Why the church does politics
The church must do politics. What the church and its key agents must not do is partisan politics. In any case, there are no Christian political parties. Each political party has membership drawn from the various churches.
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Therefore, it is distasteful when a group of church members belonging to a political party perceive their leader as openly engaged in partisan politics and is publicly promoting the political fortunes of their opponent political party.
This is likely to create unhealthy feelings and mistrust of spiritual leaders in that church congregation or denomination. Especially, when this happens persistently, some members may vote in that church with their feet and move out to fellowship with another church.
The move may not be desirable because the church members are first Christian people than political party members. We are in church primarily to worship the Lord Jesus Christ and to live Christ-like lifestyle in the community.
We are not talking about political theology here. We have to understand that, naturally, the church must do politics. The following are at least ten basic good reasons why the church must do politics;
• The relevant New Testament narratives understand politics and human government as an institution ordained by God. God ordained politics and government and gave it authority to promote social order, serve the good of the people; to punish ‘the wrongdoer’ and to reward those who do that which is right, (Romans 13:1-8, Matthew 22:21, John 19:11, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Peter 2:13-17). In fact, government is one of the only three divinely ordained institutions in the bible, along with the family and the church.
• The New Testament also tells us that “for conscience sake”, we are to be law abiding citizens and supporters of the civil political government, (Romans 13:6-7).
• Christian believers in the church are to participate in politics as they pray for rulers (1Timothy 2:1-2).
• Christians in the church are to participate in the life of the city or the state, and seek its welfare, because the welfare of the church is also tied to the welfare of the country, (Jeremiah 29:7). If there is civil war and strife and disorder in the country with imposed curfews, the church cannot meet for all their regular activities.
• The Christians involvement in politics and the election process is critical because “the power of national leaders is derived from the populace which is the primary focus of God-given authority”.
• To elect parliamentary representatives and presidential office holders is both a privilege and a civil responsibility. It is essentially a partnership with God in kingdom building in a world of rapid social change.
• The church does politics because elected officials play a critical role in value transformation. They teach ethics correctly or not by their example.
• Virtually all of the great moral injustices in modern human history including slave trade, forceful colonialism, apartheid, and operation of witchcraft camps and racial segregation have been eliminated or seriously reduced as a result of church members getting involved in politics and saying, “this is wrong and must stop”!!
• Jesus’s commandment to the church to be salt and light did not leave open for Christians in the church to refuse to be involved with “worldly concerns” and politics and only wait until it is time to go home to heaven!!
• “If enough Christians in communities and places of responsibility in the fields of medicine, law, government, education, the media and even the church begin to humble themselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways, we could influence our culture and make the presence of Christ felt top to bottom and bottom to top!”
The church is in the world. It may not be “of the world” but it is definitely in this world. We use electricity, water and gas and drive on the roads. We are very much in this world and this world is a political world. Christians are both religious and political people. The church must do politics in a responsible and God-honouring manner.
• The author is a Leadership Development and Cross-cultural Ministries Consultant, an International, conference speaker and formerly General Director / CEO of Scripture Union Ghana.
Email: [email protected] /[email protected])