Beth-El Baptist Church

10/22/06

Greg Tomlinson

Should Christians be involved in politics?

There are many Christians who take the stand that for a Christian to enter into politics, to engage people with political talk and even to vote is a sin against God. For that reason they are very strongly opposed to having anything to do with politics. Let us look into the scriptures to see what God’s word has to say about believer’s involvement in politics in general and even with respect to running for political office.

1. What exactly is politics?

According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary: politics is the science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals. Politics, as a science or an art, is a subject of vast extent and importance.

For the sake of discussion, politics will be used in the sense of being mildly to highly involved in human governmental affairs in as much as it involves the handling of laws. This would include voting, discussing, and running for a public government position in one of the three branches of government (Legislative, Judicial, Executive) as in the United States.

2. Did God decree any human political offices?

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 – prophet

Deuteronomy 17:8-12; 1 Samuel 2:10 – priest

Exodus 12:12; Deuteronomy 17:14-20 – king

Looking into the scriptures at the human roles of authority that are described, there are three basic offices that are defined. There is the position of the prophet, who brings the law from God to men. There is the priest to judges and carries out judgments based upon the laws of God. There is the king who also judges and carries out judgments based upon the laws of God.

The position of prophet is strictly divinely identified. The position of priest is based in ancestry from Aaron as High Priest, the Chief Justice of the “Supreme Court” if you will. Finally there is the position of king. It is a position that is established by and setup by men but whose selection is to be chosen by God. Notice that the position of king is expected to write down, read, and apply the Law of God in the execution of his office.

Genesis 49:10

1 Samuel 8:5-9

Zechariah 6:11

A time is coming, and has now come, in which the position of prophet, priest and king shall be combined in one person. This person is Jesus. The true and proper form of government according to God’s standards is monarchy in which God is the King. This is reestablished in the person of Jesus Christ who will likewise be King and establish his Kingdom on earth.

3. How are these roles expected to operate?

Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 18:18-22; 25:1-3

Exodus 19:22

Psalm 99:3-5

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

Habakkuk 1:4

John 7:24

Regardless of the office being held, the identity of a proper office holder is one who fears the Lord and demonstrates that by making his judgments and his proclamations in accordance with the word of God. The prophet who claims to speak for God but does not, based upon failed prophecies, is to be killed. The king is to make his own copy of the law and read it and judge out of it.

4. In a country where the people can select their own political leaders, shouldn’t we just let God choose?

Genesis 1:26-31

Daniel 2:20-22; 4:17

2 Chronicles 7:14

Proverbs 29:2

Revelation 11:15

While it is granted that the government that God desires is a monarchy with Jesus as King. Until Jesus comes and sets up his kingdom on earth, we will yet remain here and we are called to be faithful. Seeing that we live in a country and in a world in which we choose people to represent us, we ought to seek Godly leaders. Truly Godly leaders cannot and will not come from the atheists and the anti-Christians. This being the case how can the righteous be in authority if the righteous (believers) neither run nor submit themselves to God’s guidance in selecting Godly leaders? Knowing that it is God that truly selects the leader, we do need to trust him but also rejoice in the liberty he has given us and seek Godly leaders whose aim is to judge righteously according to God’s commands.

5. Are there any caveats with respect to being involved in political things?

Romans 12:1-2

John 17:15-16

1 John 2:15-17

Remember that this world, its politics, its things are temporal. We are to focus on Jesus as King and live for him. While there is nothing wrong in and of itself in being interested in the things that happen to this world, seeing that we are to have dominion over it, we need to be careful that we not get too interested and too involved so that all we care about, live for, and seek is that which is of this world. Our life is to be hid in Christ and yet we have been given dominion over this planet. Therefore we ought to live our lives, even politically, as unto the Lord.

Summary:

This planet belongs to God and he has given the dominion over it to men. While we need to keep in mind that this planet is temporary and that our permanent home is in heaven with Jesus. He has called us to take care of it and to judge righteously. These things can only be done by getting involved and by doing all things in light of the Word of God.