Christians and Politics?
There are two topics people are fearful of discussing: religion and politics. Either one can be a powderkeg if people inclined to anger get to discussing controversial issues. When the two overlap, things can get really heated! So, we should just keep religion and politics separate—the old “seperation of church and state” thing, right? I don’t think so. Truth is: Christianity is a wholistic approach to life. It is THE right way of life (Acts 9:2). That includes every aspect of life. We cannot rightly separate our Christian convictions from anything we say, think or do. That includes politics!
I don’t mean that there should be a “Christian Party” on the ballot, nor should church leaders endorse a political party. (In fact, I don’t think Christians should belong to a political party at all, because there isn’t one that wholly and purely stands for Biblical truth.) Christians must first decide whether (and to what degree) we’ll participate in politics based on personal convictions. Then as we participate (assuming we do) we must act and vote based on unchanging Biblical standards. Church leaders should preach about moral and ethical issues that have become political. Abortion is murder! Homosexuality is sin! No one has a right in any way at all to marry a member of the same sex! And the flock should vote accordingly. On the other hand, some issues have no clear moral or ethical consequences. Whether or not a piece of land should be re-zoned, taxes raised or lowered (within reason), etc., are matters any two people can disagree about if they want to. And remember: disagree without being disagreeable!
The old proverb says “politics make strange bedfellows.” It’s true! We need to be very careful how we engage in politics; careful to maintain purity and integrity, and protect the Lord’s good name that we wear as part of his bride (the church). We need to be concerned about morals, virtue, justice, mercy, the well-being of the poor, the preservation of freedom, fairness, equality, and, of course, the right to continue serving God as his word directs (Matthew 23:23). Christians are not required to become involved in the political process, but we must all be involved in the well-being of society. If you choose to try to affect the good of society through civil government, do not think you can do so apart from your place as a citizen of the kingdom. Every ballot you cast, you cast as a Christian, and there can be no avoiding that fact. When someone asks, “How will you keep your faith separate from your politics?” Answer: “I won’t!”
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