Should Christians Be Political?
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Today we’re discussing politics and our responsibilities as believers according to the word of God. Should Christians be political? This week, we looked in the book of Titus and found that the answer is an emphatic yes, but there is a way we are to do it: in love.
Read Titus 3:1-8:
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.
The first thing this scripture suggests is that we operate in politics out of love. We have a duty as believers to be involved in politics but must do so out of love. A tweet this morning read, “the country that is divided should be united by the church,” but a response objected that the church has been involved in the divide. We as believers have been or maybe still are part of the divide by participating in politics based on how we feel instead of the Word of God.
This does not mean that we do not stand against social and political injustices, but we must do it by love, avoiding quarreling, and being gentle, showing perfect courtesy towards all people. If we cannot do this and get along as the body of Christ, who can? Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” We as believers are to be imitators of God and walk in love.
When we stand against the political injustices of the world, we are to stand in love. There is righteous indignation, but it must be rooted in love and truth. So often we are either hyper-religious or irreligious, but this is not the Gospel! There must be a blend of truth and grace; this is the Gospel.
It was not difficult getting people to vote in this election, but convincing people to do it in love has been. It’s not hard to tell people are marching and walking against political injustices, but it is hard to get people to filter their feelings through the Gospel. Here this well: we must filter our feelings through the lens of the Gospel. As we march, vote, and participate in standing against political injustices, we must filter our feelings through the lens of the Gospel and do it in love.
We were once deceived and foolish when we were not in Christ, but we are now saved by grace and no longer need to participate in the way we see the rest of the world regarding political injustices.
We pray this blesses you and that we are not sucked into the silly talk or coarse jesting around the water-cooler and our workplaces, partaking of the frivolous conversations regarding our current political climate. Remember, we are not to be united by politics, but as believers of the Lord, Christ Jesus, and His redemptive work.
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