It is not uncommon for Christians to make one of two
mistakes when it comes to their interest and
involvement in political and civic affairs.
The first is to fail to distinguish
between the country one lives in and the kingdom one
belongs to. Some Christians become very upset in our
day whenever practices, slogans, and symbols, which
have become associated with Christianity, are
threatened or discontinued by the government. For
example, no more vocal prayer in public schools or
at high school football games, talk of removing the
"so help me God" from swearing in witnesses and the
"in God we trust" from our money, etc. But I believe
we may be missing the boat concerning these things.
Are we really so naïve that we believe our community
and our country are going to be affected positively
for God by a slogan on a nickel? Maybe in some ways
our country's history of being predominantly
"Christian" has hurt the church more than it has
helped it. The early church flourished and spread,
not when it was smiled upon and accepted but when it
was persecuted and rejected. Where did we ever get
the idea that it was part of God's plan for the
state to carry out the responsibilities that he
clearly gave to the church and individual Christians
(Matthew 5:13-16; 28:18-20)? The church must
remember that
"We are of God, and the whole world lies in the
power of the evil one." (1 John 5:19).
Many Christians have either lost or
never had an individual sense of responsibility. We
would have a greater effect on this lost world if
"in God we trust" was inscribed on our minds instead
of on our coins; if we were more concerned with
teaching our children to pray in our homes than in
our schools; if "so help me God" was a sincere plea
from a humble heart rather than what in many cases
is a meaningless phrase tacked on to the end of an
oath.
God never called Columbia or Washington
D.C. to be salt and light. But he does call
Christians to be such. It is the church that is
God's holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) not the United
States. May she remember where her citizenship truly
is (Philippians 3:20).
The second mistake is for Christians to
so compartmentalize their lives that they advocate
and vote for causes, principles and practices that
are contrary to the will of God. They seem to take
the approach, “My religion goes here, my politics go
there, and never the twain shall meet." But is such
consistent with what God requires? Consider Paul's
admonition in Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do
in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father,"
and Solomon's in Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways
acknowledge him, And he will make your paths
straight." How much does "whatever" include? Does
"all your ways" really mean "all your ways" or does
it really mean "some of your ways"? Would any of us
say that you should live by your Christian
convictions in the church building but check them at
the door when it comes to your job or your home
life? Of course not. Why, then, might we think it
all right when it comes to the polling place?
I'm not here to tell you for whom or for
what you should vote. But I would implore you to
make your informed decision on the basis of your
biblical beliefs. The Bible says some things are
right and some things are wrong. Some things are
acceptable and some things are not. "Woe to those
who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute
darkness for light and light for darkness; Who
substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(Isaiah 5:20). Many political issues have nothing to
do with right and wrong but rather are differences
of opinion. But others have clear moral connections
and consequences. It is the responsibility of
Christian voters to know the difference.
God bless you.
Brad Fry
