The Angst of Politics

Are you like me? Do you languish over the state of our world? Do you see the oppression and injustice and long to give up? Do you wonder where hope is to be found? That was Solomon's case in Ecclesiastes 4. 

Ecclesiastes 4:1 (ESV) Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.

The world is full of oppressors and oppression. They are those who take power or gain power and abuse power over those whom they overpower. It hurts to see and it causes many to question God's existence. 

What is at the heart of oppression? It is segregation of mankind. The division of brother and sister, neighbors, boss and employee or ruler and citizen. When we forget that we belong to each other, oppression is one of the inevitable results. 

Then Solomon looks at the rat race:

Ecclesiastes 4:4 (ESV) Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

This is also an exhausting reality. The rat race whereby we measure our value against our neighbor and consider how we can one-up them. This too divides us against one another and comes from the evil one. 

Finally Solomon considers isolation. 

Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 (ESV) Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

The division of humanity leads to a singleness of life. And it doesn't stop our quest to get more but only leads to harder living. 

The point of all this observation is simple: When we divide from one another we all lose. 

So Solomon turns to the truths that bring us purpose and joy:

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (ESV) Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The benefit of community! If you we stop letting our desire for power, being better or having more control us we can find the joy of teamwork and cooperation. We have someone who will lift us up when we are down and someone to lift up when they are down. Moreover, we are stronger together. 

This is why the toxic political environment of our age is so dangerous. We have been groomed to hate others. Now for sure, the Church cannot and must not be in spiritual community with the world. We are here for them, not with them. We are here to testify to Jesus, not compromise what we believe and do to be liked by them. But too often the division of the world comes in and divides the church. I fear this is because we do not hear the voice of God in our churches. We hear the words of men, the advice of gurus and the postulations of a popular preacher. So Solomon draws us back to the house of God for the original purpose: to listen to God. 

Ecclesiastes 5:1 (ESV) Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.

The answer to poisonous politics and divisive spirits in our world is to humble ourselves and stand before God - letting Him speak and change what we think.