Kevin McGloin’s Reflection

Formed by the Gospel, Not by Political Ideology

In our world today where political ideologies often shape the loudest voices and social media clouds the lines between truth and opinion, it is vital for Christians to stop and ask a foundational question: Where do my beliefs and values originate?  Are they fashioned primarily by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or are they shaped by the agendas of political parties, ideologies or cultural influences?  Do we look more to CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC to influence our political beliefs then to the teachings of Jesus?

As followers of Christ, we return to this simple truth: our identity is in Jesus, and our values flow from the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

We are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God.  St. Paul reminds us in Galatians 2:20, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” This means our worldview, our decisions, our sense of right and wrong are to be modeled by Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection.

Our primary identity is not Democrat, Republican, Independent, or any other label. It is Christian—a disciple of Jesus. This means our values should not be filtered through the lens of politics, but rather through the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus.   It is the good news of God’s love for all people, the invitation to repentance, mercy, humility, and justice. It challenges every human system, including political ones, because it is rooted not in power and dominance, but in the unconditional love of the cross.

When Jesus began His public ministry, He proclaimed: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). This call to repentance isn’t just personal, it’s also cultural. It invites us to lay down our political suppositions and let the Kingdom of God re-form our hearts and minds and eventually our beliefs and values.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) offers us a profound reimagining of what it means to live in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus turns the values of the world upside down.

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.   He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes encompasses a radical set of principles:

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, not the self-reliant.
• Blessed are the merciful, not the vengeful.
• Blessed are the peacemakers, not the power-seekers.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, not popularity or control.

The Gospel confronts us to love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39). It calls us to be peacemakers, to show mercy, to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. It teaches us humility, justice, forgiveness, and sacrificial love. This is not optional or a suggestion, it is at the heart of the Gospel message.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) also illustrates this teaching:

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.  A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  Likewise, a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’  Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”  He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

This passage demonstrates authentic justice goes beyond discrimination and social norms; it invites us to love with encounter and action. Being a Christian means stepping into the misery of one’s suffering — offering mercy, kindness, and sympathy even when it’s problematic, awkward or an inopportune time.  In doing so, we reflect the unlimited love of God and we open ourselves to be fashioned and formed by Gospel values.

When we allow political platforms to shape our moral compass more than Scripture does, we risk distorting the message of Jesus.  Politics may offer helpful frameworks for civic life, but no political party fully embodies the Gospel.

Each has strengths and limitations. As Christians we are challenged to be vigilant and discerning, constantly measuring every position, every opinion, and every policy against the truth of God’s Word, not the rhetoric of party leaders or the attraction of popular culture.

Being a Christian means being shaped by the cross. We are Christians first, before we are anything else. The cross must shape our conscience more than the campaign. The Gospel must form our minds more than the news cycle.  It means following Jesus even when it is uncomfortable, even when it goes against the grain of the party we may have grown up supporting.   It means standing for life, justice, compassion, integrity, and truth; these are the morals and principles Jesus exemplified and embodied.

Being politically aware and involved is good and necessary. But our faith must not be co-opted by political allegiance.   As Christians we are called not to shut others out, distance ourselves because of divergent views, or seek to silence them because we disagree. We are called to love them, as Jesus did, always striving to be in dialogue and seeking peace with them.

May the Gospel be the foundation of how we think, speak, vote, and act. May it guide our conversations, our choices, and our relationships. May Jesus’ message remind us our hope is not in earthly power but in a risen Savior.

In the end, when we stand before God, we will not be asked what party we belonged to, but whether we belonged to Christ, and whether we lived in a way that reflected His love.

So, when we are tempted to ask whether we are “left” or “right,” perhaps the better question is: Am I living in a way that reflects Jesus?