Christians seem to be in the lime light of the recent primary elections, more specifically those who self-identify as “Evangelical” Christian. Leading up to Super Tuesday, the Washington, DC based Pew Research Center rereleased the results of a 2014 survey which reports that Evangelical Protestants make up the highest percentage of religious affiliation in 10 of the 12 Super Tuesday states for Republican voters, averaging 47 percent. Conversely, Evangelical Protestants identifying as Democratic voters averaged 20 percent, second to “unaffiliated” at 25 percent.
With the recent attention given to “Evangelical” voters, many thoughtful Christians have begun to question how Christians are to vote. A quick look on Twitter or Facebook will undoubtedly feature “Christians” claiming support for various candidates from one extreme to another and polarized views on numerous issues. Some claim biblical convictions should strongly influence politics and others say politics is no place for religion.
How then should Christians vote? And does the Bible offer any guidance for issues in life such as politics?
In answering these questions, we must be thoughtful and faithfully understand scriptural mandates for Christians. Our ethics must not teeter-totter with the ever-changing culture but be firmly rooted in the timeless nature of God’s truth.
Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church and President of 9Marks Christian ministry in Washington, DC, addresses this very issue in his new book God and Politics: Jesus’ Vision for Society, State and Government .
Dever has spent the past 22 years living and ministering in our nations’ capital, residing in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol. This empowers Dever with a unique voice to speak biblically on an often heated subject. Dever holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, a Th.M. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of Duke University.
At the outset, Dever posed a question: “Does Christianity have a vision for the state or for society as a whole or is Christianity…so heavenly minded that is it of no earthly good?” (p. 7)
He then unpacked what the Bible has to say on the relationship between God and politics, enlightens us to Jesus’s vision for society, state, and government. Here, Dever focusing on the words of God Himself in Mark 12:13-17 (ESV).
“And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.”
Honestly, I read his book in the hopes that he would provide a Biblical perspective on issues which are in the forefront of the American mind and prioritize such issues by voting importance. I pretty much thought, “Give me a voting guide so that I am assured I will be faithful in my personal responsibility to vote.”
This he does not do. However, what he does is even more significant and timeless.
Drawing directly from Jesus’ words in Mark 12, Dever brilliantly echoes the words of Christ that, “He [Jesus] is God’s Son and that He has come to reassert God’s ownership over His people.” (p. 12) It is from this starting point Dever shows the comprehensive nature of the Christian duty to God. This duty cannot be categorized into separate spiritual life and public life, since there is no area of life where Christ does not rule.
Whether a Republican or Democrat, Conservative or Liberal, this short book serves readers well who claim the name of Christ. Within a mere 55 pages, Dever teaches Christians just how to “[g]ive back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17) He builds a biblical framework for the Christian political witness by showing that God has established a biblical theology for government and authority:
“Jesus’ followers would obey the state but they wouldn’t worship the state. Christians are good citizens, as we considered previously, but by teaching this, Jesus gives an important additional note, because Christians are finally accountable to God. And because Christians are finally accountable to God, as we see here when it says “[Give] to God what is God’s”, our duty to earthly authority is limited.” (p. 37)
Dever struck an important balance for Christians between expressing our citizenship on this earth and our citizenship in heaven. “So, go ahead and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s but then give to God what is God’s and remember you belong to God, all of you,” he wrote (p. 55).
Dever provided thoughtful exposition of Scripture and a faithful Christian response to politics in this little book. Surely, government will never go away and our influence in government might change over time. Yet as long as we are on this earth, God will hold us accountable for every moment, thought, and action. I recommend this book to Christians who desires to better understand the relationship between faith and politics. In fact, I suggest it for anyone who happens to be alive, since it applies to you, too. It will serve you well.
Discounted copies are available through the publisher 10ofThose.
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