I suppose Christians down through the ages have asked the question, "Do Christians belong in politics?" The question seems reasonable considering the negative press that constantly seems to surround politicians. What Christian would want to enter that coliseum of intrigue, compromise, partisanship, corruption, and strife? In many ways I'd sooner face the lions! Why would anyone want to endure the frustration that must go along with being forced to work with people who have entered the public arena to serve themselves instead of serve their country - in addition to having to contend with a media that is openly hostile to anyone who is willing to take a moral stand?
Let me answer the first question with another. Where are Christians needed the most? -
In the places where God is least glorified. There are certainly precedents in the Bible. How many men with Daniel's integrity were found in Babylon? Not many. We know of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. By the time of the story of the lion's den, it would seem that there was only one. How many godly leaders did it take to bring about a great revival in post-exile Israel? Nehemiah stood alone as the personality that God could use to cause a stiff-necked and rebellious group of people to walk in step with His Word. How about Joseph who used the gifts that God gave him to save a whole region from starvation? Esther was raised up to become Queen so that through her the Jews could be saved from Haman's hatred. Think about the reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah. All of these leaders impacted their countries through their faith and position POLITICALLY.
We owe much to the great Christian statesmen throughout our history. Where would we be without men like George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Quincy Adams, and Daniel Webster? These men were critical in setting the tone and foundation upon which our country's greatness rests.
Ken Connor has written a very good article entitled
Evangelicals Must Stay The Course that addresses a lot of the reasons that Christians do belong in politics and why we mustn't shrink back from the political arena simply because so many politicians have been shown to be scoundrels.
One of the concerns that Mr. Connor addresses is the American Church's quickness to grow discouraged with the failures of the government and especially the Republican party. There have been real reasons to be disappointed with the performance of both recently. However, we must not become discouraged just because the Republicans haven't been able to turn our country around. That isn't their job. It's God's and it is ours. Expecting the Republicans to do it is putting our faith in men rather than putting our faith in God, and doing that is just asking to be disappointed.
We are foolish to expect lost people to exhibit godly character when they are placed in office. For it to happen is certainly the exception rather than the rule. Sadly, proven character is far less common in the American church than it should be. Yet there is no other religion on earth besides Christianity that can honestly claim to literally change lives and overcome man's natural propensity to sin. Who better, then, than Christians to govern? And, as Mr. Connor so aptly points out - we are called to be salt and light. The only way to influence the culture is to be involved in it. Salt doesn't season the stew if it stays in the shaker. We cannot
merely sit by and pray. As the apostle James said, faith needs action to be real faith.
Thus, we must support those who are called to enter that ministry (And, yes, the Bible does call it a ministry.) We have to encourage them, and pray for them, and hold them accountable, and even, yes, even invest our money and time into helping them get elected. We have to educate ourselves about who the candidates are. We have to learn what they stand for. And we have to pay attention to make sure that they do what they said. We have to vote.
But our responsibility goes beyond that. We have to be actively working as agents of change in our sphere of influence. Are we working to make it hard for our friends, neighbors, co-workers, enemies, etc. to go to hell? I am so guilty in this! I know that I am not a gifted evangelist, but if you've got something good, don't you tell others about it? As far as actions go, we can achieve no greater impact in our nation than by demonstrating the love of Jesus to everyone we encounter. This is where the rubber meets the road. If I
really want to see change, I have to stop being selfish and love my neighbor at least as much as I love myself.
However, action isn't the only necessity. Prayer is critical as well if we are to see a turn about in the moral direction of this country. I think that if there is any weakness in Mr. Connor's article it is that he seems to dismiss prayer as some impotent thing. If so, he couldn't be more wrong. I could write a million letters to Congress. I could petition and picket and phone every lawmaker on Capitol Hill, but if God isn't moved you can rest assured that Congress won't be moved either. Prayer works. I have no idea why, but for some reason God wants to involve us in the process of change. I know no better way to change something than to earnestly pray about it - especially with another believer.
As far as I can tell from my reading, no revival has ever begun without prayer. Even at Pentecost, the disciples had devoted themselves to prayer for weeks in anticipation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
So what about my neighbor? Can I make him come to Christ? No, but I can intercede on his behalf to God. I can help clear up the atmosphere around him so that he can better hear God's call to be saved. Perhaps by my prayers, I can pull down the strongholds that hold him captive so that he can be truly free.
Who will be a better neighbor? One who is bound in his woundedness and addiction, or one who has experienced the joy of being made right with God? Wouldn't more neighbors like the second one make for a better city, a better state, a better nation, and a better world?
If you are like me, by now you are already disgusted with the circus of a campaign that is underway. The election is over a year away and the politicians have been campaigning for it ever since President Bush's re-election. This is not a time to give up in disgust. We have over a year to seek God's face and His favor for the coming election. We have time to pray (and, dare I suggest, fast) that godly people will be elected, and we have time to pray for discernment for whom we should vote. Still, there is no time to lose. Are we going to listen to the media and concede our country to those who would destroy it, or will we fight to take it back and re-establish it on the sure foundation of faith in Christ Jesus?
That choice and that authority are in our hands.
