Comments on: A Post on Politics

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:09:13 +0000

I will not vote for Billary Clinton.

Once was enough. I didn’t vote for them the
first time around, and I won’t do it this time
either!

If the only choice I have is to vote for someone
that doesn’t equal my value system, then I won’t
vote. I will NOT compromise my morals.

Come now, Lord Jesus. Come now.

By: Walter Heaton

Walter Heaton — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:30:59 +0000

Nathan,

Another good post. But, as I assume that you would not promote abstinence from the political process, perhaps you could offer a few principles for the saints to apply on election day — when all the Republican candidates seem morally little different than their Democrat counterparts … without skirts? If it is not acceptable for Christians to abandon the political process, just how is the Joe in the pew to discern the candidate who is the lesser of eight evils? (Subtle allusion to the CNN/YouTube debate – which I stayed up until 4AM watching!) Just what IS the Christian to do when the Republicans support abortion, leave multiple spouses in their wake, AND support the eradication of islamofacism?

We recently had elections for parliament here in Croatia. And if you think the political landscape in America is diverse … brother, you live in Disneyland! With more than 25 different parties representing just under 5 million people and an evangelical population of less than .5% my faith was put to the test on election day. It was a nightmare trying to be faithful to the Lord in participating in the political process in which He has placed me while at the same time voting my conscience!

As a pastor, all I could do was encourage our flock to focus on issues of morality over economy and then vote for the lesser of more than 25 “evils.”

Brother, tell me next November 9th how I should have handled this differently.

Walter

By: Sean Wallentine

Sean Wallentine — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:01:54 +0000

I would point you all to Capitol Ministries (www.capmin.org), which, for over a decade has been making disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena. Among other things, this ministry has been working very hard to help individual believers and churches realize their biblical mandate to make disciples of the lost, especially in the political arena–through faithful evangelistic praying, evangelism and discipleship (1 Tim 2:1-5).

Political involvement is a liberty we all enjoy as Americans, but it is not a duty. Taking it further, politics becomes an idol for so many–even professing believers. Our duty as believers is to make disciples. It is hard, however, to make disciples, especially in the political arena, when we turn our mission field into an enemy we want to, in a sense, destroy. Politics cannot save. We ought to be very concerned about the state of peoples’ souls, over and above poltiical agendas. Politics follows one’s theology anyway. Change the theology, change the politics. Not that changing politics should be our end goal.

By the way, there are many conservatives who believe, for some strange reason, that God is impressed with their moral conservatism. The Pharisees come to mind…

At the Bema Seat Judgement Jesus will not have a concern for how many Republicans you registered or which candidates you supported. I don’t think that’s going to come up (forgive my extra-biblical speculation). He will, however, be very concerned about your faithfulness to Him, and His clear calling in the life of every believer (2 Cor. 5:9-11).

It should be noted that God never asks for the church’s help in setting the course of nations. The Apostle Paul’s interactions with political leaders is entirely evangelistic, not political. And consider the OT, including Jonah in Ninevah. He didn’t “lobby” the king for moral change. Also consider Daniel 2:21a, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings.” And, Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Vote and be involved in the political process but don’t let it become an idol in your life. And don’t treat your mission field as an enemy. Political involvement is a great liberty, but not a command from the Lord. The Lord has the destiny of nations under His clear control (Deut. 29:29). God’s eschatological plan probably doesn’t rely heavily on your vote next November (Romans 13:1)…but, feel free to exersize your political liberty nonetheless. Then let’s all get back to making disciples by the power of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ!

By: David

David — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:19:22 +0000

Great post. Capitol Ministries (www.capmin.org) is one Christian organization that is doing excellent work in this area. It seeks to make disciples of Jesus Christ within the political arena, not by moralizing political leaders, but by teaching them God’s Word.

By: Corey Fleig

Corey Fleig — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:41:35 +0000

Regarding Daniel Cox’s response, I think we read too much into Nathan original point. Nathan never said don’t get involved or care about politics. He never said be irresponsible, he never said ignore daily political life, and he never said don’t vote. What he actually said was that our home, our real home and first love is in Heaven, not this planet. What we choose to do with our second, third, and fourth loves (whether it be politics, art, or education) must be far less passionate.
Even Jesus said “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s..” so I’m sure He means for us to care about our political world. But again, I love my real home, my future home – this world system is way far and away so inferior that political activism, or even “wishful political hoping” will accomplish absolutely nothing. What accomplishes God’s plan is salvation, not votes. Lets get brutally honest – Bush, Romney, ron Paul, Huckabee, et. al. are all sinners, and as sinners we must come to grips with the reality that government, while necessary, is not a panacea or a club for solution-making. Jesus is the great Solution.

By: JDS

JDS — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:54:12 +0000

Chris,
We’ll pray for you lol

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:50:27 +0000

I am a liberal and I believe I am a Christian.

By: Mark La Roi

Mark La Roi — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:54:07 +0000

Good post! The key is,as you spelled out, balance. As good citizens Christians should vote and be involved in the political system for the betterment of the nation, but when the line between political affiliation and standing with God become blurred, it’s sin.

The very fact that a common belief exists in which U.S. Christians are assumed to be Republicans unless they are Black or Hispanic in which case they are assumed to be Democrats shows that we’ve gotten way out of balance.

By: JDS

JDS — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:22:20 +0000

Nathan, Having been in elected political office during the “Moral Majority” and “Christian Coalition” years, although not a part of either, I must say well stated. I also echo ADB and Pat K above. To some I advise a closer reading, to others get a better translation, and still to others I remind that “the hit dog hollers.”

By: Jon Szabo

Jon Szabo — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:04:15 +0000

Nathan,

Great post. I recall John Piper’s words in p. 280 of “A Godward Life”:

“What do you think disqualifies a person from holding public office? I believe that the endorsement of the right to kill unborn children disqualifies a person from any position of public office. It’s simply the same as saying that the endorsement of racism, fraud, or bribery would disqualify him-except that child killing is more serious than those.”

Well, as for me that statement absolutely gives me more time to evangelize and disciple rather than wasting time rubbing shoulders with the likes of Pat Robertson and Rudy Giuliani.

My vote is for Jesus Christ.

Thanks again.