“Love Your Enemy: The Politics No One Wants”

Let’s be honest: much of what passes for “Christian politics” in America today has little to do with Jesus. We’ve hijacked His name to prop up our platforms, draped Him in party colors, and acted as if He came to secure our votes instead of our souls. But the Jesus of Scripture refuses to be weaponized. His kingdom doesn’t fit our categories, and His politics will offend everyone who tries to make Him their mascot. If your Jesus always agrees with your politics, it’s not Him you’re worshipping—it’s yourself.

If Jesus were to engage with Christian Nationalists, he would say:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36, NIV)

This wasn’t a rejection of justice or civic life but a declaration of purpose. Jesus didn’t come to reform governments; He came to transform hearts. His politics were not rooted in power, conquest, or control but in love, humility, and sacrifice.

Consider how Jesus interacted with political groups of His day. The Pharisees wanted religious law enforced. The Zealots sought violent revolution against Roman rule. The Sadducees cooperated with the empire for personal gain. Yet Jesus didn’t align Himself with any of them. He challenged corruption and injustice wherever He saw it, but refused to let His mission be reduced to a political campaign.

Jesus' politics prioritised the marginalised. He healed the sick, touched the untouchable, and uplifted the poor. He told His followers to love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and turn the other cheek. These teachings weren’t politically expedient; they were revolutionary. They still are, even though many ‘Christians’ in America seem to disagree.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) could be called Jesus' political manifesto. In it, Jesus blessed the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers—not the powerful, the rich, or the aggressive. He wasn’t pushing for votes; He was building a new humanity.
So, what do Jesus' politics mean for us today? It means followers of Jesus are called to live as citizens of a higher kingdom, marked not by who we vote for, but by how we love. It means engaging in the world without becoming enslaved by it. It means speaking truth to power but never trading the cross for a throne.

Jesus’ politics are radical, subversive, and full of grace. They invite us not to take sides but to take up our cross and follow him…everywhere and to everyone.

Four ways to apply Jesus’ kingdom politics to everyday life

1. Refuse to Let Politics Define Your Identity
Our deepest belonging is not to a party or ideology but to Christ. Paul reminds us: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Let your faith shape your identity more than cultural or political labels.

2. Practice Enemy-Love in a Polarized World
Jesus said, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This doesn’t mean avoiding hard truths, but it does mean refusing to mirror the hostility and contempt that dominate our public square.

3. Prioritize the Marginalized
Kingdom politics turns our attention to the vulnerable. Jesus declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… freedom for the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Following Him means choosing compassion and advocacy over indifference and self-interest.

4. Live the Sermon on the Mount in Small Ways
Jesus’ “political manifesto” begins with: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). In daily life, we reflect His kingdom by seeking reconciliation, practicing mercy, and embodying humility wherever we are planted.

These practices don’t withdraw us from the world—they immerse us in it with a different allegiance. We live as citizens of Christ’s kingdom, marked by love, truth, and grace.
Jesus’ politics aren’t about seizing power but laying it down. They aren’t about winning elections but about winning hearts through sacrificial love. To follow Jesus is to resist the temptation to baptize our politics with divine authority. Instead, we live as ambassadors of a kingdom that transcends human systems.

In the end, Jesus’ words guide us: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). To live this way is to engage deeply in the world, but with a posture that says: Christ is Lord, and no political ideology can take His place.