Should Christians Be Involved in the Political Process?

In many past elections important to Christian and family values, scores of Christians have sat home and resigned from participating in the privilege to vote. Many have argued that Christians should keep our focus on things above, not things here below, a reference to Colossians 3:2. And so some have concluded that voting or being involved in politics in any capacity is a waste of time for Christians and a deviation from God’s directive. However, the implication of Colossians 3:2 is that “since we have been raised with Christ” (v.1), our “affections” (v.2) should now be different than our previous preoccupations and those of the world. In other words, our ambitions, passions, and desires should reflect those of Christ and differ sharply from those outside the faith and from our own pre-Christian way of life. In no way is this verse meant to be a prohibition against being involved in the political process. In fact, it seems apparent from scripture that we as people of God can play a very integral part in redirecting the course of a nation.

A case in point would be that of Joseph. While Joseph did not seek a career in politics, he was appointed to one through God’s sovereignty. And it was his wisdom that kept the country and surrounding regions afloat during a time of severe widespread famine, and it was Joseph’s influence and place of prominence that provided a safe haven in Egypt for Israel and his descendants when Egypt would have been hostile or at the very least indifferent toward them otherwise. It was the political process through which God gave His people a place to flourish and multiply into a nation of their own.

Another example would be that of Queen Esther. God chose a humble Hebrew girl living in exile in a pagan nation to bring liberation to all the Jews living in that region. It was through her influence that policies were changed.

God has often chosen to work through whatever means available to glorify Himself and bless His people, and often the available means are the politics of a country, and it takes willing vessels to work in and through the political process.

So yes, Christians can and should use whatever means available to shape the culture in which they live. This does not mean, however, that one should picket abortion clinics and hurl hateful remarks at those going in. All we do must be motivated by the love of Christ. So in using whatever means available to shape our culture, we must realize the impact we can have for Christ through personal relationships, acts of service, good works, humanitarian efforts, and working toward social reform, which will often incorporate the mediums of media (articles, blogs, internet, TV, etc) and politics.

I hate to think where our country would be if the Founding Fathers had not been God-fearing men who used the principles of scripture to forge and guide our nation. I likewise shudder to imagine the kind of society America and Great Britain would be were it not for the efforts of one man – Wilbur Wilberforce – who almost single-handedly influenced his colleagues in Parliament to do away with slave trading; an historic decision that ultimately had influence in America as well, and resonates throughout the ages. And this effort in the States was aided by people interested in social reform who did not just sit around hoping things would get better, but did things like create “underground” newspapers that helped to promote their cause. Slavery was abolished due in part to the efforts of activists who got involved socially and politically, and the present-day abolishment of abortion and pornography and the like will be no different.

A couple of inspiring and moving films that demonstrate the importance of Christians getting involved in the political process that I highly recommend is Steven Spielberg’s, Amistad, and last year’s film, Amazing Grace, which dramatizes William Wilberforce’s efforts to win the battle against slave trading in Great Britain.

In the next several posts, I will be examining the sticky issue of HOW Christians should vote according to a Biblical worldview. Stay tuned.