January 15, 2018
Government is good. Without it we have anarchy. God empowers governments, speaks to them and about them in the Bible. Daniel says, He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. Even when Nero was Emperor of Rome, Paul said, Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. (Romans 13:2) Nero was the cruel, anti-Christian tyrant under whom Paul was put to death.
Politics is not government. Politics is the fight for power. It is individuals, parties, coalitions working to gain power over one another and over the populace. Though many Christians detest politics, if they desire to serve the public through holding elective office, they must participate, and sometimes become victims of its demands.
In 1954 a regulation was enacted that forbade churches and many other not-for-profit organizations from endorsing candidates or participating in many other political activities without losing their nonprofit status. Though it wasn’t generally enforced, it carried a lot of weight, and many pastors lamented their inability to publicly support the “good guys” against the “bad guys.” The regulation has been removed under President Donald Trump; so churches have some freedom to be actively involved in politics.
I really don’t know what’s best for the good of the country when it comes to that. But I’m convinced on what is good for the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When churches become involved in politics they chase people away from Jesus. They lose their calling. They sacrifice the eternal on the altars of comfort, fear, prosperity and culture. They ignore plain teachings of scripture while making arguments with little or no eternal value, and often with little long-range value here on earth.
Why do old white American Christians, young American Christians, African-American Christians and Latino Christians differ so much in their value systems? They read the same Bible. They see things through different cultural eyes and different cultural experiences. While we need to study scriptures to understand God’s expectations and desires from us, we must humble ourselves to learn God’s ways.
The Bible was not written in English in the 21st century. It was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to Middle Eastern societies in the first century and before. We must study and understand that before trying to cram our “Christian” ideas down the throats of people different from us. And because of our weakness in that area, it is extremely presumptious for any pastor or church to politic for or against national policies where there are very different and strongly-held views.
Christians today lament our loss of influence in the world, and the disrespect so many people have for Christianity. Most of that disrespect we have brought on ourselves, by acting like spoiled brats on the playground of society. Jesus, the Son of God, left heaven’s glory and came to earth to become a servant. He urged us to also maintain a servant attitude in our relationships. But so often I see Christians with chip on their shoulder, just daring others to offend them. We have often become the bullies on that playground.
So whether or not churches should have the ability to take sides in politics or not, I don’t know. But I’m absolutely convinced that if we have the ability and choose to use it, we are far more likely to bring shame to the cause of Christ than glory.
By Ken McGarvey
To respond to this blog, email kenandjoy@bellsouth.net and put blog in the subject line.
Back to Home Page