While browsing at the bookstore the other day, I flipped through a new novel titled American Savior: A Novel of Divine Politics, by Roland Merullo. The premise is that Jesus, fed-up with being hijacked by politicians using him to further their own agendas, decides to return to earth and run for U.S. President.
Would Jesus really be interested in being President of the United States?
Jesus was not even interested in being made king of his own chosen people (John 6:15). How likely is it then that he would be interested in campaigning for political office?
It is an ancient temptation for humans to believe that salvation means rescue from temporal worldly travails rather than salvation from sin. Many Jews expected a political messiah who would rescue them from Rome – including Jesus’ own disciples after his passion, death, and resurrection should have enlightened them as to the nature of his mission (Acts 1:1-6). Even in our own time and in our own country, political leaders across the spectrum of ideological thought have been endowed with messianic qualities and expected to create a “shining city upon a hill” in the United States.
Jesus’ mission was to free us from sin and to make it possible for us to become holy. Insofar as this temporary, perishable world concerned him, it was because it is the place where men work out their salvation by loving their neighbor and caring for the world entrusted to their stewardship.
DISCLAIMER: Catholic Answers has turned over the archive to Catholic-Questions.org and no longer owns, manages, or moderates the forums. For additional apologetics resources please visit www.catholic.com.
