Should Christians be in Politics?

This is a question often asked, especially around election time. So should we? The short answer is yes and the long answer is probably not so much.

So let's break this down and look at things objectively and biblically. Obviously the well rounded and mature Christian has to deal with politics in their lives, it is an intricate part of any society. Also when you are studying the Bible you will come across many passages that deal with political themes. For instance the Bible teaches us that stealing and theft are forbidden, so this should shape our political view on socialism and the current rioting that is taking place.

Exo 20:15 (KJV)  Thou shalt not steal.

The Bible should also teach us how to set up our court systems and how to exact punishment. Capitol punishment is a political issue and to see how we as Christians should view the issue, just turn to the Bible. Capitol punishment is not only allowed in the Bible it is mandatory for certain crimes.

Gen 9:6 (KJV)  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

We want our societies, court systems, and politics to be upright, moral, and just. Without God and his word it would be impossible to create a society that fulfills all those requirements.

So at this point you are probably wondering why a Christian wouldn't be in politics, well I did say the short answer was yes. But let's dive into this a little more.

A good preacher and a good church will teach and deal with politics when the topic arises in the Bible. A preacher or Christian that doesn't should reevaluate themselves. But there are a few things to consider.

The Christian can not serve two masters and lets face it, for most people politics is an all consuming fire. If you spend too much time watching the news and surfing social media you run a very high chance of becoming an R or a D more then a C (Christian). You will end up hating the person you are supposed to be loving.

Many relationships, families, and churches have been split over politics. I have people on both sides of the fence in my own family. People get heated about current events, unfortunately more than they do for Jesus. More often than not we lose chances to lead people to Christ and help them grow in eternal matters over an argument about worldly ones.

The good Samaritan is a wonderful story on the topic (Luke 10:25-37). In the parable the priest and the Levite passed the man who had been robbed because it was beneath them. But a certain Samaritan took the time to help a man that was a complete stranger to him. God makes specific mention that this man was a Samaritan. Why is that? Because according to societal norms these men were enemies.

Joh 4:9 (KJV)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

How many chances have been lost to spread the Gospel because you were so right on your side of an argument?

Prohibition:

When I consider the topic of the political Christian, I like to look at Prohibition. Why is that you say? Well I'm glad you asked.

Most people for some reason or another believe if we just pass another law that will fix things. I on the other hand seem to think it folly to give the government more power over my life.

Prohibition is one of the greatest blunders in American history of Christians thinking the government can fix things.

Long story short, well meaning Christians pushed for legislation that would prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages. This amendment was passed in 1920 and was known as the Volstead Act.

With the passage of this law a veritable war ensued. This law did very little to stop drunkenness but instead created the black market for booze, known as bootlegging and inevitably the well known mobster.

And on the other side of the fence we get the Bureau of Prohibition, which eventually mutated into the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

So what's my point in this history lesson? History shows us that if a person is lost and not walking with God passing a law will not change their heart. The lost man will only find new ways to satisfy his flesh, becoming more depraved and violent along the way. Just look at the current war on drugs.

Also if we substitute the biblical and moral upbringing of our youth with government power we will reap what we sow. Prohibition ended in 1933 and we are still stuck with the overreach of the BATF today.

Put the Horse Before the Cart:

Many christians put the cart before the horse. They want a good and moral society, where we are free from all the ungodliness that we face today. Where people go to church as a family, where we don't have to worry about our children overdosing or being shot in gang violence. Where a child being kidnapped was unheard of. I want these things too. There's a reason I live in a town so small we only have one stop light.

We as Christians look at the government and say fix things and the government is more than willing to take control of things. But we need to ask ourselves, 100 years ago why wasn't abortion mentioned in politics? Because it was virtually unheard of, everyone who grew up reading their Bibles and going to church new that it was murder. As Christians, we can not substitute passing laws for preaching and teaching. If we preach the Gospel to the lost and they get saved and then we in turn train them up in Biblical principals, lives would be changed and the laws and society would follow. Abortion should be illegal in a just and moral society, but if we just pass a law then we will just create an underground market for it with the possibility of the law being repealed with the next election, all while lost people will still be going to Hell. Only God and the Bible will bring in lasting change.

Rom 10:17 (KJV)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So in closing do I want Christians in politics. Absolutely. I want a Christian President, I want a Christian Senator, and Christian State Legislators. But if we want those things we have to put the horse in front of the cart and have people being Christians before politicians.