Why I Don’t Get Excited About TV or Politics (And Neither Did Jesus)

Spoiler: It’s not apathy—it’s spiritual alignment.

The Great Confusion

People get genuinely confused when I don’t react to the latest late-night TV drama, the trending reality show fiasco, or the political circus dominating the 24-hour news cycle. The question always comes, full of incredulity: “Did you see what happened last night?”

My answer is usually a simple, slightly disarming, “Nope.”

I haven't even owned a television since the late 90s. This isn't a boast of spiritual superiority; it was a divine intervention, an honest correction from the Lord. I had to ditch the box when I woke up to a terrible truth: I could sing more commercial jingles than I could quote Scripture. That was an easy, necessary call. The choice was clear: I traded the endless static of commercials and sensationalism for the silent, nourishing communion with the Holy Spirit. And I have never once regretted it.

Think about the sheer volume of noise we invite into our spirits through that screen. It's not just the violence or the vanity; it's the mental real estate it occupies. Every jingle, every plot twist, every partisan talking point is a seed planted in the garden of your mind. How can we expect to hear the still, small voice of God when our spiritual antenna is constantly tuned to the world's deafening frequency?

The call is to have the mind of Christ. How do we get that mind? By meditating on His Word day and night, not on the latest drama. The world’s primary output is distraction—a highly effective spiritual anesthetic designed to keep us comfortable, entertained, and completely ineffective for the Kingdom.

The Political Obsession: Confusing the Capitol with the Kingdom

If TV is a major distraction, politics often becomes a full-blown spiritual substitute. I see Christians getting tangled up in political debates, campaigns, and partisan battles as if the outcome of the next election were the very Gospel itself. We pour our passion, our time, and our resources into earthly systems that are, by their very nature, temporary and flawed. We treat a political platform as if it were the bedrock of salvation.

Christians get tangled up in politics like it’s the Gospel. But Jesus didn’t campaign, endorse, or debate policy.

Let's be clear: Jesus didn’t campaign, endorse, or debate policy. He didn’t storm Rome to overthrow the occupation. He didn’t start a Political Action Committee (PAC) to fund a favored candidate. His entire ministry was focused on proclaiming one thing: the Kingdom of God. The power He wielded wasn't political; it was supernatural and spiritual. The change He sought wasn't legislative; it was transformational, beginning in the human heart.

Our mandate is not to save a political party; it is to save souls. Our loyalty is not to a flag or a platform; it is to the Cross. When the political obsession rises to the level of devotion, it becomes an idol, pulling our eyes off the King of kings and directing our energy toward temporary thrones.

What Did Jesus Say About Politics? 

If we want to know where to place our excitement and effort, we must look to our ultimate pattern. How much attention did Jesus give to the earthly rulers and the governmental debates of His day? The Bible, our infallible guide, gives us a very concise answer.

Let's meditate on the King James Version of these pivotal moments:

1. The Question of Taxes and Authority

When the Pharisees and scribes tried to trap Him with a question about paying tribute to the Roman Emperor, His answer settled the matter with divine clarity:

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.” (Luke 20:25)

This is not a call to anarchy or revolution; it is a call to spiritual prioritization. Yes, we obey the laws of the land and pay our dues, but the core of our being, our heart, our worship—that belongs exclusively to God. Caesar gets the coin with his image; God gets the soul stamped with His image (Genesis 1:26).

2. The Assessment of King Herod

When warned that Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, sought to kill Him, Jesus didn't flee or organize a counter-political movement. He simply sent a message:

“And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” (Luke 13:32)

A "fox" (a term for cunning and deceit) is the most scathing personal political commentary we get. But notice the context: Jesus immediately pivots from the politician to His own divine mission. The political climate was irrelevant to His agenda. His focus remained on fulfilling the will of the Father: driving out devils and curing people.

3. The Declaration to Pilate

In His ultimate confrontation with the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, Jesus defined the scope and source of His power:

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36)

This is the definitive statement that grounds everything. Our King is not leading a revolution of armies or lobbyists. His Kingdom operates by different laws, is sustained by a different economy, and seeks a different victory. If our focus is to bring about change through earthly fighting—whether physical or political—we are operating outside of the model our King laid out for us.

Flip the Script: From Informing Jesus to Informing the World

The lesson from the "fox" encounter is perhaps the most profound in how we approach the political landscape. Herod was a constant, shifting danger, yet Jesus was not consumed with tracking his every move or legislative decree. He wasn't waiting for the news of what Herod was up to.

Jesus didn’t ask for updates on Herod. He sent Herod a message. We’re not called to inform Jesus about politicians. We’re called to inform politicians about Jesus.

He sent Herod a message. This is the crucial paradigm shift. We have become so consumed with being "informed" about the world that we have forgotten our actual mission: to inform the world about the transforming power of the Gospel. We’re not called to sit at the feet of the evening news to report back to God on how bad things are. God is already sovereign over the chaos.

Our calling is to be ambassadors of a superior Kingdom. We carry a message of reconciliation, not political critique. As the Apostle Paul wrote:

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV)

Our job is to move with the authority of Jesus, who declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” (Matthew 28:18) and then commanded us to go and make disciples. Our true power lies in the spiritual realm, not the ballot box.

The Kingdom vs. The Chaos

We live in a world that thrives on drama and division. It wants to capture your attention and your energy. It wants you to believe that the fate of your faith depends on which talking head has the microphone or which party wins the majority. That is a lie designed to distract you from your true power and purpose.

If Jesus, the Messiah, the King of Glory, only mentioned politicians in passing—and usually to remind them (or us) who is really in charge and what His actual mission was—maybe we should adopt His economy of focus. Let's keep our eyes on the Kingdom, not the chaos.

Let us heed the timeless warning given in the KJV, a warning that applies perfectly to the distractions of the modern age:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Our mandate is clear: Look unto Jesus. His Kingdom is not of this world, and neither should our primary passion be. Let the world have its dramas and its debates. We have a higher calling, a greater King, and a destiny that transcends the temporary troubles of this life. We're called to alignment, not apathy. We are called to the communion, not the commercials.

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What are you trading for communion today? The political noise? The TV drama? The choice is yours. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and consider subscribing to get more insights on living a truly aligned life!