7 Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics

Political discourse is the Las Vegas of Christianity—the environment in which our sin is excused. Hate is winked at, fear is perpetuated and strife is applauded. Go wild, Christ-follower. Your words have no consequences here. Jesus doesn’t live in Vegas.

Not only are believers excused for their political indiscretions, but they are often applauded for committing them. Slander is explained away as righteous anger; winning arguments are esteemed higher than truthful ones (whether or not the “facts” align); and those who stir up dissension are given the pulpit. So I balk when pastors tell me the Church should engage in the political process. Why would we do that? The political process is dirty and broken and far from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride of Christ.

Rather than engage in the political process, Christians have a duty to elevate it. Like any other sin, we are called to stand above the partisan dissension and demonstrate a better way. Should we have an opinion? Yes. Should we care about our country? Yes. Should we vote? Yes. But it’s time we talk politics in a way that models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks them.

Here are seven things to remember about politics…

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Wesley

i have to disagree with the author's 7th reason for the most important is always the next election for it helps decide the direction of our nation for more freedom or more tyranny. the past is done and we are always one election from a dictatorship as we have learned from the 2008 election without checks and balances politicians will run wild as we have seen through obama's executive orders.
daves

Excellent article.
BigJohn

How can a true Christian vote in this election when both candates are anti-Christ?
- NOBS
  
  I worked with Mormans in Arizona and believe me they are NOT anti-Christ. They do not drink, smoke or swear and they LOVE Jesus too. I was raised Catholic and was very impressed by their devotion. Please do research and not slander .
  - Wesley
    
    Mormons are anti-Christs by John's definition given in his epistles for they deny the Jesus found in the creeds and scripture like the other heretics of the past like Arias and Nestorius, but as for the dispensationalist's definition they are anything but. they are theological anti-Christs not political.
    - NOBS
      
      Glad you made that distinction. Theologists also used to argue how many angels resided on the head of a pin.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    But they do not accept HIM as the "ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. The flat out refuse to say HE is.
  - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
    
    @ff92fc37533f32cb9166ccee2d4868b4:disqus
    
    What you mean is that Mormons are outwardly moral. And that is fine. But whether they are Christian or not is a separate issue. Devotion to Mormonism, or Catholicism, or whatever, does not necessarily equal a devotion to the God of the Bible. One can believe in God, but if the God they believe in is not God as fully presented in all His attributes on the pages of the Bible, then they are worshiping a god (little "g") that exists only in their own mind.
  - lgh
    
    The bible says no one will ever make it to heaven on good works alone.
- willythegeek
  
  There are always a choice, the right, the wrong and a compromise. You do it every day. In almost every aspect of your life. Making the right choice won't always make the results turn out like you want. Sometimes the right choice actually lets you end up with the worse one. Like voting for someone that cannot win because prophesy is being fulfilled. Remember Solomon's son lost his kingdom because of Solomon's sins (foreign wives and their gods, idols)
Concerned

I disagree with this author. He/she points out that it is like Vegas and "dirty" and "broken". Shouldn't we like Christ, speak out AGAINST this sort of thing?

The reluctance of a Christian to call sinful things sinful is part of the downfall of Christianity since the beginning. Job knew sin, even coming from his "friends," and he "eschewed evil".

Our system of government continues to slip away because we strive to be more and more tolerant when we should be asking our law makers the hard questions. When we as a nation followed God's laws, we were blessed by Him. We need to return to Him as the head of our "government".

Every decision we make should be in light of the Word of God. The same goes for our elected officials. But if the church becomes hush in the political arena, who will speak to the people for God?
- Wesley
  
  i seems like he is using Vegas as a metaphor for the traps and vices that politics creates for Christians. like the motto of Vegas 'what you do in Vegas stays in Vegas'. Christians do not transcend politics they tend to uncivilize themselves. just reading carefully through the seven reasons even though he is wrong about the seventh the metaphor would make since.
John J Flanagan

A very excellent excuse to avoid the political process, to ignore the abortion issue which has taken 50 million unborn children, destroyed for convenience in 93% of the cases. A good excuse to use certain verses of scripture to avoid being outspoken politically against the wickedness of same gender marriage, of the suppression of religious speech, of the removal of Christian crosses from the public. Our faith does have a component of activism against the evil in our fallen society. As Christians, remaining silent is what the wicked desire, but this is not the way to live our faith. We may be excused of being contentious, our righteous anger may be described as faulty, but if we do not stand for the truth, our faith is merely a pretense. Look at history, the blood of the martyrs who had to be killed because they stood on the wrong political side and opposed evil. In my humble view, Christians need to be more engaged in the political process, not less engaged as the writer seems to imply.
- far2right
  
  "Both political parties go to church.
  There’s a Christian Left and, perhaps even less well-known, there’s a secular Right."
  
  Not to worry. Clearly this author is a liberal.
  
  People who claim to be left and christian are pretenders.
  
  True followers of Christ obey His word as taught and led by the Spirit.
  
  And God the Spirit is able and does teach His own.
  
  It is impossible to be leftist and a true Christian.
  - daves
    
    Do you follow the word of God completely? Nothing but rest on the Sabbath?
    
    Romans 13:1-14
    Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
    - mallen11
      
      You are taking that scripture out of context to make it mean what you want to believe. Do you believe you should renounce Jesus Christ if the government told you to? If the government told you to murder your father and mother would you? They did in China and people obeyed their government instead of the Lord. It is coming to America; will you follow orders from a government that is against what the Bible teaches? Did the Christians in Paul's day obey the government; yes, and they were killed for it. There is a day coming that we will have to take a stand for or against God. The question we must ask; are we willing to die in the name of the Lord or deny Christ.
      - daves
        
        I just quoted scripture, I didn't say anything about what it means.
        
        How do you reconcile what the quote says with resisting government?
      - mallen11
        
        I already answered that question with my last comment to you.
      - daves
        
        So your answer is that it is okay to disobey God's word under certain circumstances?
      - mallen11
        
        daves, as usual, I don't think you can read. I said the opposite. We are to obey God under all circumstances.
      - daves
        
        I don't understand, God says not to resist government but you gave me instances where we should resist government.
      - mallen11
        
        We are to obey the LAWS of the land is what Romans 11 is all about. Paul is talking about CRIMINALS who disobey the law; not law abiding citizens. If the government turns against what the Bible teaches we are not to obey. If the government told me to denounce Jesus Christ I would not obey that government. I would rather be dead. It is not resisting the LAWS of the land but a government that has turned against God.
      - daves
        
        That is a good explanation but how can there be such a thing as bad government if all governing authorities have been instituted by God? Would God install a government that told us to denounce Jesus?
      - mallen11
        
        Yes, God could allow a government that could tell us to denounce Jesus if He is ready to discipline our country like He did many times with the Isrealites who turned their backs on Him and chose idol worshipping instead of worshipping the one true God. If people in this country continue to turn their backs to God and reject His ways according to His Word we will also be disciplined even more than we are now with all the bad weather and destruction we are having.
        
        There are five cycles of discipline and we are slipping into the 5th very quickly.
        
        Leviticus 26:14-28 & Deuteronomy 28:48-67
      - daves
        
        So God gives us instructions to obey these bad governments?
      - mallen11
        
        Churchvictory remined me of the following verses: Acts 5:27-29 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. If one knows what the Word of God says, one will know what to do when facing a government that turns completely against God.
        
        II Peter 3:8… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.
      - Aristophanes
        
        daves – if it is possible for you, read the book of Job.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        You can't get a straight answer out of mellen. Ask her if she thinks JESUS is the only begotten SON OF GOD, or what she thinks about the LORDS PRAYER..
      - Evermyrtle
        
        By the way, GOD will will not tell anybody to murder their parents. He tells us, "
        Thou shall not kill' Any time he gives any indication that somebody is to be killed, is because of evil and during and in war. All coming about because of gross disobedience of man to GOD.
      - mallen11
        
        You must be a liberal. Of course Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As far as the so called "Lord's Prayer":
        
        o One
        of the areas in which Jesus attacks the pseudo righteousness of the Pharisees
        and the religion of the day is public prayer.
        
        o In
        the mist of this attack on hypocritical prayers of the Pharisees, Jesus is
        going to present the Model Prayer (a.k.a., Lord’s Prayer) for the
        disciples. The reason He give this is to
        illustrate the failure of the Pharisees.
        It was never given to be ritual.
        It is not to be prayed in church services. It has nothing to do with the Church Age
        accept only incidentally and principle.
        It is a rebuke to the Pharisees and to illustrate how they failed.
        
        o To
        understand the “so called” – “Lord’s Prayer”, we must understand the context of
        this prayer.
        
        o The
        first lesson of the Model Prayer is brevity.
        When you pray in public, make it short.
        
        o The
        “so called” – “Lord’s Prayer” in this passage was never attended for
        liturgy. It’s a “Model Prayer” for a
        crash program prior to the Church Age.
        
        o Part
        of the prayer was designed to expose the self-righteousness and the hypocrisy
        of the Pharisees who would not admit to personal sinfulness.
        
        o Remember
        that the Sermon on the Mount was a way of life for the disciples during the
        three years of our Lord’s public ministry.
        Note: You cannot pray two
        prayers:
        
        1. David’s
        prayer: “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from
        me.” This is impossible in the Church
        Age.
        
        2. The
        “Lord’s Prayer” in Matt 6 (note, the
        “real” Lord’s Prayer is John 17)
        
        o With
        the declaration of grace, the more subtle forms of legalism are going to be
        exposed. Legalism is that form of
        self-righteousness which seeks to gain approbation from God and praise from man
        based on human works.
        
        o Before
        Jesus can offer the disciples certain super-natural powers to go out and
        represent Him and to fulfill their ministry, He must expose legalism.
        
        o If
        He does not expose legalism, the disciples will abuse the powers that are given
        to them by catering to their approbation lust in seeking to impress people.
        
        o It’s imperative that the disciples be warned
        about legalism before they begin their ministry to the “Lost Sheep of the House
        of Israel” (Matt 10:2-8). This Model
        Prayer is designed to help them avoid all the pitfalls of legalism.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
        
        The fact that the early Church disagrees with you means you're wrong. The Didache instructs Christians to pray the Lord's Prayer three times a day, and in a time when heresy was fervently condemned by numerous apologists preaching sound doctrine, no one dared contradict the Didache. Likewise, no one dared preach that it was impossible for a Christian to lose his salvation, but rather abjured Christian sinners to repent and confess their sins in church, lest they be cut off and perish.
      - mallen11
        
        My authority is the Word of God; not man made rules that do not follow the Bible. What you say in your comment cannot be found in the Bible.
      - willythegeek
        
        Do you believe you should renounce Jesus Christ if the government told you to?
        NO.
        If the government told you to murder your father and mother would you?
        
        NO; but, they may make me watch.
        They did in China and people obeyed their government instead of the Lord.
        That was China, Were they real believers? Have you ever read Fox's book of Martyrs
        It is coming to America; will you follow orders from a government that is against what the Bible teaches?
        It's already here. I dought it.
        Did the Christians in Paul's day obey the government; yes, and they were killed for it. There is a day coming that we will have to take a stand for or against God.
        No they did not always obey the government, they met in secret places and I think they shared everything they had. It looks like our government is taking a stand against God, they have removed him from nearly everything we used to stand for.
        The question we must ask; are we willing to die in the name of the Lord or deny Christ.
        I don't know about WE. I'm not quite sure yet about how I'm willing to die or if I will get the chance. Regardless, there will only be sinners that are forgiven that will make the grade. Just sayin', nobody can earn it, nobody can live it, nobody deserves it; but, if we repent, we will receive it, that's how I read it.
      - mallen11
        
        I am confused about your comment, were you referring to me or daves?
        However read:
        Acts 5:27-29 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. If one knows what the Word of God says, one will know what to do when facing a government that turns completely against God.
        This is where I stand from the Word of God.
      - Aristophanes
        
        mallen11 – daves is a liberal. He even tried using this article on another site and got shot down there, too. And, of course, being a liberal and also, I believe, an atheist – he is going to try everything he can on conservative sites. He is really rather typical of a liberal – he does not realize that conservatives have no desire to share his kool-aid.
      - mallen11
        
        You are right. I saw him on another sight this morning and the same ramblings and accusations. He seems more confused about things than anything else but I believe that is a sign of liberal thinking. Thanks for the info.
      - aceituna
        
        With the apostles in Acts, we must say that we ill obey God rather than man, when the authorities commanded that they quit preaching in Jesus' name.
      - mallen11
        
        Right, aceituna, the verse is Acts 5:27-29.
    - http://churchvictory.wordpress.com/ churchvictory
      
      And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
      But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:27-29)
      - mallen11
        
        Thank you, I forgot that verse.
      - daves
        
        That totally contradicts the verse I quoted.
      - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
        
        It doesn't totally contradict. It simply says that God's Law is numero uno, and man's law is numero dos. We are to obey man's law only in so far as it does not conflict with God's Law. If man's law conflicts with God's Law, guess which one we follow?
    - http://churchvictory.wordpress.com/ churchvictory
      
      Our presupposition is that God's word is inerrant and without contradiction. Any perceived contradiction must be due to our own fallible understanding.
      
      In reading Romans 13 it is important to keep in mind that Paul is not directly instructing believers on what we ought to do when a government departs from the role God has given it and not specifically explaining what to do when government is committing a moral wrong. He is speaking in broad, general terms that the institution of government comes from the hand of God.
      
      By faith we can avoid the interpretative danger of reading into Paul's treatise something that he did not intend.
      
      Grace and Peace.
    - Pastor Dwayne
      
      Since Jesus is the Lord of sabbath, I rest 7 days a week.
      - daves
        
        Must be nice!
Mex Seiko

Both political parties go to church – Perhaps true. But as Lincoln stated in his 2nd Inaugural both men from t North and the South kneeled and prayed for victory. God judged the whole land for slavery, but one side stood against it. Abortion is as legal today as Slavery was in the past. Perhaps not by a second civil war, but somehow God will judge the land.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Beverly-Irvine/100000878247062 Beverly Irvine
  
  True. this holocost of slaughtered babies blood is on our Nation! God will judge this Nation!
  - Evermyrtle
    
    And people who claim to be Christians and take an active in it. You must know a Christian will not kill her baby or anybody else, except in self defense and the babies are not dangerous, the do not threaten.
mallen11

We believe in voting and speaking out against a government that goes against what the Bible teaches. We don't believe in so called "Christian activism" joining marches and trying to force people to believe the way we do.

Christians have civil responsibility – no violence or
intrusion of privacy on others, learn and do God’s will and if possible to
serve in the military. Separation of Church and State is important. Freedom, marriage, family, government and
“give unto Caesar…” means we should pay taxes. The laws of establishment
principles should give us freedom but there is no freedom without
authority. There should be laws against
criminals. Execute those who murder and
rape. As goes the believer so goes the
nation.
Disgusted

I didn't see anywhere to see the seven things. It said Here are seven things….., but no link. Oh well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB0k21sGT_A&feature=related Phaerisee

I do like Romney's business experience, but his Gordon Gecko-esque tenure at Bain Capital concerns me. I also have a problem with him calling himself pro-life. In fact, Romneycare provided for taxpayer funded abortifacients (Pharmaceuticals that cause spontaneous abortion) How many evangelicals and catholics know this? He also is continually calling himself a christian to gain votes, when most of us learned in Sunday school that this is not the case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGFAph3lWqw
- Esther
  
  Your video is totally false. Also, Mitt Romney is for states rights. Massachusetts got what they wanted the same way the Unites States got ObamaCare. Wake up!
- lgh
  
  Jesus told Peter to "feed my lambs", "tend my sheep", and "feed my sheep". Romney thinks He meant "feed the sheep owners".
Jeff Dixon

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=xOAgT8L_BqQ&feature=player_embedded
This video is a sad commentary on the scary side of big government.
- Esther
  
  How true. Once upon a time, and still is in Texas, it was bad manners to politic at work.
Pastor Dwayne

Babylon is fallen, is fallen, Repent America, Repent Gov't of America
Pastor Dwayne

Political , financial Babylon, has fallen, has fallen, repent America, while there is still hope.
edc

If there comes a day and we are arrested for being a Christian, will ther be enough evidence to support the warant? I hope so.
- lgh
  
  Unfortunatly, the bible tells us that day will come.