LET'S GO THERE | WEEK 5
“The Donkey, the Elephant & the Lamb”
Pastor Rory Chance
The Donkey, the Elephant & the Lamb
“So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” —Matthew 22:21
In this series, we’ve been going there: talking about the hard topics where Christians often feel confused, unsure, or haven’t always handled things well. This week we went to one of the hardest of all: politics.
The political temperature in our country has gone up. Many of us have lost friends, argued with family, or felt tension in relationships because of it. In 2016, 47% of Republicans said Democrats were more immoral than other Americans, and 35% of Democrats said the same about Republicans. By 2022, those numbers were 72% and 63%. We don’t just disagree with ideas anymore. We think the people are bad.
Here’s why we need to talk about it: politics divide people that God wants to unite. The real danger is when our politics start shaping our faith instead of our faith shaping our politics. Jesus will never let you down. Parties and politicians inevitably will.
In Matthew 22, just days after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, two groups who couldn’t stand each other teamed up to trap Him. The Pharisees were religious conservatives who resented Roman rule. The Herodians were secular materialists who backed Rome’s king. They were the original donkey and elephant. Their question: “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” Jesus asked for a coin, and in His answer He showed us three things every Christian should do when politics try to separate us from our purpose.
Choose Truth Over Talking Points
The trap was simple: pick a side. Say yes, and lose everyone who resented Rome. Say no, and get arrested. Today, say the wrong thing and you get canceled. It often feels easier to say nothing at all.
But Jesus refused to pick a talking point. Both sides had talking points. Jesus had truth, and truth is too big to fit in one party. If Jesus is Lord and Scripture is our lens, we will never perfectly align with one party on every issue. If you never disagree with your preferred party, politics may be discipling you more than Jesus is.
There is no political test for being a Christian. Matthew, who wrote this passage, was a tax collector who worked for Rome. Simon the Zealot wanted to overthrow Rome. Both walked with Jesus. Disagreement is unavoidable. Division is always a choice. And if it really is “us vs. them,” then them is the mission field.
“…that all of them may be one… so that the world may believe.” —John 17:21
Choose Purpose Over Politics
Jesus could have sided with the cause of freedom from Rome. He didn’t. He was more interested in establishing the Kingdom of God than controlling the systems of man. Jesus didn’t come to start a rebellion; He came to start a revival. You don’t have to control the world to change it.
Christians have three choices: retreat from the world, rebel against the world, or revive the world. The third way is to represent Christ in culture. Vote. Serve. Hold office. Pray for your leaders. Be a modern-day Joseph or Daniel. Before you cast a ballot, bend a knee.
But never let politics become your hope. Even if your party won every election and passed every law, the world would still be broken, and it would still need rescuers and revivalists to pull people out of darkness into light.
Choose the King Over the Candidate
The coin in Jesus’ hand called Tiberius “son of the divine Augustus” on one side and “high priest” on the other. Both titles actually belong to Jesus. The world gives us imperfect candidates, but the King is still on the throne. We submit to temporary powers, but we bow to a higher King. We live under candidates, but we serve the King.
Think about an Airbnb. You don’t get upset about the HOA rules there, because you’re not there to fix the HOA. It’s a temporary stay. As followers of Jesus, we are foreigners and ambassadors here.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God.” —1 Peter 2:12
The early church said “Jesus is Lord” in a world that said “Caesar is Lord.” Jesus isn’t running for president of your party. He wants to be Lord of your life.
Follow the Lamb
When Jesus held up that coin, His critics were amazed and walked away. The trap failed because Jesus wasn’t playing their game. The world wants us to ride for the donkey or ride for the elephant, but God called us to follow the Lamb.
The Lamb loves. The Lamb lays down His life. The Lamb leads with grace. The Lamb doesn’t draw lines; He crosses them. Before you post, before you vote, before you answer at the dinner table, ask what the Lamb asks: What does love require of me?
The world wants you to be a political activist, but you were called to be a Kingdom ambassador. The world wants you to fight to change policy; you were called to rescue people. The world wants you to hate your enemy; you were called to love your neighbor. The world wants you to fight for control; you were called to serve and surrender.
Choose truth over talking points, purpose over politics, and the King over the candidate. One day, every nation, tribe, and language will stand before the throne and before the Lamb. So don’t follow the donkey. Don’t follow the elephant. Choose the Lamb.
