Should Christians get involved in politics?
This has been debated for many years and with many different opinions. I’ve heard it from both sides. I’ve heard that religion and politics don’t mix.
Right off the bat, a Christian SHOULD be involved in politics and government. But let me warn you, you cannot let it take over your life. We also cannot hold politicians up higher than God. It’s not for everyone.
The first priority for a Christian is to live for Jesus and be a solid witness. After that, a Christian can use the political arena to do great things for his or her community and for the world as far as that goes.
After all, two of God’s greatest commandments is to: 1) love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind; and then 2) love thy neighbors as thyself — according to an excerpt from Matthew 22: 34-40 KJV.
If we love the Lord and our neighbor, then shouldn’t we want to protect our neighbors and ourselves and our family as much as we can? One way we can do this is to be involved in the political process and do our best to protect our inalienable rights and freedoms. No other country has this wonderful opportunity.
The church as a whole stood by and watched on January 22, 1973 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the court “affirms the legality of a woman’s right to have an abortion under the Fourteenth amendment to the Constitution.” Now, we protest. That’s an admirable thing to do after the fact. I’ve even participated in the National March for Life in Washington, DC. If more Christians had been involved back then, it might not have happened. But we will never know – it may have come out the same. I’m not blaming Christians for that ruling, but my point is we need to be more involved so things like that won’t happen again.
On June 25, 1962, the church was caught off guard when the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Engel v. Vitale that prayer could not take place in public schools because it violated the first amendment. Now we see the mess our schools are in today.
How could this happen? It happened because it was allowed to happen. We dared them to do it – and they did.
I listened to some people who go to church complain and say that they could not support Donald Trump for president. Listen, there will never be a perfect candidate. But you have to look at the entire picture. A man like Trump will appoint justices to the Supreme Court with similar values to ours – the Christian conservative community. Just because he was not a Biblical scholar should not have prevented you from voting for him – or voting at all. A Christian SHOULD vote. They should love their neighbor enough to protect them – and in this case by casting a vote. Pray, educate yourself on candidates and issues and vote.
Christians should never just bury their heads in the sand. I just gave two examples earlier of what happens when we do that.
We, as Christians and as Americans, are so blessed and privileged to live in a democratic country. This country features “we the people” as the CEO. We have the political influence, and it is high time more Christians get involved in the process.
Why chance our children’s future on people you don’t really know? You don’t have to get involved at the national level, but we need Christians there too – and we have many. I know my U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson is a godly man, and we need people like that. But we also need them in all forms and levels of government.
I do what I can. I have been a precinct committee person for more than 20 years in my local party. It’s not glorious or glamorous – but most grass-root volunteer positions aren’t. Can I do more? Probably. I helped out some local Christian candidates over the past couple of years who were elected to local positions, and that’s exciting. We need moral people like this in all forms of government. Imagine what kind of a local county, state or nation we could have if all the office holders were of faith. WOW! Then we might trust politicians for once.
The point is – get involved in the process and help shape your community and your government. You can be a fantastic witness and stand for what is right at the same time.
I’m so glad that I go to church with several people who hold public office or are active members in the political process. I am also glad that my wife is active. We enjoy trying to make a difference together, and I hope our boys see that and will follow our lead.
Deuteronomy 15: 7-8 says: “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord they God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need. In that which he wanteth.”
This is not a lecture at all, and I know that the election was just held a couple of weeks ago. It’s a challenge for all Christians to at least care enough to vote in the next and every election. Anything additional that you can do is encouraged and appreciated.
MY NEW CHAPTER 