THE CHRISTIAN AND POLITICS (Part 8)

IDOLS VS THE WILL OF GOD:

If a Christian makes an idol of politics, they will inquire of God, and as we saw in Ezekiel 14, God says that He will answer them according to the idols in their hearts. He will deceive both the prophet and the idolatrous inquirer.

In other words, before you come to the Lord to ask questions about involvement in politics, you should be free of idols. You should not come with selfish ambitions or wrong desires. Ensure that your desires line up with the word of God.

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GOD’S POLITICAL POSITIONING PROCESS

Take a look at some of the people in the Scriptures who became political leaders. What did Joseph do to become the Prime Minister of Egypt? Or Nehemiah to become governor? Or Daniel? Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? What of Mordecai? Or David, whom God anointed to become King of Israel?

Go ahead and study the lives of these men. How did they ‘position’ themselves to be rulers or to be exalted? If you look closely, you will find that they were all being faithful in whatever their hands found to do. They did not bribe their way or commit sin(s) to become leaders. David, for example, refused to curse or kill King Saul, even after he had been anointed and was fully aware that he was to succeed Saul as King of Israel.

They did not disobey God, neither did they try to push their way into a place of authority. They were busy obeying God and being faithful wherever they found themselves, and God promoted them.

For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. (Psalms 75:6‭-‬7)

Do not pretend, deceive or sin against God to enter into a political office. Walk in the fear of God. Trust Him, and be faithful. He will exalt you in due season. This is what God expects of every Christian political officeholder.

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GOD’S WAYS ON POLITICS

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:2‭-‬3 (NKJV)

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

And God will exalt you in due time if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 1 Peter 5:6 (NET)

When it comes to the Christian and politics, you must realise that you will still have to be led by God’s word and the Holy Spirit with regards to how to run for and administer your office. The Christian must not idolize any person or political position. They must not approach politics with an attitude that says it’s a ‘do-or-die affair.’

Those who want to fulfil a selfish ambition will do anything, including breaking God’s laws, to get what they want. Not so for the Christian. The Bible says, “You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:3‭-‬4 AMP)

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METHODS AND MODES

Christians are not to involve themselves in the sinful practices that constitute the world’s political system. Christians are to be wary of the divisions that come as a result of being “political” – the yeast of Herod (Mark 8:15). Be concerned with the matter of governance, rather than politics and political parties.

You also have to be led by the Holy Spirit with regard to which territories God wants you to take if you become a leader. However, be very sure it is the Lord’s leading, because however faithfully (or not) you serve will have long-term consequences.

Also, remember that there are vessels unto honourable use and vessels unto dishonourable use (2 Timothy 2:20-21). If you rid yourself of dishonourable elements, and God chooses you to hold a political position and you go on to fulfil His desires in that office, it would be an honourable thing. So, instead of focusing your strength on scheming and plotting on how to get into political office, focus on being a true child of God, one who obeys His words and does His works. If the Lord chooses to set you in such a position of authority, He will do so. When that happens, ensure that you stay faithful to Him and that you do not indulge in practices that will bring shame to the body of Christ. The political ruler who will be saved from God’s wrath is the one who fears and obeys God. Anything outside of that, he will err.