Too Much Politics in His Religion and Not Enough Religion in His Politics

Recently, a very faithful member of the church made a comment that was intriguing to me. He said he had encountered “too much politics” in his local congregation. I did not inquire any further as to what he was talking about. I did consider what he possibly could have meant.

Actually, politics has several characteristics that should never be seen in the body of Christ in any form.

First, politics involves the craving of power. This tends to be what motivates many politicians. John wrote in 3 John 9, “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”

Self-promotion has no place among children of God. It is not about me; it never has been, and it never will be! Jesus indicted the political/religious leaders of His time. ”Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not … all their works they do for to be seen of men: … And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, … But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:1-3, 5, 6, 11-12.

Second, politics involves the craving of popularity. Jesus said following Him certainly would not lead to popularity: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” The expression “in season, out of season” is understood to mean whether it is popular or not.

Obviously, these elements of politics do not fit into true Christian religion but, far too often, are found therein.

Now, let me talk about the second half of the statement, “… not enough religion in his politics.” We live in a country where we are afforded the privilege and right to be politically active. For example, we have the right to vote. One who is a Christian who chooses to vote must not leave his religious principles at home when he votes. I understand that almost all of the candidates from whom we choose are not true Christians. However, I would seek the man who more closely reflects Biblical standards of morality. I cannot support a candidate who supports abortion, homosexuality, violation of the Biblical mandate to work, etc.

I do not advocate disrespect for political leaders or government in general. Paul was clear in his admonition to the Roman brethren: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Romans 13:1-5.

I thank God that I was born in the United States of America where we can be involved legally in the political process. We must strive to take the politics out of Christian religion while, at the same time, applying Christian standards to our political involvement.

Rick Tincher

The Red Menace

“We Are All Socialists Now,” proclaimed the cover of Newsweek for February 16. In the featured article, the authors described how American political culture has changed to embrace a more “European” approach of governmental control of the economy. As a citizen and a Christian, I find this notion troubling.

Big Brother

As a lover of freedom, I oppose socialism for the reasons outlined by Friedrich Hayek in his 1944 classic The Road to Serfdom. Providing a defense of capitalism, Hayek demonstrated that all forms of collectivism create tyranny. Within a centrally planned economic system, a small group uses the coercive power of government to impose their vision on the whole of society. Central planning of the economy is the destruction of all individual economic and personal freedom. As the government increases its control of our lives through taxation and regulation, it transforms us from free men and women into slaves.

Socialism is also unattractive for practical reasons. Looking to the bottom line, the record of the 20^th century should be evidence enough that socialism is not effective in producing prosperity. Repeatedly, as governments move toward socialism, productivity plummets whereas free-market reforms uniformly produce economic growth.

Political Atheism

More important than economic success and even more important than civil liberty, I am opposed to socialism because it is an enemy of Christian faith. Not all atheists are socialist, and not all socialists are atheist. There is, however, a strong correlation between atheism and socialism. Abandoning the God of the Bible, atheists are prone to make a god out of the state.

The animosity between socialism and religion runs deep. From its origin in the 19^th century, socialism has often positioned itself as an opponent of Christian values. The more thoroughly socialist a nation becomes, the more it is prone to persecute religious conviction.

Christianity teaches that human nature is not perfectible. This understanding argues strongly for limited government because all people are prone to sin and may abuse power if given the chance.

The Bible consistently champions the right to own and to enjoy private property. In the book of Philemon, Paul showed the freedom we have in Christ has a social dimension as well. Christianity has been the greatest source of liberty throughout the world.

Although the Lord’s church is not called to be involved in political activism, Christians must let their faith inform our politics. We must consistently stand for the truth that God has revealed, and we must stand opposed to any political system that undercuts the message of the Bible.

Gregory Alan Tidwell – Gospel Advocate, May, 2009. P. 5.

Statesmen Versus Superstars

Henry Kissinger wrote in his memoir “Years of Renewal”: “The great statesmen of the past saw themselves as heroes who took on the burden of their societies’ painful journey from the familiar to the as yet unknown. The modern politician is less interested in being a hero than a superstar. Heroes walk alone; stars derive their status from approbation. Heroes are defined by inner values; stars by consensus. When a candidate’s views are forged in focus groups and ratified by television anchorpersons, insecurity and superficiality become congenital.”

A superstar, not a statesman, today leads our country. That may win short-term applause from foreign audiences, but do little for what should be the chief foreign policy preoccupation of any U.S. president: advancing America’s long-term interests.

Karl Rove – Wall Street Journal / http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124044156269345357.html

Jesus – Community Organizer?

In many political campaigns in order for a candidate

to get votes, promises are made that cannot be kept and

other outlandish things are stated. Most of political talk is

empty, idle, and vain. Much of the talk is just plain nonsense.

This presidential race has produced some nonsense,

What nonsense? Jesus was-a community organizer!

Really now. What person knowing just a smidgen of the

life of Jesus would fall for such a nonsensical statement?

What an insult and an affront to the divine person and the

divine work of Jesus. Jesus is called a number of things in

the Bible. but He is never, never called in any way, shape,

or form a community organizer

Jesus was rejected. Consider. Jesus was rejected twice

in His hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:1-3; Luke 4:16-28).

The Jews for all practical purposes rejected Jesus and the

Bible states this clearly. “He came to His own and His

own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). If He was a community

organizer. He failed miserably in His own hometown.

A man ought to be successful in his own hometown.

He failed in having the nation of Israel, His nation, to follow

Him. Jesus was an unsuccessful community organizer!

Rejected, but not accepted by the community, Jesus

was!

Jesus was rejected because of His message. Any serious

reading of the Gospels help us to understand why Jesus

was rejected. He was rejected because of His message.

His message was not for what man had hoped, but after all

God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8). The people

wanted to hear a message of a kingdom freeing them from

Rome’s tyranny, as the bondage of the Roman Empire

was troubling and difficult. They did not look for a community

organizer!

The message of Jesus was simple. He came for the purpose

of doing the will of God (John 6:38). He came for

the purpose of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19: 10).

For many Jews, especially. the Pharisees this was offensive.

His message was designed to call sinners to repentance

(Matt. 4: 17: 9: 13). The Jews did not like to think of

themselves as sinners. His message was that He came to

build His church and establish His kingdom (Matt. 16: 13-

19: 18: 18). He did so on Pentecost in AD 30 (Acts 2). His

message was that He came to give His life a ransom for

man’s sins (Matt. 20:28: 26:28; Eph. 1:7: 1 Tim. 2:5-6).

His message was that He was the Savior of man (Matt.

1:21). John writes, “And we have seen and testify that the

Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John

4: 14). A community organizer He was not! Rejected, not accepted by the community.

Jesus was!

Jesus is known by many names. The mission of Jesus

was spiritual! The names of Jesus signify His spiritual

mission! Nothing in any of His names indicate that

He was a community organizer. T. C. Horton in his

book, The Wonderful Names of One Wonderful Lord,

lists 365 names and titles of Jesus in both Testaments.

Some of the many names and titles for Jesus are: Jesus.

Lord, Christ, God, Son of David, Son of Man, Son of

God, The Servant of God, The Good Shepherd, The

Great Physician, Savior, Prophet. High Priest, The

Bread of Life. The Door, The Lamb, The Judge, Apostle,

The King, The Resurrection, The Life, The Way.

BUT no community organizer! Does this tell you something?

–W. Terry Varner (Publishing Peace, Vol. 4, No. 11, November 2008, p. 3).

Religion In Politics

Click here for the article.

Sounds Like Socialism…

A study of Communism reveals that it is a spectacle of vice and depravity, seething in the more of materialism, and literally crawling like a snake in the dust of agitation, ever ready to strike and release its venom. It is an atheistic philosophy, villainous in nature, corrupt in principle, and immoral in practice. It is the very essence of hypocrisy and falls under the condemning words of Jesus: “They say, and do not.” It is a contradictory philosophy which glories in zigzags, inconsistencies, and broke promises; a degraded system which has elevated vagrant politicians to despotic lords who have bombarded the world with their infidel attacks upon God, the Bible, and a free society which respects the dignity of man; an assemblage of bombastic and conceited claptraps which exploits man; a system of wayward vanity and selfish ambition which foments struggles and squabbles, revolutions and wars, from the lowest level to the highest plane in every organized democratic society; a system that feeds on human carion and then vomits the mass of corruption upon a helpless people that survives; an ideology which has raised up madmen, selfish, brutal, and horrendous, in their quest for world enslavement, which they gleefully and blasphemously seek by defying God and defiling man. At no other time in the history of man has an ideology so notoriously prostituted the talents, the labors, and the freedoms of so many people. The culminating point in their infamy is to throw the nonsense of all their ill-spent lives into the creation of a one-world government, controlled by the Party dictators. If this seems hard, remember there are no soft words that will describe a hard system.

—- Bible vs. Communism by Leroy Brownlow (1961), p. 9.

Legislating Morality

How often have you heard the assertion that politics and religion do not mix? Or ‘you can’t legislate morality’? These kinds of statements are repeated so often that many people take them as gospel…The very nature of legislation involves value judgments. Some things are deemed right and legal; other things are wrong and illegal. That is morality. I believe the question is not if morality can be legislated. The question is whose morality will be legislated? (pp. 14-15)

—-How Would Jesus Vote? D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe

How Would Jesus Vote?

I have just finished reading a book by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, How Would Jesus Vote? A Christian Perspective on the Issues. With 2008 being an election year, politics and politicians find their way daily into our thoughts, conversations, and lives and it is imperative that Christians examine the issues and the candidates’ positions on the issues so that we can serve God and His purpose through our privilege as citizens.

Maintaining a Christian worldview while wading through the political issues can be somewhat challenging at times, especially when topics take on an intentional “spin” by politicians and their followers. Should a Christian be involved in the political process (vote, run for office, and work for a campaign)? Certainly! Kennedy and Newcombe make this case in their book as well as placing some blame on Christians for allowing things to get to the point they are because of our complacency in the past.

Jesus and politics. They do not mix. Or so we have been told. Jesus is certainly above politics. The question is, would He have His followers be involved in the political process? (p. 4).

The authors clearly believe Christians should be involved in the political process and even go so far as to state that much of the blame for the problems we are encountering in our society “should be placed at the doorstep of the church” (p. 8).

Is God on our side or…

What side is God on? People have wanted to know that since the beginning of warfare… In the book of Joshua, the title character has an encounter with God, or more precisely, the Son of God (p.8).

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14).

Joshua asks Jesus, “are you on our side?” much the same way we ask today, “Lord are you on our side or theirs?” And how does Jesus answer? “Neither…He is not on anybody’s side.”

We want to vote “correctly,” but how do we know the right way to vote – the Christian way to vote? Jesus goes on to explain to Joshua that he will be victorious if he obeys the Lord and does what he is commanded to do. The question therefore, is not if God is on our side, but rather, are we on God’s side? You may recall that Abraham Lincoln said as much during the Civil War. In 1863 he overheard someone say that he hoped “the Lord was on the Union’s side.” The president responded: “I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” (p. 9-10)

Does God care how we cast our ballot? I believe the answer is yes. ..Yet how would Jesus have us vote? When Jesus was on earth He did not reside in a democratic republic and had no opportunity to cast a ballot. Meanwhile, those of us who make following Him our first priority believe He has spoken through His word and given us principles that can inform us on how to vote on many issues…The purpose of this book is to explore those biblical principles from which we can draw political implications (p. 10)

Issues

In this book, we will begin by looking at the broader question of whether the Bible and politics can – and should – mix. I believe that they do. Jesus said we are to “render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Luke 20:25). Furthermore, we are called to be salt and light, which has political implications. After exploring the Bible and politics, we will examine the critical issues of our nation and look for guidance from the Bible. This discussion will include many of the issues currently tearing us apart as a society.

Chapters four through thirteen deal with the following issues:

4 – Matters of Life and Death: Abortion, Stem Cells, Suicide, and Euthanasia.

5 – Crime and Punishment: Judging the Death Penalty

6 – War: Is It Ever Justified?

7 – Education and Our Schools

8 – Economic Concerns

9 – Health-Care Issues

10 – The Environment and Climate Change

11 – Immigration and Racial Prejudice

12 – Marriage: Society Smallest Unit

13 – Judicial Activism and the Courts

In a future post we will share quotes from each chapter on the above issues that affect us as Christians and Americans.

The author’s goal is to remind us that God has given us His Word and through it we have commands, principles and examples that direct our beliefs and views to a Christ-like mindset, i.e. worldview.

When we ask, “How would Jesus have us vote?” we are actually asking, “How would the Bible have us vote?” (p. 12). In fifty years I have not, to my knowledge, ever mentioned the name of either one of those political parties whose names I will not mention now, or I could not make that statement again. Lastly, I do not think preachers should tell people for whom they should vote. I do believe, however, that it is incumbent upon us as ministers of the Word of God to declare the principles and moral teachings of the Scripture that apply to public policy in this country (p. 32).

God’s word in the New Testament is our guide, pattern, example, form of doctrine, and blueprint. It is perfect, complete, authoritative, and final. We must be in complete submission to it (John 12:48; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3).

As Christians, our loyalty should be first and foremost to Jesus Christ and His authority. To be loyal to a party or political figure that compromises one’s faith and principles by their words and actions, lessen our credibility as Christians and offend Jesus Christ.

Those deadly compromises are seen so often when Christians cast a ballot in a way that has no connection to their faith. We will give an account for every aspect of our lives, including how we vote. May the Lord give us wisdom to obey Him in this as well as in all areas of our lives (p. 192).

Tragically, there are Christians whom the authors describe “who have one foot stuck in the godlessness of their world and the other gingerly in the church, those who love God but embrace political principles clearly spoken against in His Word” (p. 188).

Title: How Would Jesus Vote? A Christian Perspective on the Issues
Authors: D. James Kennedy, PhD and Jerry Newcombe
Boards: Hardback
Pages: 260
Volumes: 1
Dust jacket: Yes
Binding: Sewn
Topical index: Yes + 22 pages of endnotes
Scriptural index: No
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Year: 2008
Price USD: $16.99
ISBNs: 978-1-4000-7406-8