RSS Feed POLITICS AND SOCIAL CONCERN
We can say, should the church as church involve itself in politics? For me, the church must teach both the law, the love of society and the gospel of God, this duty of the church’s Pastors, teachers and the church’s leaders to take a public stand on some issues, then it must obey God’s word and trust Him with the consequences, the church should not enter this field without the necessary expertise, the church leaders should do their homework thoroughly without personal gain but take time and trouble to study a topic together in order to reach a common Christian mind.
Why should Christian get involved? In the end there are only two possible attitudes which Christians can adopt towards the world. One is escape and the other engagement. The story of Pontius Pilate should explain something to you. See John 19:1–6, Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The solders twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they struck Him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, Look, I am bringing Him out to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, Here is the man! As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw Him, they shouted, Crucify! Crucify! But Pilate answered, You take Him and crucify Him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against Him.
There are no gray areas in Jesus’ teaching. Whether the lamp of the body, our spiritual eye is good or bad will determine whether we will increasingly become flooded with the inward light of Christ or whether we will gradually be controlled by the darkness of materialism and selfishness. Note what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 4: 4–6, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Read 1st Timothy 6:5–10; 17–19, it says,
And constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
As God’s fellow-workers. 1st Corinthians 3:9, For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. We shouldn’t leave everything to Him; He wants us to play our full part. This of course, is all included in seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Neither should we think that life in this world will be one long picnic.
So we have something to do politically.
May you be led by God’s spirit.
We can say, should the church as church involve itself in politics? For me, the church must teach both the law, the love of society and the gospel of God, this duty of the church’s Pastors, teachers and the church’s leaders to take a public stand on some issues, then it must obey God’s word and trust Him with the consequences, the church should not enter this field without the necessary expertise, the church leaders should do their homework thoroughly without personal gain but take time and trouble to study a topic together in order to reach a common Christian mind.
Why should Christian get involved? In the end there are only two possible attitudes which Christians can adopt towards the world. One is escape and the other engagement. The story of Pontius Pilate should explain something to you. See John 19:1–6, Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The solders twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they struck Him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, Look, I am bringing Him out to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, Here is the man! As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw Him, they shouted, Crucify! Crucify! But Pilate answered, You take Him and crucify Him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against Him.
There are no gray areas in Jesus’ teaching. Whether the lamp of the body, our spiritual eye is good or bad will determine whether we will increasingly become flooded with the inward light of Christ or whether we will gradually be controlled by the darkness of materialism and selfishness. Note what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 4: 4–6, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Read 1st Timothy 6:5–10; 17–19, it says,
And constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
As God’s fellow-workers. 1st Corinthians 3:9, For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. We shouldn’t leave everything to Him; He wants us to play our full part. This of course, is all included in seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Neither should we think that life in this world will be one long picnic.
So we have something to do politically.
May you be led by God’s spirit.