Church and Politics

By Pastor Walt Scott

May, 2013

The following is all the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States has to say about Religion or God.

Declaration of Independence

Our people as a nation seek, “Separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them.”

“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“Representatives then appealed to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of their intentions.”

Constitution of the United States

Original Article VI

“The Senators and Representatives before-mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

Amendment Article I

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

We all have opinions and the right to express them as guaranteed by our constitution. Our guide book on how to live this life, the Bible, is our final instruction in what is true, right, good, etc., and what is not. We shouldn't have to quote chapter and verse. As Christians we should all know these things in our core.

Organized religion and many professed Christians today are often deeply involved in, and have an action plan or agenda for, influencing various political policies, laws, etc. This can be costly in many ways and is, at the very least, distracting and diverts attention and resources, whether tangible or intangible, from the true purpose of the church. I describe the church as the Body of Christ represented by Christians, who are followers of Jesus. In his own words, (Matthew 22:36-40) Jesus told his apostles: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

We are all brothers and sisters, whether we agree and approve of each other, or not.

All throughout history, from Jesus Christ until present times, politicians, governments, and countries have been influenced positively or negatively by Christians spreading the Good News, as we were instructed by Jesus Christ. Not by direct involvement in politics, especially at the expense of our primary Commission. The positive effect of spreading the Good News has always, and is still, achieving greater lasting success than any other method.

All of us are gifted with different abilities and talents from God. These all support and make possible the successful function and operation of the Church. We are all considered equal by God in this; no one position ultimately superior to another. Our character, integrity, accountability, dedication and support of and to the church are primary. God will provide all the necessities for life. We have no mandate from our Father God or his son Jesus Christ to involve ourselves in political action or debate, apart from the following Biblical references:

Romans 13:1-7 Submission to Authorities

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Titus 3:1-11 Doing What is Good

 ¹ Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

 ³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

 ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹ You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Hebrews 13:17 Concluding Exhortations

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

I Peter 2:13-17 Submission to Rulers and Masters (The Message)

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing food, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government

(New International Version)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Proverbs 17:26-28

It is not good to punish an innocent man,

or to flog officials for their integrity.

A man of Knowledge uses words with restraint,

And a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,

And discerning if he holds his tongue.

We all know and are affected to some degree by the political atmosphere today. Do we have unity? No. Do we compromise? Not nearly enough. The democratic system is the best available on earth. It does have its flaws however. Various political parties with different ideas and platforms are supposed to come together in agreement (compromise) because what is best for people is primary. We haven’t been doing this nearly enough. This stiff-necked attitude is based in fear and we all know how effective this weapon is for the enemy.

Remember when the Jews asked God for a king to rule over them, like other nations? Did their belief in God to lead and guide them diminish? Some of their future kings were good, some bad. You know the stories.

We brothers and sisters in the church are easily affected. There are those who, when we learn of another’s political affiliation or philosophical leaning, we don’t associate with them or speak to them anymore than absolutely necessary. No invitations come our way, and when we are in certain groups we feel alienated, because we are not included. Is that the love that Jesus taught? Neither politics, or anything else we can imagine, should be allowed to interfere or enter into the body of Jesus Christ (church).

Maybe the answer is that we just don’t discuss politics. That might work for us on an individual level, but how could this possibly work of a local, state, national, or international governmental level. We elected these people to work for what is best for all people. This requires dialogue, discussion, compromise, etc. Between opposing ideas, positions, etc. we must learn to cooperate and compromise for the good of us all.

God bless you all. In closing, I would like to quote I Corinthians 13:1-13:

Love

“And now I will show you the most excellent way.”

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompleteness will be canceled.

When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.