CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS

CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS

Jesus Christ told his followers that they were to be salt and light in the world (Matt 5:13-16). As such, we who follow him are to permeate society with the values that Jesus taught and be a light to those who are walking in darkness. One way in which we can do this is by being involved in the processes and methods for the governance of society, or in other words, in politics, at the national, regional and local level.

Some Christians would reject this assertion. They argue that this world is doomed and so there is no point in trying to improve society. Since this material world will always be full of sin, there is nothing we can do to change things on earth. Instead, we should concentrate on trying to snatch individuals from the clutches of sin and bring them to a place among those who are preparing for heaven or the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But such a view ignores the fact that Jesus taught us to pray, “Your (God’s) kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). Since the kingdom of God involves the rule of God in every aspect of human society, praying for its coming must also involve working to ensure that governance is carried out in accordance with his will. Moreover, government has been given the divinely mandated task of restraining evil and providing the framework for the good to flourish. Good governance allows Christians to spread the love of God shown in Jesus Christ (Rom 13:4; 1 Tim 2:1-4).

Our involvement in politics should spring from our theology. Since God has created each and every person in his own image (Gen 1:27), it is incumbent upon us to treat each and every person with respect and honour. To deny people human rights is to insult both them and God’s purpose for humanity. Thus Christians should seek to influence the policies of governments so that they do not violate human rights. This will involve speaking out and taking action in regard to issues of caste and gender discrimination.

Similarly, since God created the world and repeatedly called the non-human creation good (Gen 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31), we should be concerned about his creation. We should have a keen interest in promoting policies that impact the health and sustainability of the environment. This concern should be rooted not only in respect for creation but also in our love for others, for our actions today will affect the quality of life of future generations.

Justice issues should also concern Christians. In the law of Moses, God repeatedly stresses the need for justice (Exod 23:6; Lev 19:15; Deut 27:19). If we are to work for justice in the nation, we need to get involved in the institutions of governance. We have to enter the political arena in order to ensure that the laws passed are just and, equally important, to make sure that just laws are implemented and enforced. The search for justice also involves becoming involved in the fight against corruption and bribery (Deut 16:19). It also requires us to address the economic injustice that manifests itself in the form of usurious interest rates on loans and the exploitation of the poor by the rich (Ezek 22:12).

How should Christians get involved in politics? Some may choose to join the major political parties that shape the laws that impact our daily lives. Christians who do this may sometimes find themselves having to compromise their convictions in order to defend wrong policies espoused by the party of their choice. In some contexts, Christians find it more helpful to enter politics as independent candidates or even to launch a party of their own. While it may not be possible to prescribe a preferred “Christian” course of action in this regard, the Christian mandate for responsible involvement is inescapable.

Those of us who are not called to stand for political office must still be involved in politics by ensuring that we use our rights as citizens and our power as voters to support policies, candidates and parties that fight for justice, human rights and respect for the environment.