TEXTS: Romans
13:1-7, 1 peter 2:13-17, john 19:11,
proverbs
29:2, 16:12, psalm 75:7, Dan. 2:21, 4:17, Job 34:30,
proverbs
28:12&15.
WHO IS A
CHRISTIAN?
The word Christian is used 3 times in the New Testament (Acts
11:26; 26:28; 1Peter 4:16). Followers of Christ were first called “Christians”
in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because they believe in Christ and follow his example.
The word was initially used by their detractors in a derogatory sense, but
believers embraced the term as a badge of honour.
While the first century Christians do follow the teachings,
practices and examples of Jesus Christ at the time, Since then the term has
virtually lost its meaning. Today many claim to be Christians but yet don’t
follow Jesus’ teachings.
·
A Christian responds to God’s calling (matt 22:14;
john 6:44)
·
The example of Jesus Christ (1Cor. 11:1; 1Peter 2:21)
WHAT IS POLITICS?
WIKIPEDIA: Politics is the Practice and
theory of influencing other people on a civic or individual level. Moreover, it
refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance, organized control
over a human community, particularly a state.
CHRISTIANITY & POLITICS: The
relationship between Christianity and Politics is a historically complex
subject and a frequent source of disagreement. Some agree that Christianity
directly supports a particular Ideology or Philosolophy, others believe that
Christians Should have little interests or participation in politics or
Government.
Luke 3:8-14 ; Romans 13:1-3 ; Mark 12:30
WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED
·
All political power has been delegated by God (Rom
13:1). God hardly acts directly in human affairs (that’s why we call them
“Miracles”). Rather than working apart from us, He delegates His authority and
it’s utterly illogical to abandon the supervision of our public life to those
who have no respect for the God who grant them their authority.
D. James Kennedy was often told by
fellow believers that Christians should just stay out of politics altogether,
in response; he’d point out the irrationality of that Idea. How can a Christian
in good conscience, think it’s a good idea to deliberately abandon the
governing of our society entirely to atheists and secularists?
Jesus
thought his followers, as recorded in the sermon on the mount, that we are “the
salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”. Salt was used in the absence
of refrigeration, to arrest the spread of decay. Light, of course, was and is
used to dispel darkness. His point quiet simply is that he intends his
followers to practice all of life so that by our presence the spread of moral
corruption can be arrested and anywhere Christians refuse to engage, we ought
to experience decay and darkness.
Further,
if Christians think we should stay out of politics, then we have forfeited the
right to complain about cultural decline. Since lawmakers hold in their hands
the very power of God, Christians in truth have much more reason to be
concerned about political matters.
Famous Dutch Statesman Abraham Kuyfor Said: “When a principle that
runs against your inner convictions begin to win the day, the battle is your
calling, and peace has become sin; you must at the price of dearest peace, lay
your conviction bars before friends and enemies, with all the fire of your
faith. (Self preservation of our principles) one may as well say that ANY job or activity”compromises loyalty
to God”. One can be limited or corrupted In ANY profession to some extent.
if there is any advice to be taken here, it Is,
”if you are weak in faith THEN avoid
politics if you are liable to be
corrupted, then avoid politics. “Otherwise why is it not possible to serve God
loyally through the political process?
The message is not “don’t do it”
but keep your priorities in other.
HOW SHOULD WE PARTICIPATE
· We should be better informed (be interested)
· We should be those who vote (Isaiah 58:5-7)
· We should carefully consider who we vote for. (Based on
principles, personalities and programs).
· We should make our involvement as Christians known (don’t
hide it)
WHAT IS THE WORST WE CAN DO?: It is to give up in despair. One of the supreme Christian
virtues is that of hope. If we stay out of politics, things may only get worse.
If we get involved and work in the world of politics, then things maybe very
different. It will not be easy, but please do what you can. Mother Teresa was
asked how she could persevere in her work when she and the sisters of charity were
just a tiny drop in the ocean compared with the great need of the world. She
responded, ‘ah, yes, but the ocean is made up of tiny drops’. Each of us has a
part to play. So we can make a difference. And remember the words of Jesus who
said, ‘I am with you even till the end of the age’.
