Nothing like the Bible to mess with our politics. (But, hey, it’s OLD Testament, so feel free to “ignore it.”)

¹⁸ He enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing. ¹⁹ That means you must also love immigrants because you were immigrants in Egypt. ²⁰ Revere the Lord your God, serve him, cling to him, swear by his name alone! (Deut. 10:18-20, CEB)

We can probably leave that whole “compassion” thing back in the Old Testament. That “being kind to your neighbor” thing… SOOOOO Old Testament.

³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. ³⁵ One of them, a legal expert, tested him. ³⁶ “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. ³⁸  This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹  And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. ⁴⁰  All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matt 22:34-40, CEB)

But Matthew is BARELY into the New Testament.

Kingdom living has no true “political” leanings. Kingdom living has a level of allegiance that no political party could EVER demand out of us. I think it’s why we just drift down to political parties and bumper sticker statements. Kingdom living is just so daggum difficult!