Christians in Politics

While it is true that we are Christians first, we are obligated to participate in party politics for the simple reason that this effects out community just as much as it effects the way our local church functions.

Any pastor who says, “The Bible has more to say about being a Christian than it says about being a Republican, Democrat or Independent” is being overly simplistic and ill-serving of his church. The Bible has nothing at all to say about party affiliation, but to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is Gods. This means that it is the responsibility of the Christian to fulfill the obligations of a citizen. Informed involvement in politics is a Christians privilege, right, responsibility and obligation.

Who is Caesar? Not the president; the executive can be over-ridden by congress and the courts. Not the courts; their actions can be changed and adapted by congress. Not the congress; their laws can be changed and nullified by the courts. The only power greater than these is the supreme law of the land, the Constitution. Actually, that may not be accurate, either, because it can be changed by the states, and the power of the states can be changed by the people.

It is the first obligation of every Christian to pray for all those who hold public office. Intelligent and intentional intercession for politicians is our first responsibility. This may be difficult when some of those holding office are not worthy of the office or the trust that should go with the office. Therefore, it is our obligation to know who each office holder is. Generally, there are basically 9 in number. President and vice-president; senator; representative; governor; state senator; state representative; mayor and city councilman. Know each by name and pray for a specific burden or topic facing each. Intercessory prayer for our political officeholders is a clear political responsibility that Christians have overlooked to the detriment of the nation. Intelligent prayer has a byproduct that leads directly to our second duty.

-Second, we must become particularly aware of the voting record of each office holder. We may be well served by one, but the record of the other is alarmingly disappointing and deficient. Leading up to the voting record is the entire list of campaign promises and claims to moral values which should be compared to those which are put into practice.

-Third, we must identify the office and its requirements and qualifications.

-Fourth, we must know the stands, agenda, integrity and voting record of each one.

-Fifth, we must know all of our rights and responsibilities in the campaigns and elections.

-Sixth, we must vote at every opportunity. In the early 1800s, and Indiana farmer named Henry Shoemaker formed a ballot from a paper bag when his polling place had run out of ballots. He cast his vote for Madison Marsh for state representative; Marsh won by one vote. In those days, state legislatures elected U.S. Senators, so Marsh voted for a man named Harrigan to represent Indiana in the Senate. Harrigan won by one vote. In the Senate, Harrigan cast his roll call vote in favor of Texas' bid for statehood. Texas became a state by a margin of one single vote.

-Seventh, we should offer campaign support wherever possible. Anybody with a conscience would vote for the better of two candidates, so failure to vote was a failure to support the better candidate. The net effect would be helping the better candidate by the one vote not cast for his opponent. There was one less vote to overcome.

-Eighth, we must be vocal and urgent during the term and be pro-active to hold the politician accountable.

Each of us, as Christians, know so many things to be “true” that just aren't so.

-All politicians are crooks. That may be a valid assessment of politics in general, but it has little or nothing to do with Christians being involved in the political machine.

-You can't legalize morality. This should be “You can't legislate morality.”

-It is impossible for a Christian to serve in politics because politics demands compromise. Life demands compromise. Being a Christian means standing on the moral high ground regardless of the winds of politics.

-There's not a dime's worth of difference between the parties. It seems that the trend is toward socialism despite the idea that both claim to be moderates. That being said, their agenda on education, entitlement spending, abortion, homosexual rights, second amendment and many other rights are quite different.

-I'm only one person, and one person wouldn't make a difference. See #6 above.

-Preachers should stay out of politics. Render unto Caesar ...

-You can't fight City Hall. The cases proving this untrue are legion.

If you don't get involved, you won't make a change; if you don't make a change, you accept things as they are.