Politics of Truth06.04.10
Aired on April 06, 2010
Narration by Mike Lacanilao.
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Politics of Truth
The 2010 elections are just two months away. We may be wondering, “Why should Christians get involved in politics? Why should we get tainted by this dirty business?”
Indeed, politics, as we know it, is dirty. It has driven some to use money, violence and force. It makes otherwise clean people, even good Christians, to become corrupt. People cheat, steal, and lie to get what they want.
This is not the politics Jesus wants. Faced with imminent death at the hands of Rome and Jerusalem, he stood against the politics of convenience that Pontius Pilate personified. Jesus was charged by the Jewish authorities as subversive of Caesar in claiming he was King of the Jews. Pilate asked him, “So then, you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:37-38, NRSV)
For Pilate, truth was just a word. He knew Jesus was innocent, but he could not stand up for it. He needed to be on the good side of the chief priests and scribes. He had to keep his influence in Rome, as well as pacify the Jews.
In contrast, Jesus says that those who truly listen to him are those who are on the side of the truth. True followers of Jesus stand for the truth. It may sound weak, because it requires no force of arms to enforce it. It may be unpopular, because living the truth sometimes means prizing it above convenient relationships. It may be unprofitable, because it demands giving up ambition and easy wealth. But truth sets us free, it creates trust and increases the credibility of our institutions.
As the polls draw near, whose side will we be on? Will we let the politics of convenience of Pontius Pilate lead us to continuing poverty, injustice, and untruth? Or will we stand for Jesus and the politics of truth? Shall we go by the flow of our political currents and vote with the crowd? Or shall we try to discern the truth in the claims of politicians and vote according to the call of our conscience? If we do, then our nation may see a government that will be honest, responsible, and accountable.
“Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Let us heed the voice of Jesus and begin, with God’s help, to redeem our politics.