Should a believer be actively involved in present day politics?

Implied in this question, is the belief that politics is a completely anomalous category untethered to any other vocation or profession. It comes from an erroneous and sometimes a self-righteous position, that considers politics as defiling, and thus unfit for those who are serious about their Christian faith and the Gospel. However, this is not a stand that withstands intelligent scrutiny, nor is it compatible with Scripture. The Gospel has implications for all areas of life, including the political sphere. 

It is important that Christians care about their worldview being presented in all walks of life. That does not mean that we impose our faith or morality on those who believe differently, or have no belief at all, but that participation in politics be viewed as an opportunity - an opportunity to influence, stand up for, and persuade people toward good, as we are motivated by Scriptures to do. 

 

Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
    and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.
Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
    and to defend the needy and the poor. Proverbs 31:8-10

Most concerns about Christian involvement in politics stem from the underlying assumption that it is impossible to be incorruptible in that sphere. That compromises, turning a blind eye, or bending convictions are inevitable. Certainly, as would apply to any other place of work, tact and wisdom in living out our Christian values are imperative. Daniel, was one of the highest-ranking administrators employed in the service of a pagan king. Perhaps, he could have declined a promotion, or opted out of that role altogether, since he was surrounded by ungodly influences. It might have been a pretty lonely position to be in, where almost no one else shared his values. Yet, the Bible testifies to Daniel’s use of discernment, and diplomacy in his responses to unbelievers, and ultimately God using Him for His purposes and to reveal His glory. 

A very important distinction needs to be made at this point – between a Christian and the church. The church absolutely must not be involved in politics. Whenever religion has become politicized, it has become systemically rotten, and its effects felt for centuries. Think about religion becoming institutionalized after Constantine’s supposed conversion to Christianity. The Roman Empire began launching its territorial conquests in consultation with the Pope. Fidelity to Scripture, and the spread of the true Gospel of Christ, became casualties to the power struggles within the church. 

Government derives its authority from God to promote good and restrain evil. In ‘How Christianity Changed the World’, Alvin Schmidt documents Christian influence in government. Examples include outlawing infanticide, child abandonment and gladiatorial games in ancient Rome, ending the practice of human sacrifice among European cultures, banning pedophilia and polygamy, and prohibiting the burning of widows in India. In the United States, two-thirds of abolitionists were Christian pastors. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr., a Christian pastor, helped lead the civil rights movement against racial segregation and discrimination.

William Wilberforce was a British MP, who after coming to know Christ, saw that his position in Parliament could be used for God’s glory. He was uniquely gifted for a life in public service. He railed against the evils of the African slave trade, and played a key role in abolishing this wicked practice in England. He found great encouragement through his friend, John Newton, a former captain of a slave ship, who after his rebirth wrote the classic hymn, Amazing Grace. He would tell Wilberforce that God had raised him up ‘for such a time as this’ and that ‘God has brought you into public life and has a purpose for you’. 

Christians should not have a defensive mindset and retreat from the public square. Christian withdrawal opens a moral vacuum, making our leaders susceptible to evil influences. Politics affects government, shapes society and influences culture. This is not to say, that the Gospel can spread only when there’s a conducive political environment; it can stagnate during times of political stability, and it can spread like wildfire even amongst hostile governments – the underground churches in China, Indonesia, North India, and the Middle East are testament to this fact. 

Christian witness in the public square advances the cause of communicating timeless values about moral and ethical issues. As salt plays a preserving function, Christians using their influence for good, slows down the inevitable decay of society, until the time the restraint of the Holy Spirit is taken away from this world. 

The ‘All Religions are One’ fallacy.

You hear it often - “All religions teach human beings to be good, and share the same moral values, so why fight in the name of religion, because all religions are ultimately the same.” Same wine, different bottles, or same variation of the theme. But is that true? Although well-intentioned, the argument is specious and does more harm than good.

Those who make the above argument usually mean well; they think they have seen or heard  of too many wars in the name of religion, and the only way to get human beings to get along (if we cannot get rid of religion all together) is to first have everyone agree that all religions are essentially the same substance in different packages. But a closer look at world religions will instantly cause any scales to fall away - different religions make different claims, and thus have different implications. Let’s examine the most common slogan of the “all religions are one” argument - All paths lead to the same God. 

Hinduism requires adherents to perform good deeds, so that karma allows them to be reincarnated into higher beings, and ultimately attain moksha or salvation. Islam demands a strict observance of rules, laws, and treatises to please Allah, who will determine the eventual fate of a Muslim. Buddhism requires followers to achieve nirvana in the footsteps of Gautam Buddha who was called the ‘enlightened one’, but there’s no concept of a personal God. In radical contrast, Christianity claims that works cannot earn our way into salvation, and that to be saved, one must believe in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Secondly, religions place such different demands on people and have such different understandings of the afterlife, that it’s impossible to reconcile their contrasting teachings. What does “if your enemy is hungry, feed him” have anything in common with injunctions to slay unbelievers or seek revenge on enemies? Isn’t “all your righteous deeds are like filthy rags (before a holy God)” in stark contrast to earning your way into heaven? Isn’t “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” entirely different from treating the body as mere evil matter? 

This is not to disparage religions that differ from Christianity; however, I do intend to make the point that unity can be achieved despite deep differences among religions, and that we don’t have to stoop to make false equalities to co-exist in society. It should be insulting to the intelligence of a rational man, to be told that the only way to survive in a pluralistic society is to water down differences in beliefs, never engage in searching criticisms of religions, and never consider religion as a topic worthy of discussion in the public sphere. 

All human beings have timeless questions seared in their minds - who am I, what am I doing here, and where am I going? It is every man’s God-given right to satisfy his longing to find answers to these questions, which would invariably mean an investigation into the claims of different religions, and being forced to ultimately make a choice. We should be able and willing to fundamentally disagree with each other, and yet be tolerant of each others’ beliefs, and what’s more, be willing to extend kindness, hospitality, and compassion as fellow human beings and eternal souls. 

Especially if you believe your fellow human is an eternal being, tolerance is not an option, it’s the only way, because in the words of C.S. Lewis, “You have never talked to a mere mortal”. For a Christian, it is high honor to engage, disagree, yet hold the other in esteem, with humility. 

Feelings are overrated.

It’s the first Sunday of 2019. 

New years are supposed to make you feel resolute, optimistic, and hopeful that the best is yet to come, but they can also make you feel drained, battle-weary, and pessimistic about the future. I forced myself to choose realism today - since I swung between both ends, before the day ended. As I’m writing this, I’m telling myself that all I will do, is take one day at a time. On most days, what I find helpful is simply getting up, and showing up, instead of waiting to feel cheerful. I schedule enough things into my day to make me feel productive, and learn enough new things in a week, to feel vital. I don’t underestimate the value of doing the mechanical, until your mind catches up. Feelings are highly overrated, anyway. 

We hear a lot of pep talks that present airbrushed versions of people, glossing over dysfunction, as if life is made up of selfies, vacations, summer plans, and parties. How come we don’t hear talks about how it could be a year of suffering, of heartbreak or loss? Of what you could do to strengthen yourself in preparation for a storm? Why do we prefer open and fatuous laughter, over hidden but real pain? 

I find David’s sighing so relatable, “Why are you downcast, oh my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” He’s having to talk to himself, to remind himself, and to pick himself up. There’s more than a sliver of hope though; it’s a penetrating beam - “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God”. 

So, that’s my anchor for this year - not a blinding optimism about sunshine-filled days, not a vacant sense of impending doom - but a recurring mental note to self: 

That I don’t have to pull myself up by the bootstraps, 

That I can work hard, without fretful striving,

That I can plan for the future, without issuing deadlines, 

That I can forgive freely, without worrying about justice, 

And that I can pray effectively, without expecting thunder. 

So, why indeed, be downcast, oh my soul?