CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

 

In the Twentieth Century, especially the latter half of the Twentieth Century, it became normal or even typical for Christians in America to blame the displacement of the Christian worldview, the erosion of traditional family values, and alarming increases in divorce, unwed pregnancy, venereal disease, youth rebellion, and other social maladies on everything but the decline in Christian influence instead of recognising the responsibility of Christians to impact culture and community for righteousness. It became commonplace for Christians to obsess over pet theories about Bible prophecies and promote a neutrality or isolation that rejects or prevents interaction between Christianity and culture and encourages believers to withdraw from society and be neutral because of preoccupation with speculations about things which they obviously do not and cannot know while ignoring the implications of the teachings and arguments being used to justify the apathy being promoted: The longer you keep a sinking ship afloat the more time there is left to rescue the perishing.

Man is a natural-born sinner, inherently depraved. It is not human government that is sinful or wicked but rather those who comprise human governments, which is why Christian influence is essential. Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt cleanses, purifies, preserves, and makes people thirsty, and light dispels darkness. Christians are supposed to be a cleansing and illuminating influence, impacting society and culture for righteousness. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Should we interpret the words of Christ in Matthew 6:9-11 to mean that He was promoting laziness and idleness? No, a good job should be considered an answer to prayers for necessities. The exhortation to pray for all men and for all that are in authority does not imply neutrality regarding politics and community affairs; opportunities to influence society and culture and participate in politics and community affairs should be considered answers to such prayers. (I Timothy 2:1-2)

Many insist that the Bible doctrine of separation means that Christians must be neutral concerning everything outside of church activities, but the separation taught in the Bible is godly distinctions, conduct, and relationships within society, not isolation from society or neutrality concerning politics and community affairs. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:3-11; I Timothy 3:7; I Peter 2:11-12) The Christian worldview gives a comprehensive understanding of reality, and the Bible provides guidance in every area of human existence, including civil government. Consider that Joseph and Daniel served as public officials in civil government and exerted their influence to benefit the nations in which they lived, and Jesus cared for the spiritual and physical needs of people. (Healing the sick and feeding the hungry was an extension of the message of the Gospel.) The “good works” of believers should include every area of life, and since human government has a legitimate God-ordained role with significant real-life implications it is wrong for Christians to be neutral or uninvolved in politics and community affairs. (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:10) How can Christians claim to love and care about others while neglecting the arena with the most impact on basic rights, freedom, welfare, and justice?