Most of us would prefer to ignore politics. In the US people have the luxury or some would say disadvantage of non compulsory voting. In Australia we winge about having to vote especially in light of recent years where no particular party seems worthy or capable of running the country. With all the media attention it’s impossible for our kids neither to have noticed the US election nor to have missed the name Donald Trump.

Our attitudes towards politics and government will also shape what our kids make of them.

Is there anything good about human government?

Should we vote? Should we teach our kids it’s a waste of time?

What is the role model we should be offering our kids on politics?

Christmas will soon follow the current political race in the US (but not before Thanksgiving) and the great thing about having all this political election stuff going on is that it actually ties into Christmas really nicely. I was so struck by the political nature of Christmas I wrote a live show and publish a sticker story for kids to enjoy that  highlights this key aspect of Christmas. Both the live show and the sticker story are called ‘Who’s For You?’

Why politics is essential to understand Christmas

Christmas is ‘the greatest political event of the all time’, yet we rarely hear or see anyone talk about it in such terms. Sure we see rustic mangers and sheep, wise men and moving stars, but not voting booths or polling banners. What, you didn’t see those in the gospels too?

But when you think back to the reason Mary and Joseph found themselves without a room and laying baby Jesus in a manger…it’s because they were following the directions of their leaders. They had to travel to Bethlehem from Nazareth to be counted in Augustus Caesar’s census. In Australia we all know the pain of a census. We just went electronic for the first time and what a debacle! But we all did complete the census…well I’m sure most did.

Respect leaders

So lesson no.1 for our kids has to be submission to leaders. Obey your authorities, give them due honour. Mary and Joseph didn’t run and hide or run a protest march. They just got on with it and lived with the inconvenience. We want our kid to support the captain of their team, listen to their coach and teachers.

But it's more than just godliness, you’ll also undermine your own authority if you ignore and disregard political authority as a parent. The key function of government is to represent the people and in particular make judgment, 'bearing the sword' if you like. As parents we hold an 'office' of representation that predates government. We stand for our kids; we make decisions on their behalf and we are the ones who punish wrong and keep order. Our political function is of course one of love and hopefully full of kindness but firmness. What parent doesn’t want their kids to obey them??

We are told by Luke’s gospel that Caesar, back in the first century AD, was holding a census of the Roman Empire, counting heads for taxation purposes. Now this detail may seem insignificant but it provides a very important political context for Jesus’ birth.

Two kings counting heads – but who’s for you?

Joseph and Mary show respect and submission appropriately to authority. They obediently follow Caesar’s edict to be counted for his little kingdom. But they also show respect by fearing God and choosing to do what he has asked of them...which is have the baby that is not from their union but borne by the Holy Spirit.

While Caesar counts heads another leader, Jesus, comes to ‘count’ all people of all time. Since Jesus is borne of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, he is both God and man. This makes him able to represent all humanity to God and all God to humanity. That’s why the virgin birth narrative is so important. That’s why the gospel writers tie Jesus human birth to his father’s ancestry in King David. Jesus is the king who will reign forever and restore the created order between man and God. All other kingdoms and governments, Trumps and Clintons, are a blip compared to the scope and longevity of Christ Jesus reign.

You have to make a choice and decide who is for you. Hillary or Trump are important decisions. But even more significant is whether you are with Christ Jesus.  Willyou face God without representation…alone? To appreciate what Jesus offers, you need to know you’re up the spout without him. You need to feel the gaping chasm between yourself and God. The Christmas season celebrates the bridging of that chasm. God became man so that man could dwell with God.

So Christmas is about casting your vote for self government or Jesus.

Who's For You?

Book Now: Who’s For You Live show…book now on www.antonsantics.com

Order Now: Who’s For You sticker stories order now for Christmas here