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The other day as I was driving in the car I was listening to what promised to be a very interesting sermon on the radio.  The pastor promised in the opening of his message to demonstrate that the Bible is crystal clear that Christians should be involved in the political process.  Unfortunately, I was not able to listen to the whole message.  Even more unfortunately, if he got to the crystal clear part I somehow missed it. 

A couple of days ago I was at breakfast with a couple of friends, and one of them mentioned that the pastor at the church he attends recently brought up Obamacare during his sermon.  The pastor apparently addressed specifically his unhappiness with the abortion funding provisions of the Affordable Healthcare Act.  My friend observed that a number of people were upset by the sermon, and that one couple actually got up and walked out.

If you have been on Facebook lately, you have probably noticed a growing political discourse.  While what I see on Facebook is often tasteful, it is just as often offensive and divisive.  Every once in awhile, some of the offensive and divisive posts come from my Christian friends!

Politics is in the air!

Personally, I am not all that excited about sharing my political convictions with others.  But the reason for this is not, as you might suppose, fear about losing the church's tax exempt status.  The truth is that I would be hesitant to share my political views even if the tax exemption were a non-issue. 

Why?  Its a personal thing, and you are obviously free to disagree with me, but I value unity in the church more than I feel a compelling need to share my personal political views.  But again, that's just me.  However, I will offer a couple of observations from the Bible on this subject.

First, I have seen a number of persuasive and sound arguments for why Christians should be involved in politics; at least to the extent of being informed voters.  And, I agree with this conclusion -- although I seldom agree with the biblical analysis.  Personally, I just can't find a clear mandate in the Bible either compelling or prohibiting political participation.  This is not all that surprising, since meaningful participation in the political process was unknown to Peter, Paul and Mary ... or any of the other saints of the New Testament.

Nevertheless, I think common sense tells us that voting is a valuable right.  We have, at least in a limited sense, the ability to shape America's future through participation at the ballot box, and I think we should exercise that right.  I also think that common sense tells us that in deciding between candidates and issues, we should approach our voting decision with a biblical worldview in mind.  In a sense, when we are voting we should probably ask something like "what would Jesus do?"  At a minimum, I think that our vote should be preceded by prayer and mediation on God's Word. 

Second, it is clear that (possibly within some reasonable bounds) we are to live within the existing political system.  In Matthew 22:15-22 Jesus tells us to pay taxes -- to "give to Caesar what it Caesar's" -- although the text can fairly be said to extend to government regulation beyond taxes.  Indeed, Romans 13 tells us that all government authorities are established by God, and goes on to admonish us to submit to those authorities.  The governmental system, established by God, encourages our participation and our voting.

Having said all this, one place where I depart from many of my Christian friends is that I think political differences should not divide us as brothers and sisters in Christ.  And, while I think that almost all of my Christian friends would agree with this idea in the abstract, they are much less likely to agree with it in practice.  Especially in the impersonal world of social media and cyberspace, people seem to feel the need to express their political views as the world does -- in harsh and judgmental tones.  We have enough things to divide us, and the list seems to be growing as some segments of the church continue to distance themselves from the world while others seem to conform to it.  But God wants unity in the body, and because of that I do too.

The other reason that I have difficulty getting excited about sharing my political views is that, while I do think politics have importance, at the end of the day I do not think any man or woman, or any group of men or women, will ever solve our problems.  The battle is spiritual -- and victory was won at the Cross.  Your vote is important.  But voting for either Obama or Romney will not bring you or anyone else salvation.  Your vote will not change ultimate history -- Jesus will return.   


¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes^(M) to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Matthew 22:15-22. 




13 Everyone must submit himself 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, he who 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 he will commend you. ⁴ For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent 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 because of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans 13:1-6.