SHOULD CHRISTIANS TAKE PART IN POLITICS ?

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’.