Christians and Politics
Where does a Christian draw the line with politics and our Heavenly citizenship?
This is written to those who truly follow Jesus, the Saved. It is written with some advice from a Christian who has experienced first hand political repression in the United States. So where should a Christian draw the line with politics?
First and foremost, our citizenship is in Heaven. “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 3:20 (All Scripture is taken from the VW Edition.) At the moment we are in these earthly bodies awaiting the Lord, either in death or the Rapture to transform our bodies to heavenly ones. Currently the United States has undergone many tyrannical changes and continues to change towards a very bleak future. The purpose of this article is not to dwell on the details of the demise of the former United States of America.
There are pastors out there who state that it is the duty of every Christian to stand up to this coming tide of repression, some who are well known. They claim by not doing so you are not being obedient to God. What is obedience to God?
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40
Do you see in the above passage, patriotic duty to one’s country? Rather God calls us to be holy and separate.
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also become holy in all conduct, because it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” 1st Peter 1:13-16
There are many people who are called patriots throughout this country, but how many of them claim to know Christ?; how few of those who claim to know Christ even do?
We are to be separate and holy unto the Most High. Our lives are to be a light unto the world, (Matthew 5:14) not a particular nation or cause. The thing missed here by many who are in the patriotic ‘christian’ movement (as a note, those involved seem to wholesale dismiss the notion of the Rapture of Believers) is that indeed we have been called to be patriots, patriots to Christ. Our patriotic duty to Him should be the duty of being a witness of our eternal Salvation, our eternal citizenship. Whether God has called us to be pastors, teachers or simply a light unto the world. Whether we witness His glory through words or our actions. We are to be Christ-like.
So where should a Christian draw a line with involvement in politics and our walk with Him?
Each Believer should consider carefully what amount of involvement is necessary or reasonable. Should a Believer vote? Perhaps. For instance, sometimes there is a candidate who is against abortion verses a candidate who is for it. In these instances it might well make sense to place a vote.
What about political activism? Consider carefully your life before Him and decide whether or not that cause is worthy. Is America worth becoming politically active over? Is not God’s hand of judgment already upon this country? Would you not then be fighting against Him?
Indeed I became politically active for a few years, off and on. Not a lot of time was spent in political activism, but a local issue became something that I had decided to take a stand against. Indeed my portion was successful but to what extent? I may have postponed some evil but I did not stop it. In doing so I have had to flee with my family clear across this country and continue to experience problems. Without dwelling into details, God has protected my family and kept us safe. We can sleep at night without trouble even despite trouble outside. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, Jehovah, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8
God is our protection, I assure you that those who are truly His can rest, knowing that whatever happens to this country in the future or our personal lives is in His hands. God is gracious to have even provided an individual like me with His protecting hand. Truly I was not worthy and still am not.
Realize that nearly all forms of electronic communication you participate in IS creating a dossier on you. Even reading alternative news will get you put unto a list. Following the writings or attending a true Church from a Christian ministry also will do the same. However in one, the Christian truth, there is the knowledge that there are persecutions in this world (2 Tim. 3:12), however, the other could be avoided.
Certainly for those who wish to understand what is really going on in this world and wish to largely avoid detection I would suggest a used laptop, paid with cash, that is only used on public wifi for the explicit purpose of doing such…nothing else. Even then, never used at a big corporation with their face recognition cameras or at a hotel room that has been rented in your name. The time may be coming, if Christ hasn’t rescued us out of here, where a scenario such as hasn’t been seen since Nazi Germany or Stalin’s Soviet Union plays out.
This article is not telling the Believer what to do or what not to do. In America you have the right to free speech, however, you really don’t. My opinion of the matter in my personal life is to let Caesar deal with Caesar. Let the patriots do what they will do and let the Christian do the work of the Most High. Not that I would necessarily not vote but my time is better well spent serving Him who Saved me.
Some verses that have touched my heart on the matter and the realization of which I conclude in my own life to be an error.
“Do not curse the king, not even in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich, not even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.” Ecc. 10:20
“Set your mind on things above, not on the things of the earth.” Col. 3:2
“The righteous cry out, and Jehovah hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Jehovah is near to those of a broken heart, and saves such as are of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Jehovah delivers him out of them all.” Psalms 34:17-19
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things.” Phil. 4:8
In conclusion, the work that we do for the Lord while here in these earthly bodies is Eternal.
