Should The Church Be Involved in Politics?

Let the church live for the glory of God and our neighbor’s good in politics and all of life. - Clint Decker

“I would urge them to avoid politics altogether,” one church leader stated about how he would advise other pastors. “Our focus is Jesus and the gospel,” an evangelist strongly emphasized, encouraging separation from politics. The public seems to agree with these sentiments. A Pew Research survey found that 66% of Americans want the church to stay out of political matters, and it made no distinction between progressive or liberal churches and conservative ones. (Image from Ministry Pass)

The church-and-politics issue divides Christians and church leaders. Heated, passionate opinions get thrown around, with each side using Bible verses and religious missional phrases to make their points.

Words are important, so what does “politics” mean? According to one etymology study, politic as an adjective pertains to the “public affairs, concerning the governance of a country or people…” Using this definition, let us ask a question. Should the church have any involvement with the public affairs or governance of their nation? This covers voting, running for public office, being an elected official, being employed in political positions, drafting legislation, speaking out on various political laws and policies, and the list goes on, covering numerous categories under the canopy of politics.

What is the answer? An emphatic YES. Here are four reasons why the church should be involved in politics.

1. The duty of preaching the Word. If a pastor obeys 2 Timothy 4:2, which says to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching”, they will automatically be political. How so? Because God states moral commands and declares absolute truths, which in turn speak not only to people’s behavior and beliefs, but to the larger community and even the laws of the land. For every law has a moral element to it, and the only way a church can get around not being political is if they sidestep the Bible’s moral commands, skirt its absolute truths, avoid preaching God’s Word altogether, or engage in biblical revisionism.

2. It is God’s government. Just as God created the family and church, He also created government. Romans 13:1 says, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Since government came from God, it cannot operate as He intended without Christian influence. Therefore, why would God not want His followers affecting government?

3. Biblical examples. When one looks at the Bible, from beginning to end, you see God constantly moving His people into politics. They brought God’s moral conscience to the nation. Queen Esther used her position to politically influence the king to spare the Jewish people from certain annihilation. The Scriptures say of her, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Jesus, our supreme example, in Matthew 23, publicly confronted Israel’s political leaders over their ungodly teachings, beliefs, and practices that were influencing the nation. Time does not allow me to discuss Joseph, Moses, King David, Nehemiah, Daniel, the prophets, John the Baptist, and the Apostles.

4. Loving our neighbor. Does not the Great Commandment give us reason to engage in politics? By godly people choosing to serve in elected office and wise Christians advocating for just laws and a just government, would not that be a blessing to our neighbor?

Like any other area of life (career, family, Christian ministry) there are clear dangers when we lose our Christian way. We must guard against politics becoming our focus, rather than Jesus. We must resist politics being the main mission, rather than the Great Commission. We must defend against the political temptation toward a lust for political power.

Let us heed Jesus’ words and live in the world, while not being of the world. Let the church live for the glory of God and our neighbor’s good in politics and all of life. May we stand for truth, be discerning, humble, and walk in godly integrity before a watching world.

A prayer for you - Lord God, you have created government, and as you have used men and women in the Scriptures to influence government and culture for your glory, use me, I pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Where Do You Go for Help?

 

Superman! Can you hear me? Superman! Where are you? 

- President of the United States (Superman, the movie, 1980)

The President of the United States, along with other world leaders, were facing the threat of losing millions of lives at the hands of General Zod. The scene is from the 1980 film, "Superman." In a desperate plea on national television, the President called for help, “Superman! Can you hear me? Superman! Where are you...?” (Image from Reddit)

The fictional movie portrays what all of us do when facing a crisis. After accepting the reality of our situation, we look for help from somewhere, and it usually comes from within and without. Within, is that inner strength, wisdom and perseverance that is summoned. It is that drive to push us through the trouble we are facing. Without, are those places we go beyond ourselves, where we contact friends, family, or our community (like Superman!).

In times of crisis, we often seek help everywhere, but one—God. He typically is not reached out to at all or is the last option. God invites us to live differently. Read the words from the Bible, “I lift up my eyes to the hills.” (Psalm 121:1a) The writer is referring to the city of Jerusalem, which sat upon an elevated, mountainous, hilly area. It was known as the city of God, where God lived among His chosen people. Consequently, it was always a city that people lifted their eyes up to in times of trouble.

When a resident of Jerusalem or of Israel was far away, he always knew what direction Jerusalem was. It was something he could see, without seeing. And when he would set his face toward Jerusalem, desire for it grew and inspired hope no matter the crisis.

Did aide and protection come through a city made of brick and mortar by the hands of mere men? No. A city cannot travel with someone, and it only offers limited help. A city’s edifices have the potential to crumble from an earthquake or be destroyed by an enemy. This is not referring to a city, but rather, to the One who dwells within that glorious city. The Scripture says, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 121:2)

When Jesus died and rose again, no longer were people limited to access God through a single temple, in a single city. For when Christ arose, He made a way for every soul that turns from their sin and trusts in Him by faith, to be a living temple. A temple where God’s Holy Spirit would take up residence and dwell within them. Then as we walk through life, we know Almighty God lives both in heaven and ever-present within our heart. Therefore, we can lift our eyes toward the heavens, bow humbly on the ground or just walk confidently on our way, knowing that our help comes from the Savior, who made the heavens and the earth.

The Bible also questions, “From where does help come?” (Ps. 121:1B) It is communicating about the weakness within us and the things of this world. The aid, support and protection we need is limited if we rely solely upon ourselves. We are limited in knowledge, strength and morality due to our own corruption from personal sin, and the same regarding the things of this world. What should we do in challenging times? Set our eyes on the one true God, where our source of protection, wisdom and power comes from.

When you need help, where do you go? Do you trust in yourself or others? Choose to follow Christ and place all your trust in Him. He is sufficient for all your needs.

A prayer for you - Lord God, am I looking to other places for help besides you? My own knowledge and wisdom? Others? I confess my negligence in not coming to you first. I repent and turn to you. I seek you with all my heart. Change me O, God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Will You Pay The Price for Revival?

We want revival, but not reform. We want a spiritual experience without the moral change. Why? Because that is the hard part. - Clint Decker

Billy Sunday was a professional baseball player turned preacher that spoke face to face before an estimated 100 million people in the early 20th century. In his own words he once “lived for the devil” giving himself to profanity, drunkenness, gambling and selfish living. But then he encountered Jesus Christ and was changed. The power of God reformed him, as He led Billy to give up his vices for a heart of love, joy, peace and so much more that brough him a personal revival that impacted the nation. (Image by Magnific)

God spoke to the people of Israel through Jeremiah the prophet saying, “I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds…” (Jeremiah 35:15) God was calling the nation to moral and spiritual reform, like what happened to Billy, which reflects repentance, meaning a change of mind and life, that turns toward God and His Word by faith.

If Israel would have humbled themselves and responded positively, revival would have come, but instead, they stubbornly refused and their nation fell.

Peter, one of Jesus’ Apostles, spoke to the Jews two months after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He declared, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:37) And how did they respond? The opposite of Jeremiah’s crowd. Thousands of Jews in Israel turned to Jesus by faith, changed their ways, and revival came. It swept across Israel, the Roman Empire and beyond.

We often want revival, but not reform. We want a spiritual experience without moral change. Why? Because that is the hard part. For over 40 years, Jeremiah preached reform with no revival. And prior to Peter’s message, John the Baptist and Jesus labored at reform for three and half years. John’s preaching got him executed through decapitation and Jesus’ preaching got him crucified. And even amid the revival under Peter and the Apostles, believers were brutally killed for their message. But despite that, among the multitudes who did respond, the flames of revival continued burning brightly.

Why is personal or national revival so rare? Because the calling to moral and spiritual reform is resisted. Preachers rarely call for it because it is naturally offensive to their congregations, and people do not heed the message because they want to continue in their ways. They resist a complete reordering of one’s life under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. They oppose a new set of beliefs, habits and life direction.

For those who heed the call to personal reform through Christ, it extends beyond them. Change comes in their family, in how daily life is handled in the home. There also comes change in the operation of their business, change in the programming of their church, and change in the life of their community.

God is calling you to amend your ways. He is inviting you to turn in a new direction. He is leading you to do the hard thing. Why? He wants to save you from His judgement and the consequences of ungodly decisions for yourself and future generations. He also wants to pour out His Spirit within you, and bring you into His family, giving you an eternal inheritance in a blessed and glorious heavenly kingdom.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I acknowledge I have resisted your call to reform. I want the experience without the pain of changing my ways. Come Lord, this day, I yield myself to you and accept your call to reform. Change me, O God, by your wise and loving hand. Then change my family, business, church and city. In Jesus’ name. Amen.