THE CHRISTIAN AND POLITICS (Part 1)

What is Politics?

Politics has to do with the activities, honest or dishonest, brief or extended, involving many or few, that lead up to being in a government. It usually involves manoeuvres or diplomacy between people, groups, or organizations, especially involving power, influence or conflict.

Politics is a controversial matter on its own. But when politics meets Christianity, it becomes even more contentious.

READ ALSO: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Two Camps

Christians have formed 2 major camps when it comes to the issue of politics. First, there is the camp of those who believe that Christians should be actively involved in politics, and in fact, Christians have a mandate to lead in every sphere of society, including the political sphere. In recent decades, this has become increasingly popular with many born-again Christians who believe that the position of political power will allow for a chance to impose Christian virtues on society and also ensure Christians have a voice that can protect them with state power backing them up.

Those of the second camp believe that Christians should abstain from all things political, and should rather live as peace-loving, obedient members of society. They should only be interested in things concerning heaven and hurry to leave this defiled world. Long ago, and even up till a few decades ago, those in this latter camp were in the majority. Very few believed that real Christians should have anything to do with the deviousness of politics.

But what does the Bible teach about Christians and politics? Should Christians be involved in, or abstain from all things political?

Let’s take an exploratory dive to consider what the Bible says about the matter.

READ ALSO: WHAT ARE GOVERNMENTS FOR? (PART 1)

Idols vs God

I would like to first point out that God does not want His people to set up any idol in their hearts. In fact, the first commandment which the Lord gave His people is this:

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below…” Exodus 20:3‭-‬4 NIV

As such when it comes to the matter of politics, the Christians must ensure that they do not have an idol, in the form of a person, or a political position which they have set up in their hearts.

Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. Ezekiel 14:1‭-‬4 NIV

In the next part, we will take a look at the concept of governance versus the concept of politics. A believer may clearly be called to governance. There are examples in the Scripture like Joseph, Daniel, Mordecai, Nehemiah, and David, who were rulers in the nation where they found themselves.