Adventism as Political Orientation
“So…are you a socialist or a capitalist?”Smiling, I respond to my imaginary inquisitor, “I’m an adventist.”
A cheeky response no doubt. After a good chuckle, he tries again, offering “But really..?” to which I answer, “Adventist, yours truly.”
Do I lob oranges into the apple cart? So it may seem, but a closer examination reveals otherwise. However strange a bedfellow, Adventism is immensely political. Conversely, socialism, capitalism, liberalism, and every other political “ism” are immensely theological. For now, leave the latter to consider the former.
Adventism is Political
Political claims are latent within Adventism. Adventism maintains that Jesus of Nazareth is King of all kings and that his universal authority will be revealed when he visibly returns to earth with his kingdom. In this return, he will introduce new heavens and a new earth (aka new infrastructure!). Justice will be served when he issues his ruling on the fate of every person from his throne of judgment. War will be no more; peace shall reign forever.
Most of these outcomes are desired, if not promised, by every political theory. The concrete difference is the authority through which they are achieved. The socialist believes in the power of programs, the capitalist in power of markets, and the liberal in the power of the individual. Each of them maintain that by some human power we can achieve the lasting harmony we seek. The adventist maintains that this will only be realized by divine power when King Jesus dwells among us in his glory.
One way or another, adventism substantially alters our political calculations. Without Christ’s return, we can only resort to political fanaticism or the deepest apathy. If Republicans are stopping heaven from coming to earth, if Democrats are squelching all dreams of a Golden Age, does not hatred emerge as a virtue? We might reject Christ, but we always require devils to fight. Anyone who opposes the savior must be the devil, and if I am my own savior, then all who oppose me are devils. As it so happens, this is what we see in a society that has forgotten Christ’s return.
Remembering that Christ is King, humbles the estimation of our own abilities. That he must return to get things right, reminds us that we are not as sharp as we think. Jesus frees us from treating our fellow man as devils, because he reveals that our battle is not with flesh and blood. The adventist doesn’t promise perfect political harmony in this age, but he can make peace amidst differences because his kingdom is not of this age.
No longer wagering our perfect happiness, we can attend to making the best of things, knowing our joy is secure. Adventism does not mute the intermediate political theories, but it does subordinate them. It will cause you to be a “bad” socialist, capitalist, or what have you, because you trust in a different authority for the ultimately desired outcomes. Adventism is a political orientation that subjugates everything in its domain. With Christ as king, how could it do anything less?
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [
- Philippians 2:9-11 ESV]
Therefore we set our hearts and hopes on that advent as the goal of promise, of joy and light. It means that we do not place our hope on what man can do for mankind, or on what the church, civilization or social service can do for the world, but only upon what Christ can and will do for the race by and following his second coming. Success to every worthy effort for world-betterment, but above and beyond all this we wait for the day of Christ, the day of redemption, of resurrection and restoration.
-Albert C. Johnson, "The Church Ready and Waiting for the Second Advent" in Adventism Triumphant, p. 67