Pastor Dave Ginter
 
Should the Church be actively involved in politics? Is that part of “Rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Luke 20:25)?  Or should Christians, not Churches, be politically active?

In Jesus’ Inaugural Address, where we learn how he will rule when he becomes the world’s leader (Matthew 5-7) we are told that believers are SALT and LIGHT. Salt in Biblical times, was primarily a preservative. True, it added flavor. That was a bonus, not the primary function. Similarly, individual Christians are to act as the preservative of this world. When the world falls apart, politically or otherwise, we would be smart to recognize the real source of the problem – ineffective Christians. When a chunk of meat in Jesus’ day rotted (like the world today is rotting) it meant that the salt had lost its potency. Similarly, if the world becomes tasteless, don’t blame it on the world; the salt has gone bad.

Being light is a similar metaphor for Jesus. The world is naturally a dark place. If it remains dark, then the light has gone out. Remember the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2)? Jesus commends their diligent hard work and perseverance. But he warns them that if they do not return to Him, their first love, he will come and remove their lamp (their menorah), extinguishing their light. In Jewish culture, the menorah always stands for the witness of the community of faith. This scripture warns, then, that we can be active and diligent workers for Christ but still not love Christ first and foremost in our lives. When this happens, God, Himself, comes to us and removes our witness (our light-menorah). The church may remain in business. But its witness has been extinguished.

This is what Jesus means when he says we are a light in a dark world. In John 1 we are told that when the light embraces the darkness, the darkness never wins. So, too, a Christian who live for Jesus and loves Jesus with all his heart has a witness and an impact on the world.

I believe there is a best way for Christians as a whole to impact political systems and to bring about God’s just rule here on earth as it is in Heaven. They need as individuals, to be salt and light. When Churches, as an entity, take political stands, they tend to become more like Caesar, not like God. I support savvy well informed Christians who are politically astute and actively engaged in bringing political change to our world.
 


Comments

Rodrigo
01/29/2010 08:03

Yes I agree with Pastor Daves posture here. The jews hoped and wanted the messiah to be a political leader,I guess thats why they rejected Jesus as messiah since he wasnt a political leader and dissapointed them. Jesus was a spiritual leader (more than that in christian perspective). As pastor Dave said, Church should avoid being a Caesar, but Christians as individuals should attempt to make a difference in every field of politics, and stand for Christian values in this secular society.
Althou we must not forget that every statement has a political relevance, Church stance against gay marriage, and against abortion are taken by the world as agressive political agendas, the world must understand that we do not stand for political agendas, but we stand for the higgest sacred and true moral values. I dont think theres no bettr example of this than the signing of the Manhattan Declaration.

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