Christian politics

Should American Evangelicals be involved in politics? Some Christians think we should leave politics to unbelievers and concentrate on the church or evangelism. They claim there’s no biblical warrant for Christian political activism.

That’s a question of theological method. Does Scripture present duties that have a political dimension? Let’s consider some social duties in Scripture:

4 If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him (Exod 23:4-5).

3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father’ (Mt 15:3-5).

 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him (Exod 22:2-3). 

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:40).

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim 5:8).

It’s my impression that many Christians who oppose political activity are staunch supporters of the right to bear arms. For instance, they think that if a man breaks into your home at night, which makes him a threat to your family, you have a right to shoot him. That’s because you have a familial duty to protect your wife and kids against aggression.

But that principle extends beyond an armed houseburglar. A totalitarian state can pose a threat to your family that’s equal to or greater than a houseburglar.

For instance, the elderly are a drain on the healthcare system. So are the disabled. What if the state decides to euthanize your elderly parents? What if the state decides to euthanize your disabled son or daughter?

And don’t think this is just hypothetical. That’s a realistic scenario if the state is allowed to continue unchecked.

The Bible says we have a duty to honor our parents. Well, how do you honor your parents? Jesus has an insightful take on that question. He defines it indirectly by giving an example of how the Pharisees dishonor one’s parents. As Jesus defines it, honoring your parents includes providing for parents who are too poor or too enfeebled to provide for themselves.

But that principle extends beyond the immediate example. Surely that means you have a duty to protect your ailing parents against state-sponsored euthanasia.

Or take material provision for your children. What if a totalitarian state has economic policies which prevent you from being able to financially support your kids?

Or what if a totalitarian state doesn’t allow you to be a Christian parent. Prohibits you from raising your children in the faith.

For instance, it’s currently legal for Christian parents to either homeschool their kids or send their kids to private Christian schools. However, the state refuses to reimburse parents for private Christian education. They must still subsidize public education. So some parents can’t afford to send their kids to private Christian schools.

Moreover, unbelievers oppose homeschooling. They’d outlaw if it they could. They’ve tried to. Thus far their efforts have been stymied by the courts. But if Christians vacate the public square, then judges will start upholding legal bans against homeschooling.

Furthermore, if left to their own devices, unbelievers will require Christian teachers to be certified by the state. And a requirement of teacher certification will be blanket acceptance of liberal social values. As it is, public schools are already reeducation camps to brainwash our youth in liberal social values.

Likewise, if Christians vacate the public square, then it’s only a matter of time before CPS begins removing children from Christian homes. It will be a crime to teach your kids Christian ethics. That conflicts with the LGBTQ agenda. That’s a hate crime. That’s child abuse.

In addition, although we have a greater responsibility for our own kids, we should also have a Christian concern for the kids of unbelievers. We shouldn’t just abandon them to a hopeless, godless existence.

If you let unbelievers take over the reins of government, then it will be too late to prevent the evolution of a totalitarian state that’s inimical to Christianity.

Christians don’t have a right to shirk their divinely-mandated social responsibilities. And that has a political dimension, especially in a political system based on popular sovereignty.

No doubt it’s disheartening to many Christians when we lose major elections. But we need to keep that in perspective. It’s like a game of chess. For every move, there’s a countermove. When believers make a move, unbelievers make a countermove. When unbelievers make a move, believers make a countermove.

If believers find themselves frustrated by unbelievers, remember that unbelievers find themselves frustrated by believers. And mutual frustration is far preferable to giving unbelievers free rein.