I am deeply concerned and have been for the last 12 years regarding the intersection of politics and religion. It is not that I don’t think that they shouldn’t mix, its that most of us have very simplistic understanding of what that means and should look like. I think chief amongst my concerns is often the misunderstanding that the mission and modes of the church and government are the same when they are vastly different. When we fail to understand that the church is not the government, we end up creating idols of men and systems and the church loses its prophetic voice to speak to the government.
I’m troubled over how many American Christians and churches have become complicit in their response to the evils and shortcomings of elected officials just because they belong to a political party. In fact for many, the two are intertwined and some people have greater allegiance to a party, then the gospel. In fact some people question the legitimacy of others “Christianity” based off of an association with a party. This can happen on both sides of the political spectrum.
We are entering into probably the most heated and divisive election in the last 100 years if not ever. The irony is that folks on both sides of the political divide act as if the salvation of America lies on who gets elected. I have a news flash for you, the salvation of America has never been the result of politics, but salvation for all people has always been based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means no matter who is elected the gospel will continue to be preached, people will be saved and it must be preached by the church. Not a senator, not a a governor, and not the president.
Christians in America have been spoiled by our wealth, comfort and relatively lack of persecution for the gospel. While there have been many talks about orthodoxy in the gospel as it comes to false teachings such as the prosperity gospel that promises wealth, healthy and material blessings based on positive confession. There is another prosperity gospel that has not been addressed and that gospel states that: If I follow Christ, I must vote a certain way, and that God promises health, wealth and blessings based off of my vote, and that God is only involved in anointing presidents when my political party is elected in leadership, that God only can work when my political party is in control of government. So by extension, God is only on the side of my political party, and every one not on the side of my party is Satanic, and blinded from the truth, not of the gospel, but the truth that God has ordained my political party to govern.
The belief that this gospel promotes is one that believes Americans will not have to and should not have to suffer persecution as long as their elected officials are in power. This can become a problem when the church abdicates its role as moral purveyor to the state and expects the state to effectively legislate morality on its behalf. The state can never do this, nor should we expect it to. The church should never let itself become coopted by any political party because it looses its witness an independent arbiter and becomes a pawn for political gain.
I’ve failed to hear warnings by evangelical leaders for their reliance on favor by the government or on government leaders. There are plenty of Christians who equate Christianity with conservative democratic principals or western values. Frankly within Christianity, particularly white evangelicals, political power has been one of the greatest idols where worship has gone unabated and unchallenged.
The evangelical church has lost some of its witness because it has failed to speak out against the racism, corruption, division, self promotion, bigotry, and covetousness that is found in some of the policies and politicians that they espouse, but are more than willing to point out any perceived instance of such in the other party. There are quite a few evangelical leaders themselves who appear to covet political power themselves.
When you have lost the willingness or ability to call out sin in your own political representatives, you have become captive to a political idol.
When you call out the salvation of another brother in Christ over politics, you have become captive to a political idol.
When you worship and praise the elected leadership of your party, more than God you have become captive to a political idol.
When you cannot differentiate the statement or sentiment” black lives matter” from the organization (which admittedly has many anti-Christian elements) than you have become captive to a political idol.
When you are paralyzed at the thought of the other party taking power because you feel the world may end, than you have become captive to a political idol.
When you care more about a flag, than the people who the flag is supposed to represent than you have become captive to a political idol.
When we our more willing to share our allegiance to our party than our allegiance to Christ, than you have become captive to a political idol.
If you cannot speak well of another person or have lost friendships because they don’t agree with you politically than you are captive to a political idol.
When you cannot see the pain, suffering and injustice because its not politically expedient then you are captive to a political idol.
Despite these points, I believe christians should be involved in politics. I believe its important that one’s values are expressed in its political choices. I do think its important that we remember that though we hope to have certain policies mirror our principles, we must remember to separate the missions of the church. The church is the primary communicator of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the commands of Christ and to be a representative in action of the values of the kingdom. The church is separate from the state, and will be so until Christ comes. Christ’s kingdom is not a democracy, it is a monarchy, and he is over all the kingdoms of the earth, regardless of political affiliation.
Lastly I want to speak briefly about Covid-19 and the churches response. I think many churches have responded well in adjusting to worship amidst government restrictions. I think it was wise and will continue to be wise for the churches to accommodate within reason, to public health safety measures. I do want to say that some churches have prematurely used the argument that the government has unfairly targeted churches and have singled out churches. While there has definitely been some questionable decisions by the goverment on places and services they consider essential, and while there may be some individuals who do want to restrict worship out of antipathy, I think it is to early to play that card strongly because I do believe there will be times when the church will really face restrictions and outright persecution. I believe the way we do worship will change, and needs to change to reflect that potentiality. We have a head start, so our pastors and leaders should be thinking on models for meeting and worship when more stringent laws take place.
I can’t close the blog without the use of a scripture. For homework I suggest reading 1 Samuel 15 and 16 of what happens when we rely on earthly rulers instead of the Messiah. For now here’s an encouragement from Hebrews:
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
I don’t want to act as if I don’t have concerns or fears because I do. I have concerns with both parties and some of the fringe elements that drive some of the policies as well as the way our politics has degraded conversation and our society. Regardless of those fears I must put my trust in God, act out on my convictions and vote, but more than that to pray.
Our kingdom is not of the world, and regardless of who is elected, our kingdom cannot be shaken. The kingdom of Christ is not democrat or republican. Both parties are fallible, have positions and officials who are sinful and hold positions incongruent with biblical principles. There are christians on both sides of the aisle. The kingdom of Christ is not America, its much bigger. Our primary allegiance is not to a president or political party, but to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Let us examine ourselves and repent if our beliefs, speech and action reflect the opposite.
A voice in the wilderness 