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.
