I believe many Christians are for the motion that Christianity in politics should be doing more to ban abortion or to enforce laws against homosexuality.
Not that I approve these acts of immorality (in accordance to scripture), but politics in the government isn’t as straight-forward and simple as the State comprises of people from a multi-religion, multi-racial and multi-cultural background.
Even if a government were to ban abortion, would that really put a stop to abortions from happening?
Likewise, if a gambling law was enforced which worked against the construction of the Integrated Resort (IR), would we be naive to think that people will not gamble?
The biblical role of the government
According to Darrell Dow in an article Christians and Government, God created civil government for three primary reasons:
-
To protect human life that is made in the image of God (Gen 9:6)
-
To defend the law-abiding from law-breakers (Rom 13:3-4)
-
To provide for a peaceful and orderly society (1 Tim 2:1-2)
Its role is to restrain evil by exacting negative sanctions which is limited to the administration of just laws to defend life and property, punishment of criminals, and to defend the innocent. The government is not meant to be a redemptive institution.
With God’s love and truth being the fundamental modus operandi, Christianity and politics in government should exhibit respect to others and not enforce religious laws on others.
The government is not the same as a Christian organisation even if the President or Prime Minister is a Christian. For a Christian organisation, the Christian leader can easily address issues to its members as it is assumed that all believers subscribe to the same book- The bible.
Wherelse in the State, not all people subsribe to that same book, hence the bible cannot be used as a justification or reference for setting public policies and laws.
Being salt and light in the government
In an article- Christian View of Government and Law written by Kerby Anderson, the author said that “the Bible does not propose nor endorse any specific political system.
The Bible does, however, provide a basis for evaluating various political philosophies because it clearly delineates a view of human nature. And every political theory rests on a particular view of the human race.”
He went on further to add that the government is unambiguously a “legitimate sphere of Christian service.”
In view of this, we as Christians have an obligation to fight for our godly biblical values and to correct the evils within the political system. But the challenge is doing it with love and truth, not out of bigotry or self-righteousness.
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”
1 Timothy 2:1-2
As marketplace ministers, we are also called to government and politics, and to be salt and light; participating from the inside, as an elected representative or a civil servant, or from the outside, as a lobby group or advocate.
By being an active citizen, we are doing God’s work in politics and playing our part in obeying His Great Commission.
Andrew: Inside & Insights 
With reference from:
1. Christians Good for Civil Governments by John Gagliardi, Harvest Times, Jul-Dec 2007, Issue 32
Very insightful article indeed, thanks bro.
James:
Thanks for the compliments. Much of what is written are actually “raw” thoughts of mine which can be further refined in its discourse.
So please feel free to add your comments or inputs on this where you think is questionable.
This is open to anyone too =)
Hey bro! This echoes my sentiments too! It’s a very well-written article. 😀 Keep up the good work for God! 😀
Andrew:
Thank GOD for giving u an open & listening heart.
Since our kingdom is not of this world, let’s also live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” 1 Tim 2:1-2
Shalom Peace…
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
John 18:36
its true what you say about every Christian being called to a different profession, ultimately to fulfil the Great Commission.
but its interesting to note how the lives of Christian politicians take a turn and how that correlates with their personal walk with Christ.
obviously we won’t know the latter, but from King David’s example, God has left enough in the Bible to let us know if a leader is after His own heart, He will preserve him. God also dwelt out his punishment to David for his sins.
Lazy to pull out the bible references here, but im sure you know David’s story from 1/2 Samuel and Kings and his psalms.
Hello,
in response to your site I would like to add
I have discovered something that may interest you. It concerns the relationship of religion and government; I have researched this for the last ten years trying to disprove it and I can’t.
I have discovered a new power in the relationship of religion and government. The constitutionalist reserved its power to the people in the tenth amendment. And they rendered government powerless over it in the first amendment.
I discovered that God designed the government and the church to be identical in one way.
· The government acquires power through taxation to address the needs of the nation.
· The Church acquires power through the tithe to address the social needs of a nation.
But… oh yeah, we don’t have a national church to address the social needs of our nation. But thank God, the constitutionalists reserved this power to the people.
Article X. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
The constitution does not delegate the power of the church to the government, it does not prohibit religion to the states, but there is a separation of church and state, so it is reserved to the people.
Article I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Congress is the lawmaker; they would be powerless to make any law for or against establishing a national church. And religion is “love thy brother” (i.e. taking care of their social needs.) That means if the national church started taking care of national social issues, first they could not stop us; second there would be no need for the federal government to take care of social issues, third taxation would be decreased 1.5 trillion dollars, fourth it would reduce government by 50%.
Is it coincidence the constitutionalists directly command the lawmakers to make no law about the establishment of religion? Or did they know we would discover it in Gods time when we really needed it. All my life I have heard “power to the people” and here it is; reserved to the people, and protected from government intrusion by the constitution.
If we can awaken the people to the fact that they could collect the tithe from across the nation from every denomination, they could form a national church. It would be power the people to address all social issues. Which are powers not delegated to the United states by the constitution, nor prohibited to the states by the constitution, but there is a separation of church and state so the power of social issues are constitutionally reserved to the people.
And it is the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 24: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Mark 1: 15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Man tells us one thing and yet Jesus Christ himself denies them, this is the Gospel of Christ by his own mouth The Kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:20 seek ye first the kingdom of God
He said this is what you pray for:
Matthew 6:10 thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as is in heaven.
In heaven there is God, he is the law and the judge, his throne is represented on earth as the government. There is Christ on the right hand of God he gives life abundantly to the people; his throne is represented on earth as the church. Two bodies of governing power, one for national security, and one for social security which fulfils the covenant of exodus 19, and completes the Gospel of Christ. Religion is the compatible counterpart of the government.
Jesus Christ died on a cross so you could obtain the kingdom of God, on earth, “as” is in heaven.
Luke 18:29-30 Verily I say unto you there is no man who has left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife or children for the kingdom of Gods sake. Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
It is the beginning and the end of the matter:
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of (1) our Lord, and (2) of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
God created two kinds of people and established a national power for each.
· One wants tradition and national defense (conservative) his likeness is after God he would naturally have the lawful power.
· And one wants expanding horizons and social equality (Liberal) his likeness is after Christ he would naturally have social power.
This is how god organized the powers and principalities in heaven, and on earth.
God has invited us in the covenant of Exodus, Jesus has invited us in the Gospel, and the constitutionalist have reserved the invitation for us, and protected us from the corruption of congress within our constitution.
It is our National Christian heritage,and Constitutional right! come; let us walk through this door of peace together!
From the beginning Exodus 19:24 after saving us from oppression, God appoints Moses as the Governor of Law, and Aaron as the governor of the Church, the Government grew, and the church did not, so God sent Jesus with the Gospel of the kingdom of God now we must fulfill the covenant by doing the Gospel.
Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God, as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
http://www.awakethekingdom.com
Awake the third testament “to the mystery of the kingdom of heaven”
Author: Russell Hamner