The Christian and Politics

(01/14/17)

The great Dutch journalist, theologian, and Statesman, Abraham Kuyper (who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901 – 1905) famously stated: There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine! And, of course, precisely because Jesus Christ has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth this is hardly an overstatement.

Particularly this week, with a Presidential Inauguration in view, we should think about this as we consider Christ’s Lordship and how that relates to the civil sphere: To the sphere of government and politics. How should the Christian think “Christianly” – not just about the Church –but about the State.

As we approach this massive subject, I suggest to you that there are two errors Christians should avoid.

One is the error (and it’s an all too common error) of identifying the United States of America – or any nation of the world – with the Kingdom of God. You see this typically in the appeal to II Chronicles 7:14, If my people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. Fully granting that it would be wonderful indeed if our nation humbled itself before God and genuinely sought Him in prayer, the fact is that no secular nation can be called “my people” in reference to God. It is the people of God, either in Israel as its Old Testament form, or the Church in its New Testament form who – alone – can be called “my people” in reference to God. And it’s a dangerous thing to give that very special designation to secular bodies.

The other error (and it’s probably more common as an error in practice rather than as an error of doctrinal understanding) is to divorce the civil realm, its government, and its politics from Christian faith. In this case the Christian simply pays little or no attention to these things because they are “of the world”. Yet the Word of God calls civil magistrates (those in authority over us on every level of government) as nothing less than “ministers of God” for your good. (You can read that in Romans 13:1-7, which is full of instruction as you consider this whole subject). They are “ministers (or “servants”) of God, who” – among other things – “carry out God’s wrath on wrongdoers.” (This is one of the many reasons why, as Christians, we should have the deepest respect for all those in authority over us.) But how does one in authority serve God in such a way that he or she furthers what is good and not what is wicked? And how do we define the “good” that the one in authority is to promote? Questions like this compel us to think with the greatest seriousness about the vast (and very challenging) topic of “The Christian and Politics”.

Now there are some basic things that, as Christians, we should recognize are taught in the Word of God:

• We are to respect and submit to those in authority over us. That’s taught in the Fifth Commandment, Romans 13, and I Peter 2. We are to be subject, for the Lord’s sake, to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor (or King or Prime Minister or President) as supreme, or to governors…We are to honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the emperor (or King or Prime Minister or President). How our society would change for the better if everyone simply lived out of these precepts!
• We are to pray for kings and all who are in high positions that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. And we are to pray for their salvation, because God desires that people from every walk and level of society be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. So the apostle Paul tells young minister Timothy. And because Timothy was a minister, the clear implication is that this should be regular part of (and a high priority in) the prayers in which he leads the people of God, particularly during corporate worship.
• Especially in our nation, we should be involved in the full process by which people come to power and places of authority. If the powers that be are ordained of God as the Scriptures clearly teach; and if we are a part of a nation in which government is of, by, and for the people, then we need to humbly and earnestly embrace the fact that our involvement in politics – thinking carefully about issues; encouraging, promoting and voting for the candidates who best represent our understanding of how Christ’s Lordship bears on matters of government; and, generally, being “salt and light” in the political sphere – that these things are actually required of us if we are to be conscientious Christian citizens in the United States of America.

The vast, fascinating, and challenging subject of The Christian and Politics. That’s our topic for today’s Visit to the Pastor’s Study.

Dr. David Innes is associate professor of politics at The King’s College (I love that name!), a Christian college in New York City. Dr. Innes is the author of The Voting Christian: Seeking Wisdom for the Ballot Box. He’s the ideal person to help us with our topic for today, The Christian and Politics.