During Election Season no one escapes the war that is politics. Whether you’re a farmer in Kansas or a lobbyist in Washington, politics is here and here to stay, primaries are at our doorstep and the general election around the corner. For many this means a time of heated family debates and difficult discussions, some love it and others despise it.
Since the beginning of the primaries, the Evangelical Christian vote has been in the spot light of the Republican primaries with particular support for Donald Trump. In the Nevada primaries, self-identified Evangelicals reportedly showed up in larger numbers than previous years to support Trump, according to entrance polls by ABC News.
Yet, in looking at Trump’s history I have become perplexed as to who exactly these “Evangelicals” are, primarily because Trump’s bombastic speeches seem to be out of alignment with traditional Christian belief. These thoughts and recent events have begun to spark concerns for me as to where true Christian responsibility lies in our political witness.
How then should we proceed?
As Christians we are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God, secondly we are Americans. (Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”) We must not forget that our citizenship in heaven matters more than our citizenship on Earth.
Having been bought by the blood of the Lamb of God, our lives have been transformed, and therefore how we relate to the world in which we live has changed. In Romans 12:2, we read that we are to not be conformed to the world; rather we bear witness to the on-looking world of the message of Jesus, the gospel. Each Christian has been entrusted with the good news of the gospel of Jesus. This gospel has implications not just for life eternal, but also for life here on Earth. We must be faithful gospel witnesses of Christ in all aspects of life, including our political witness.
In Matthew 5:13-14, Jesus illustrated how His followers’ public witness should look: “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world.” Salt and light have an effect on their surroundings. They provide either improved taste or illumination. Being salt and light in this world we are to transform the world we live in with our gospel witness. We have a responsibility, a duty, not only as Americans to participate in our elections but as Christians to be faithful witnesses of Christ in our political action.
I have heard it said time and again, “The elections really don’t affect me.” This sentiment is false and can lead to an unhealthy mentality and detachment from society. In electing a president, we cast our vote for who will be in the executive office for at least four years. This person appoints administrative and judicial officials, directs foreign policy, protects citizens, influences Congress, acts as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and countless other responsibilities. Civil government has been instituted by God and those public officials are used by God as his representatives. In Romans 13:1-5, the Apostle Paul writes:
“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. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for she is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”
Rulers and laws exist for the purpose of protecting citizens, restricting evil, and promoting human flourishing. As Christians, we are to submit to these governing authorities for our good in the context of Christian obedience. (Titus 3:1, “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for ever good work…”)
Further, as ones who have the Word of God, we know the best government is one which promotes human flourishing by protecting personal freedom and religious liberty. (Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”) Christians have a responsibility to stand firm on the truths of the Bible, including in the privacy of the ballot box.
Our Christian life and our citizenship in heaven directly impact our citizenship on this earth. The gospel affects all aspects of life, so we must be concerned about our witness holistically, from new birth to grave, and pew to voter box. Let us be faithful gospel witnesses to an on-looking world in our word and deed, representing our allegiance to Christ through our political action.
No comments yet
