Missional Politics: In Season and Out

Whenever someone asks, "What's your favorite season?", my answer is always the same. It's not Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter.

My favorite season is baseball season. More specifically, my favorite season is the college baseball season. Go Mizzou.

A lot people love the political campaign season.

I wouldn't say I love it, not like some people do, but I do get drawn in by the presidential campaign season. I read and listen to coverage and commentary and analysis from a broad variety of sources, from NPR to Rush Limbaugh, from Politico to Patheos.

There is one season that draws me in more than either the political season or Mizzou baseball season.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior. (Titus 1:1-3)

Yes, it's gospel season. Which means, as Paul says, it's also preaching season.

When it's college baseball season, the ballplayers are at the ballpark, playing the game. And I'm there with the other fans, watching the games.

When it's political campaign season, the presidential hopefuls are on the road, in front of crowds, on the TV, making their pitch to be the next leader of the free world. And politics geeks are watching, reading, soaking it all in.

But when it's gospel season, there are no fans, there are no followers, there are no geeks. When it's gospel season, God's people are actively involved, living the gospel, sharing the gospel, preaching the gospel.

The thing is, it's always gospel season. As Paul said to Titus, now is the time, now is the appointed season for his people to tell the world about the gospel.

Even during baseball season, when I'm cheering on the Tigers in Taylor Stadium, my job is to be on mission, focused more on winning my fellow fans to Jesus than on winning the game.

Even during political season, when I'm having a spirited conversation with my co-worker or some stranger on Twitter, my number one job is to on mission, focused more on winning people to Jesus than on winning the political argument.

Keeping your focus on the gospel when the political action is getting hot is not easy. Just as my zeal for the baseball experience has sometimes caused me to forget I'm there to be an ambassador for Christ, many people lose their firm foundation when they get too wrapped up in politics. As I said in my article in the current issue of Christian Standard, "When someone asks you the reasons for your political stance, do you remember to mention your faith and the name of the One who motivates everything you do? Or would a missional approach conflict with the tone and tenor of your vehement response?"

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (II Timothy 4:1-5)

During the political season, remember to preach the Word. People will not want to hear sound doctrine. They'll prefer to hear sermons and conversations that satisfy their political desires and play to their political fears. They will turn aside to the myth that the outcome of the next presidential election is the most important event of this season, even though the scriptures are clear about who is in control of every season and every nation.

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (Daniel 2:21)

Keep your head straight, rooted in the kind of wisdom and discernment only God can provide. And keep your focus on doing the work of spreading the good news whenever it is gospel season.