Should Christians Be Involved In Politics?
It can be a very controversial and sensitive topic among Christian believers. It can either divide them or unite them, depending on their stance and view on the issue, and that is the issue of politics. According to the book Christian Perspectives on Sociology, politics is defined as a process that deals with the distribution of material goods, food, shelter, clothing, and physical resources (Grunlan 204). If the definition of politics is to help meet the needs of society and communities here in the United States, then, what is the big deal? What is the controversy for Christians to be involved in politics?
The reality is that everyone knows that there is corruption in politics. Deals made behind the scenes, big corporations contributing to certain politicians for political gain and favors to be done in return, lies that are continually told, cover ups, betrayal behind the scenes, alliances made, and then broken for mutual advantage. Promises that are made during their campaigns that never get fulfilled, so many things going on, so much corruption and hypocrisy. We can see and understand why so many Christians from different denominations are weary about the idea of entering politics. Many believers from very conservative churches believe that it is a sin to get involved in politics, because they consider it secular and worldly. Others, tend to believe that if a man or woman of God enter politics they will sell out, on their Christian beliefs and get contaminated with sin and the pleasures of wealth, power, influence, and prestige. There are Christians that will try to use Scriptures to prove that it is worldly, and justify why they shouldn’t get involved. Many people in the church have the attitude of; “just pray and put it in God’s hands.” “We need to pray for those that rule over us.”
I truly believe what the Scriptures say about praying for those in authority over us, and I also believe that we do need to put the problems of our government and the world for that matter in God’s hands. The truth is we need to get involved. There are times that we pray and wait, and there are other times that we must pray and get involved too, because the Scriptures teach and show me something else. If Christian politicians can bring change and help their communities in one form or another, why not? Sometimes, we live in this Christian holiness bubble and we are separated from reality and the real issues that are happening all around us. I believe that God is holy and we are supposed to be holy, but there are times that we must act on faith. That is why the Bible says in James 2:17; In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (New International Version).
If you as a Christian are struggling or do not agree with having believers enter politics, let’s see what the Scriptures say about this matter. In the Bible there are examples of people that God used in Government to fulfill his purpose. Let’s talk about Joseph, here was a young man, son of Isaac, who had a beautiful coat his father made him. To make a long story short, Joseph’s ten older brothers got jealous of him, threw him in a well, sold him into slavery, and told his father he was killed by a wild beast. In slavery, God puts Joseph in favor, with his master Potiphar, but Potiphar’s wife wanted to seduce Joseph. Since she couldn’t get him to fall into temptation with her, she made up a lie about Joseph and he was thrown into prison. Joseph then, in prison, God puts him in favor again, and Joseph interprets the dreams of two men that worked directly for Pharaoh, the baker, and the cupbearer. After Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams for them, he tells the cupbearer to tell the Pharaoh about him, then the cupbearer forgets about Joseph for a time. Then, sometime later the Pharaoh himself had two dreams that he couldn’t understand, that really troubled him. None of the Pharaoh’s wise men or seers could interpret the dream for him. The cupbearer tells the Pharaoh about Joseph, they then send for him, and Joseph tells Pharaoh the meaning of his nightmares or dreams. Years of prosperity and famine would be coming to Egypt, and Joseph told the Pharaoh what he must do during the years of prosperity to prepare for the years of famine. Pharaoh decided to make the slave Joseph into the Governor of Egypt, and he put Joseph in charge of storing and selling the grain to the Egyptians and to those who would be looking to buy grain from Egypt and from other faraway lands, during the years of famine.
Joseph ends up selling grain to his brothers, and he reveals himself to them in time and forgives them. He then tells his brothers to bring his father and their families and move from Canaan to Egypt. God used his servant Joseph, and gave him political authority as the second in command after Pharaoh himself, to save his family and that region from starvation. If the definition of politics is to provide for the needs of the people, Joseph did just that, with the knowledge and wisdom of God (Genesis 37:1–50:26).
We can briefly mention Moses, who was adopted and raised as a prince of Egypt. With the knowledge of being a prince of Egypt and educated in their ways. God used him powerfully to be a leader and a guide to the people of Israel in their years of wondering in the desert.
Let’s talk about King David of Israel. We see the stories of his life in the first and second books of Samuel and 1st Chronicles. David was a powerful king, he knew how to battle and he also knew how to extend the boundaries of his country, how to prosper his nation, spiritually as well as financially.
We can also mention the prophet Daniel. After Israel was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon, Daniel by the grace of God would serve in the King’s court, and Daniel too, was able to interpret a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar accurately, and for that Nebuchadnezzar placed Daniel as Governor of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). Looks as if Daniel was in a political position, just as Joseph in Egypt, this is very interesting. I want to mention one more example, Esther. Esther was an Israelite who ended up becoming the Queen of the Persians. God used her position as queen and her position as wife to save her people from annihilation at the hands of Haman, (Esther 3).
There are many politicians today who confess they are Bible believing Christians. Our very own vice-president Mike Pence, has confessed that he is a born-again Christian. I find it amazing as a minister myself, the ignorance that some people demonstrate in the church. We complain about our politicians, laws, taxes, policies, etc., but we do not do anything about it. Then, when a politician that wants to bring change and be honest, and confess they are believers, we don’t want to believe them.
We have a voice. The church in the United States has a voice, and it is time to use it. Sue E.S. Crawford and Laura Olsen state; Countless other clergy have shaped the course of American politics, perhaps none so famously as Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr (Crawford-Olsen 3). Even clergy, pastors, ministers, lay-members, can make the change in politics, when they lift up their voices. If ministers and Christians in general really serve the people, which is what God has called the church to do. Whether we are serving in a church or through outreaches in our local communities, food banks, halfway houses, etc. Why not continue to try to serve in politics, if that is what you as a believer feel led to do. I know and realize that not everyone is a politician, just as I know that not everyone is a preacher, teacher, or a singer. I know that politics can be corrupt, but not every politician is corrupt. There are honest politicians that really want to make a difference, and change their communities, and change this nation for the good. Why not pray as a church, that God may lift men and women who love God, who can lead us and who want justice for all. Men and women of God who can be our next Presidents, vice-presidents, senators, representatives, congressmen, congresswomen, governors, mayors, alderman, councilmen, whatever political spectrum they feel led to run for. Why not? We can represent God in whatever we do. If these biblical men and women that I spoke about were used by God to bring change to their situations, God can use you to bring change in your region. The Bible says that God is not a respecter of persons. You want change? Stop complaining, and rise up.
If we as American citizens want change, we need to study and investigate our political candidates to see who they are, what they believe, what policies they want to bring to the table. You may not be a politician and that is alright, but your voice can be heard in the voting booths, and pray for those Christian politicians that are trying to be used by God by serving at that capacity.
Works Cited
Crawford, Sue E. S. and Laura R. Olson. Christian Clergy in American Politics. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001. EBSCOhost, lbc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=75635&site=eds-live&scope=site.
Grunlan, Stephen A. Christian Perspectives on Sociology. pp. 204. Zondervan, 1982
The New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011. Print.
