A Warning to Christians Tempted by Politics
Sad to say, we have known men who seriously considered abandoning the shepherding of the church in order to run for political office. Is this not like the hireling of John 10 who does not care for the sheep? We have known men and women who would not go door to door doing gospel work, but who would give hundreds of hours to political campaigning, door to door voter registration, and spend who-knows-how-much money and time on the campaigns of their favorite political party. The professing Christian should ask himself, is the hope of the world to be found in politics, and can politics solve the really important problems? Did Christ or the Apostles get involved in politics? Consider the excellent answer of my friend and mentor William MacDonald, who has been promoted to glory.
THE WORLD OF POLITICS
by William MacDonald
Now let us think of the world of politics. We often hear the well-worn argument, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." The trouble is that that is worldly opinion, not divine revelation. We are also reminded that Joseph, Moses and Daniel engaged in politics. Actually Joseph and Daniel were civil servants, not men who ran for office. And Moses was a thorn in the side of the political establishment of Egypt.
What is the scriptural testimony on the subject?
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight" (Jn. 18:36).
Paul said, "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life" (2 Tim. 2:4).
John said, "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 Jn. 5:19).
The example of the Lord Jesus is against political participation. He was in an adversary relationship to the establishment. The apostles did not resort to politics. Their order was to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
The Christian's primary citizenship is heavenly (Phil. 3:20). His obligation to earthly government is to pray, pay and obey.
God's purpose in this ages is not political reform, but to take out of the nations a people for His Name (Acts 15:14). The question is, "Are we going to follow His agenda?"
The basic problem in the world is sin. Only the gospel can deal successfully with that. God's method is spiritual -- the new birth.
Politics by its very nature is corrupt. If I participate, I cast a vote of confidence in it. Such confidence is completely unjustified. It has had hundreds of years to prove its effectiveness and what has been the outcome?
The record of Christians in politics has not been good. William Kelly said, "Never have Christians meddled with governing the world except to Christ's dishonor and their own shame. They are now called to suffer with Christ; by and by they shall reign with Him. Even He has not yet taken His great power for reigning."
The time for believers to rule has not come yet. It will come when Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. When the Corinthians acted as if they were already reigning, Paul corrected them. He wished that they were reigning so that he and the other apostles could reign with them. But while the Corinthians were, in a figure, wearing their crowns in box seats in the amphitheater, the apostles were like men in the arena, condemned to death, a spectacle to the world, and treated as the scum of the earth (1 Cor. 4:8-13).
It is a false expectation to think that conditions in the world are going to improve (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:15). Both the Bible and the daily news refute such a notion.
The Christian finds power in separation from the world (2 Cor. 6:17). We can never move it as long as we are a part of it. Our great resource is prayer. We can do more through prayer than others can do in politics. We can see miraculous transformations of human lives. We can pray men and women into the kingdom of God. We hold the balance of power in the world. Why barter this for a bankrupt system of politics?
What is the scriptural testimony on the subject?
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight" (Jn. 18:36).
Paul said, "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life" (2 Tim. 2:4).
John said, "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 Jn. 5:19).
The example of the Lord Jesus is against political participation. He was in an adversary relationship to the establishment. The apostles did not resort to politics. Their order was to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
The Christian's primary citizenship is heavenly (Phil. 3:20). His obligation to earthly government is to pray, pay and obey.
God's purpose in this ages is not political reform, but to take out of the nations a people for His Name (Acts 15:14). The question is, "Are we going to follow His agenda?"
The basic problem in the world is sin. Only the gospel can deal successfully with that. God's method is spiritual -- the new birth.
Politics by its very nature is corrupt. If I participate, I cast a vote of confidence in it. Such confidence is completely unjustified. It has had hundreds of years to prove its effectiveness and what has been the outcome?
The record of Christians in politics has not been good. William Kelly said, "Never have Christians meddled with governing the world except to Christ's dishonor and their own shame. They are now called to suffer with Christ; by and by they shall reign with Him. Even He has not yet taken His great power for reigning."
The time for believers to rule has not come yet. It will come when Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. When the Corinthians acted as if they were already reigning, Paul corrected them. He wished that they were reigning so that he and the other apostles could reign with them. But while the Corinthians were, in a figure, wearing their crowns in box seats in the amphitheater, the apostles were like men in the arena, condemned to death, a spectacle to the world, and treated as the scum of the earth (1 Cor. 4:8-13).
It is a false expectation to think that conditions in the world are going to improve (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:15). Both the Bible and the daily news refute such a notion.
The Christian finds power in separation from the world (2 Cor. 6:17). We can never move it as long as we are a part of it. Our great resource is prayer. We can do more through prayer than others can do in politics. We can see miraculous transformations of human lives. We can pray men and women into the kingdom of God. We hold the balance of power in the world. Why barter this for a bankrupt system of politics?
from his book WORLDS APART, Gospel Folio Press
From time to time someone would ask Mr. MacDonald who he was going to vote for, and his answer was inevitably the same: "My candidate is not running." He referred, of course, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is in Him, not in the arm of flesh, human wisdom or methods.
Colossians 3:1-4 teaches those who are risen with Christ to "seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (v. 1). This hardly includes political parties or positions. Political involvement is for the earthbound, those who have no heavenly hope. Verse 2 says, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Politics takes the mind off heaven and absorbs it in the things on earth. It results in unholy union with unbelievers (see 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1), and filthiness of the flesh. We are enjoined to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, and politics is full of worldly contamination. As William MacDonald said, it is by its very nature corrupt.
Colossians 3:1-4 teaches those who are risen with Christ to "seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (v. 1). This hardly includes political parties or positions. Political involvement is for the earthbound, those who have no heavenly hope. Verse 2 says, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Politics takes the mind off heaven and absorbs it in the things on earth. It results in unholy union with unbelievers (see 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1), and filthiness of the flesh. We are enjoined to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, and politics is full of worldly contamination. As William MacDonald said, it is by its very nature corrupt.
To be a friend of the world (or world system) is to be the enemy of God. Time to decide whose side you're on and which kingdom you're working for. No man can serve two masters.
The last resort of the undecided is often something like this, "Well, it's a matter of personal conviction." Where does the Bible say that? It doesn't! That's what the fence-sitters say. Scripture tells us that we are not our own, that we have been bought with a price, and therefore should glorify God in our body and in our Spirit which are Gods (1 Cor. 6:19-20). It isn't up to us to have our "personal convictions," because we do not belong to ourselves. We are to obey God, do His will as it is done in heaven. God says friendship with the world is enmity with Him. Those are HIS convictions!
The last resort of the undecided is often something like this, "Well, it's a matter of personal conviction." Where does the Bible say that? It doesn't! That's what the fence-sitters say. Scripture tells us that we are not our own, that we have been bought with a price, and therefore should glorify God in our body and in our Spirit which are Gods (1 Cor. 6:19-20). It isn't up to us to have our "personal convictions," because we do not belong to ourselves. We are to obey God, do His will as it is done in heaven. God says friendship with the world is enmity with Him. Those are HIS convictions!
