PARTISIPASI KRISTIANI DALAM POLITIK DI INDONESIA: Antara Mitos, Realita, dan Politik Yesus

Abstract

This writing is meant to critize some myths that the Indonesian Christians and churches have often used to determine Christian participation in politics in Indonesia. Beliefs that politics is an activity done in the public area outside the church toward which Christians can choose whether to get involved, that politics is the most effective means to change society, and that politics aims to strive for the interest of many above group interest, are simply myths. This writing shows that all of us are essentially involved in politics once we live together with other people in the same territory, that the approach through the polar of culture is more effective than approaches through the pollars of politics or economics in order to change society, and that the essence of politics is to strive for group interest in the public area in a pluralistic society. The movement initiated by Jesus that offers an alternative politics tosociety by creating a new community living out a new way of life and a new way of relating to others with new values, is a model of an effective approach through the pollar of culture to change society. If we want to implement the politics of Jesus concretely, whether we are politicians working in the world of politics or we are ordinary people, we have to strive for the empowerment of civil society and the enhancement of cultural