Should Christians get involved in Secular Politics?

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Should Christians be Involved in Secular Politics

 

As citizens of this nation, we recently had an election to set up our government for the next 2 to 4 years.  Peter tells us about our relationship with governing authorities.

I Peter 2:13-17 

 

This brings up a question. Should Christians be involved in the issues surrounding elections and the operations of our government? I’m not talking about a congregation endorsing a particular candidate or financing a campaign. What I’m asking is should we as individuals make a stand in regards to issues that government officials debate? 

 

For example: abortion, contraception for unwed teens, the death penalty, divorce, gambling, homosexuality, homosexual marriage, legalized drug use, and the list goes on. 

 

Should individual Christians and collective congregations speak out on these issues? Let’s see what the Bible teaches us.

Acts 17: 11

 

We are taught that as Christians, we are to speak out against evil.

Ephesians 5: 11

 

So what do we do when a government official is involved in sin? We speak out. David was rebuked by the prophet Nathan because of his sins. 

II Samuel 12: 1 - 15

 

Jeroboam was rebuked by a prophet for creating idols.

I Kings 13: 1 - 9

 

John told Herod that his marriage was sinful.

Matthew 14: 1 - 4

 

Paul taught Felix about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment he would face.

Acts 24: 25

 

Do you realize that by voting,  you are speaking out on issues that sometimes touch on moral issues? For example, referendums on gambling have been on the ballot a number of times. Here is a chance for each of us to give voice to what is right and what is wrong on this issue. 

 

Candidates sometimes make it clear what they plan to do on certain issues that touch on God’s laws. Whether you vote for or against that candidate is a chance to lend your voice in regards to their stance. A Christian can not vote to support a candidate who supports things that go against God’s laws. 

A Christian cannot vote to support a candidate who supports abortion, homosexual marriage, or any other abomination to God. 

 

God established governments to accomplish His Will. We see that clearly in the Scriptures. Esther got a law passed to protect the Jewish people from extermination.

Esther 8: 1 - 14

 

Paul used his Roman citizenship to force an apology for being wrongfully imprisoned.

Acts 16: 25 - 40

 

Paul also used his Roman citizenship to avoid being scourged.

Acts 22: 24 - 29

 

He used his contacts within the government to avoid an assassination plot.

Acts 23: 12 - 33

 

Finally, he used a Roman law to force settlement of a case made against him.

Acts 25: 10 - 12

 

These examples show us that we are completely free to use the laws of the land to aid us. That is because God established governments to be His servant.

Romans 13: 1 - 7

 

As such, we are to pray for our government leaders.

I Timothy 2: 1 - 3

 

And we are scripturally authorized to exercise all of our civil rights. Some people hesitate to vote because they fear they are working against God. This is wrong, and they are in error. 

 

Let’s look at a simple example to show that by voting, we are not working against God. We are to pray for our food.

Matthew 6: 11

 

We also have to work for our food.

II Thessalonians 3: 10

 

The fact that we work doesn’t mean that we are preventing God from answering our prayers. We are matching our actions to our prayers. We know that ultimately, it isn’t our hard work, but God’s blessings that put food on our tables. 

 

We are to pray for health. 

III John 1: 2

 

However, we also go to the doctor when our health is bad. We are matching our actions to our prayers. We know that ultimately, it isn’t the doctor who heals us, but God, Who gives the blessing. 

                                  

We pray to God that good can prevail and that our lives may be blessed. We can then match action to our prayers by acting within the government to see that those things can be accomplished, knowing that ultimately it is God who brings about the needed changes.

 

Sometimes we pray for what we desire, but it doesn’t match what God wants done.  Paul had a problem.

II Corinthians 12:7-10

 

Paul didn’t like it, but he recognized that it served a greater purpose. He accepted God’s will.

 

Jesus didn’t want the cross.

Matthew 26:36-39

 

Jesus definitely didn’t like it, but he recognized that it served a greater purpose. He accepted God’s will.

There are going to be times when the best government will not be in place to govern us. We won’t like it, but we must realize that it serves a greater purpose which we might not see. We too must accept God’s will.

Hebrews 12:1-4

 

Is there a separation of church and state? There never has been. It is God who controls the governments of the world. When the government moves against what is right and just, it is Christians who stand and say this isn’t right. We are the world’s priests and the world’s watchmen

Ezekiel 3:17-21

 

Sometimes the government listens, as Shalmanessar III and the Assyrian people of Nineveh did in Jonah’s day.

Jonah 3:4-10

 

Sometimes the government turns on the messengers as they did in the first century.

Matthew 23:34-36

 

Regardless, our duty is to make God’s will known through the means we have available. We are always to speak out against evil, no matter what cost it may bring to us. So it is not wrong for a Christian to exercise his or her rights involving secular government.