Can Christians be in Politics?

You could rephrase that to say, "Who would you feel more comfortable with making decisions of life and death"?

Luther, in his discussions on vocation, and especially concerning soldiering, makes the point that being a soldier is a vocation; as is the position of magistrate. Christians are well equipped for, not just these positions, but many public vocations because Christians have a grounding in what is right and what is wrong.

St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, and Luther all spoke of public v private vengeance. This is a difficult position for many, though it need not be. Christians are instructed to turn the other cheek. This does not, however, apply to others. We, as Christians, cannot turn someone else's cheek. Justice and Charity demand that we be willing to defend the innocent--the defense of others. In "Between Pacifism and Jihad", J. Daryl Charles makes these arguments much more coherantly.

Christians are called to be in the world, but not of it. This does not mean that we are to withdraw from the world; for if we did, how could we carry out the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). St Paul teaches, in numerous places, that each is given different talents. These talents are not just for use in the Church, but also to bring others to the Church. Different vocations do this in different ways--politics are one way in which to provide for a Just society in which the Church may operate. This does not mean, however, that heaven, or any utopia, can be achieved in this life. Such will only happen with the Return and the New Heavens and the New Earth.

In sum, the Bible may not provide direct guidance on how to vote, but it does provide a moral foundation within which to work (keeping in mind, render unto Ceasar that which is Ceaser's and unto God, that which is God's). Just as Christian soldiers are provided with the tools to be "Just warriors", so are Christian politicians provided with the tools to be "Just magistrates".

I believe that for too long christians stayed out of politics or focused only on the abortion issue. Thus we got 40 years of Democrat control in the Congress and the Senate and our culture suffered as a result.

Good essay. Thanks.

My point exactly. I would like to see where in Scripture we are commanded to be involved in politics. It seems we serve a higher kingdom.

If we abandon our temporal responsibilities we abandon hope of a world in which all people may have the opportunity to hear the Word.

Diogenes was a Greek, whose philosophy was called Cynicism. A major tenet of this philosophy was withdrawal from the world, so as to not be corrupted by the world. This ignores the inevitable result, that by attempting to avoid corruption, one has set oneself above society and humanity and is guilty of great pride. To attempt to protect oneself from the world by withdrawing from it, we turn our backs on the Great Commission.

Some are given to be pastors, others to be teachers...and others to be leaders and soldiers. We serve God with our vocation. If we are to protect those who cannot defend themselves, as King David was called to do (and as we ought to do, if we hope to emulate Christ), we must be willing to be involved in politics. Some, by virtue of their vocation, must be involved in politics to serve God.

We are called to be in the world, but not of it. If we withdraw from the world, we are no longer in it and we hide the light of Christ under a bowl, rather than putting it on a table to provide light to all.

Actually, politics (and economics as well) boils down to us as individuals interacting with other individuals. Scripture has a LOT to say about how we are to interact with each other, of which the Great Commission is only a tiny part. Just look at the Great Commandments as one example.

Being in the world but not of it boils down to which side of the Golden Rule each of us chooses to walk on--the bright side or the dark side.

If the bright side, we, having chosen to accept Reality and our place in it (i.e. that we are Children of God who are forgiven forever by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (Yahshua)), will treat everyone (our neighbors) with the same respect we expect from them. However, if attacked, we will (and have the right to) defend ourselves.

If the dark side, we, having chosen to reject Reality and our place in it (i.e. we take as truth that we are the be-all and end-all of existence), will treat everyone with the same disrespect we expect from them. We will then attack all others before they can attack us, be it by word or deed.

It can take a lot of discernment to figure out who's chosen which side in the game of politics. I prefer to get to know the individuals asking for my vote personally, rather than listen to what others say about them. After all, none of us is capable of walking on the bright side of the Golden Rule all the time. The important thing is what we do when we slip up, especially in public. Do we offer a heartfelt apology for the hurts we've caused, or a stiff-necked self-justification (i.e. an excuse)?

Still, because politics is people working with people, it behooves us as Christians to be involved. After all, we are all family (even the Lost, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son). If we don't live the example of Jesus in the world, who will?

P.S. I'm adding you to my blog roll as a fellow resident of Colorado Springs.