Politics and the Cross, continued
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Getting out to vote is just one aspect of political involvement. In the decentralized, open system of American government, the possibilities for social action and justice are nearly unlimited. In Politics Is a Way of Helping People: A Christian Perspective for Times of Crisis, Karl H. Hertz states that "Christians may find in political activity a very legitimate vocation." Committed Christians have long recognized this truth and have often been at the forefront of social and political change. Christian influence on the Roman Empire led to the abolishment of gladiator games and other inhumane forms of sport. In 18th century England, a group of evangelical Christians led by William Wilberforce played a significant role in the dissolution of the English slave trade. In the 19th century, justice-minded American Christians responded to the issues of child labor, women's rights, and the abolition of slavery. Concerned Christians around the world continue to work through political systems, advocating for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. When Christians keep their eyes on God's Kingdom values, politics truly is the art of the possible. The danger for Christians comes when political agendas are fueled by something other than a desire to see people helped, truth told, and justice done. When the church assumes the understanding of power and politics dominant in a world that does not know God, it loses its prophetic voice and its unique witness. "History shows that when the Church uses the tools of this world's kingdom, it becomes as ineffectual or as tyrannical as any other power structure," Philip Yancey observed. For Christians, the goal of political engagement must not be a seat among the power elite or the recognition of being number one. "The church works best as a force of resistance," Yancey writes in his book What's So Amazing About Grace. "The cozier it gets with the state, the more watered-down it becomes." |
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Dangers also come when Christians attempt to baptize a particular political agenda, giving it ultimate authority and condemning all others. The moral and political issues facing the nation are too important to be left to only one voice. When battle lines are drawn and shots exchanged, hope of meaningful dialogue is jeopardized. Christian political engagement is nonpartisan, taking place through organizations as diverse as the Christian Coalition on one hand and the Call to Renewal on the other, nurtured by both conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats. It happens in a variety of places and in a multitude of ways, from the lobbyist in Washington, D.C. to the concerned citizen circulating a petition. It is solidified when Christians unite to pray that God's will be done in the halls of power. "Christian participation in government at many levels is important to the preservation of democracy and particular structures in government that provide justice for all people," said Lane Scott, Ph.D., interim dean of APU's School of Theology. The framers of the Constitution made certain that freedom of conscience and expression would be woven into the fabric of American politics. "As Americans we enjoy tremendous, and often under appreciated, religious liberties based on the establishment and free exercise clauses in the first amendment," Palm said. |
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Americans must endure a few more weeks of political speeches and the polls before they actually vote. When the first Tuesday in November finally arrives, not all Christians in America will vote for the same person. Although they may vote differently, all will follow their hearts to make good decisions. When the final vote is tallied it will be good for Christians to remember that statecraft extends far beyond the limits of the ballot box, and whether or not the president-elect is deemed competent or worthy. It does not change the Christian political agenda, outlined by Jesus himself: "My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). All people will know you are my disciples if you love one another (John 15:35)." |
