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:

1. To protect human life that is made in the image of God (Gen 9:6)
2. To defend the law-abiding from law-breakers (Rom 13:3-4)
3. 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.