Christians & Politics

Should They Be Involved?

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Politics! Now there’s a word to get some sparks flying and ignite strong sentiments, while others have no desire to touch it. It’s a four-letter word equivalent that can potentially ignite verbal and even physical altercations. This can be anywhere, anytime, and in whatever company the subject is discussed. It can seem like there are no safe places anywhere. The dinner table for example used to be safe, now it can feel like a minefield of booby traps that can easily escalate to nuclear bomb size detonations. The resulting fallout can leave crater-sized wounds and frighteningly ghoulish-looking internal scars that some will choose to take to their grave in the wake of the destruction left behind. Well, maybe I exaggerated just a bit … but most of us have seen or even experienced something comparable.

Swimming with the sharks

Years ago, I met a sitting Congresswoman who was accompanied by others in her employ. I inquired as to how things were in Washington and she responded, It’s like swimming with the sharks. The following words came from my mouth without hesitation, that it is not necessarily a bad thing. Needless to say, I now had everybody’s attention as the Congresswoman and her entourage all turned to look at me. I explained that when you survive being around sharks you learn a few things, experience growth, and become stronger …

Political fallout

Sadly, friends and families have experienced division. Lifetime relationships are broken and fragmented into pieces that are sometimes never restored. Marriages are tested and sometimes broken under the strain, resulting in separation or divorce — all because of political disagreement. Unfortunately, this divide that sometimes lead to broken relationships is not limited to those without any faith convictions, but also to those who do. Ultimately, the problem is not the disagreement. People, whether they identify with faith or not, will always have opposing opinions. It is to be respected — even when contrary to your belief. It is our response that makes the difference.

That raises the question, what if you respond appropriately but the other participant/s don’t. What then? There are times when your best efforts are just not enough. Your friend or loved one walks away with smoke coming from their ear. Phone conversations could result in what feels like a scorched ear from overheated EMF. Even so, we still have the power of prayer at our disposal. This may take time, but through prayer, God can turn what the enemy meant for evil into good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).

The spiritual roots

My interest and curiosity in the topic were aroused when I observed how polarizing politics was becoming, even among people of faith, and so I set out to address it from a practical, historical, and spiritual perspective. The following is written based on my belief that both the practical and historical are ultimately based on the spiritual. Everything is rooted in the spiritual — but not everything is practical.

Conducting an informal poll with a sample size of about fifty primarily middle-aged and older adults with some twenty-somethings thrown in was my starting point. The results were decidedly one-sided. The question was, should Christians engage in political debates or seek political office?

I am usually a skeptic about polls because the sample size, demographics, and the way the question is framed can all impact the outcome of a poll to support an agenda. For the record — my only agenda is the search for truth.

Let’s continue by examining the practical and historical part of this question. While it was not a requirement, the large majority of the original politicians in America either identified as Christ-followers or had a foundation of faith. In fact, pastors were considered experts in politics based on their Christian worldview, and it was considered honorable to serve in political office. Their decisions, actions, and legislation though imperfect, were, for the most part, guided by the understanding of their faith. My, how things have changed …

Separation of Church & State

A discussion on this topic would not be complete without touching on the well-known but sometimes still misunderstood separation of church and state comment by Thomas Jefferson in response to the Danbury Baptist Church in Connecticut. This was to address concerns by some who were concerned about government interference or establishment of a state-sponsored religion and control over people’s faith and right to worship. Jefferson provided reassurance that the government would (a) allow the free practice of religion and protect that right. (b) would not establish any state-sponsored religion.

Governments, we are told in Romans 13, were instituted by God. “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” So the logical question would be, What is the role we as Christians should play in such a government? Should we have any input or leadership, or should our input be limited to the act of voting?

Ancient Israel

Historically speaking in ancient Israel, we see where they had more than their fair share of evil kings. King Solomon, son of King David is identified as the wisest man in the Bible. The following words are believed to be written by him, When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Solomon was of the few godly leaders that Israel was blessed with. He continues in verse 14 of Proverbs 29: If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. Unfortunately, that kind of leadership did not occur often enough in ancient Israel. The good news is that God not only held them accountable but showed mercy. What about America?

The Current Political Climate

Fast forward to the modern political picture in America. I believe we can all agree that the word politics has become a dirty word for many. Going back to the poll result. Those who believe that Christians should engage in political debate and seek political office dominated the poll with most answering yes to both parts of the question. The dissenting opinions, on the other hand, could be counted on one hand.

Frankly, I was surprised to see such a low number of dissenting opinions. Also interesting to note was that the younger twenty-something and up - whether professing faith in God or not, was overwhelmingly in favor of Christians and people of faith having an equal voice in the arena of politics. Some voiced their surprise that the question was even being asked - or was even “a thing.”

So what do we do? How do we respond as believers? The poll results strongly suggested that those who disagreed with Christians expressing themselves and serving in political office were mostly confined to a minority within the faith community itself.

Those who answered yes predictably provided similar arguments in support of their opinion for godly input into the country’s leadership. The dissenting opinions included the blatant corruption in government today, citing those with good intentions who get caught up in the temptations and corruption that all too often accompany the power structure. The more power and authority given, the greater the temptation. Who was it that said, “Ultimate power corrupts ultimately? Such concerns are legitimate when some represent themselves as Christ-followers; then bear bitter fruit when given the mantle of leadership.

It is my humble opinion, based on the surrounding evidence that the enemy is attempting to sow division and discord among those of us who profess to walk by faith. We would do well to guard against that, and when those among us choose to participate in the political arena, let it not divide us — but instead, unify us (John 17:20-23). Let us not place ideology before theology — but continue striving to be the salt and light that we are called to be. Let us not gain the world and lose our souls in the process.

Having said that, we stand in opposition to the one that seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. To destroy, he uses whatever means necessary to deceive and divide. He does not play fair. Could it be that he wants to silence the very people whom he fears can make a meaningful difference; those who have a sincere desire to please God? Wouldn’t he love to eliminate Christians from political discourse and office? In the current American culture, everything is presented as politics but is it really? The government has intruded in the most private areas of our life. For example, when and why did abortion become a political issue? God was not happy with the people of Israel for the practice of sacrifice through infanticide. Now, our knowledge has increased, but so has our wickedness in the sight of God.

However we choose to respond to the question of political engagement, it is incumbent on us to respect each other’s opinions. When we choose to respond let it be with wisdom and respect for the opinion of others. Let us listen twice as much as we speak, and our speech be passionate but gentle and respectful. It has been said that the best way to share the Gospel is in how we live — and less in what we say. But words are also important. For some, God may be leading you to serve in the political swamp of snakes, barracudas, gators, and whatever else awaits you.

Finally, the Bible instructs us to pray for those in leadership — regardless of how we feel toward them. Even when we do not support their policies. That commitment to prayer is expected of each of us and is perhaps the single most important deed we can do for our nation. Ultimately, the solutions to what ails us are not found in man but in God. Solomon in his wisdom, underscored that truth when he commented in Proverbs 29:18 (GNT), A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law!

In His service,

Rick B