of mass media that orchestrates the political voices in today’s society, should make us a truly a balanced personality. The voice of our conscience should reflect ‘the children of the light’.

As modern politicians backstab and horse trade, I search for a candle and a matchbox. I want to reread my M.A in Politics.

Followers