I am reminded that Paul said that the cross is offensive to those who are perishing, so we can expect as Christians to offend at times-but we must be ever vigilant to never offend when we can avoid it, speaking the truth in love. We must also remember that Jesus said that those who aren't against us are for us [within reasonable limitations] so we must be open to working shoulder-to-shoulder with those who don't share our faith if they share our principles and our cause. This is particularly true in political or governmental service and activism.
...But I'm not writing here to preach at you. Politics is a dirty business with lots of corruption, but then so is just about any other setting in our society :). Politics is, after, all, government service and is a necessary part of any society. It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it! Whether you choose to be a government employee, elected official, a member of the press or an activist trying to keep government accountable, there can be honor in that. I would say that there are very few segments of society which Christians should avoid because of the sin necessary to participate-let's say, organized crime, the sex industry,....
I, for one, am glad that many principled Christians worked together to found our great nation at the risk of life and liberty. Not only were they Christians, but they built our founding documents and the doctrines upon which they built our government upon many biblical principles.
Here are a few choice phrases from the Declaration of Independence proclaiming the religious motivation of our Founders:
*the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,
*a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
*We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —
*That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —
*That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
*...appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States,
*And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
*The Preamble to the US Constitution: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Clearly the Founders followed Christian motivations not only to influence and alter, but abolish government when it was wrong and then build one of, by, and for the people so as to establish the most successful government in all of history.
One critical principle upon which our nation was founded is that God, being sovereign and the one who endows us with unalienable rights, ordained the individual people themselves to be sovereign. We ARE government! We choose the members of government to perform its functions as our servants. It is our responsibility as sovereigns to perform our duty-choose our government through voting, but just as importantly by informing ourselves and others, keeping government accountable, and standing for righteousness. We are each uniquely called by God to serve in some sector of society, and politics/government may not be yours, but ignoring the government we are to choose to rule over us is not justifiable.
I have been somewhat wordy, but let me get to my point: I wrote this essay to speak to one who asked specifically for scriptural justification for Christians being involved in politics. In a desperate attempt to limit my natural wordiness, I will try to shorten this!
Jesus called us to be salt and light and a city on a hill [MT5:13-16]. Government is ordained by God [RO13:1-7, Acts 17:24-28, Exodus through Deuteronomy]. Israel's laws were given by God; Moses was their leader and judge. Thanks to his father-in-law speaking to influence government we have the principle of divisions of jurisdiction [Ex 18]. God called many great government leaders like Samuel, David, Gideon, Solomon. Every Old Testament prophet was called by God to preach to the governments of the nations and to decry the corruption of the people, whether it be religious idolatry or oppressing the poor and stealing from the upright[references too numerous to mention]. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel were important government officials, as were Esther and Nehemiah. John the Baptist was beheaded for being bold enough to speak up[MT 14:4]. God even ordained that the crucifixion of Christ be through the actions of government, petitioned by the people. Yes, that is a horrible example, but evil governments are influenced by evil people just as good governments are influenced by good people.
The book of Acts is full of Christians dealing with government, from the Sanhedrin and priests to the Romans. Peter's speech in Acts 3 was to the people both as individuals needing salvation and as part of a government that had unjustly participated in the crucifixion of Jesus. Acts 4:19-20 are the cry of a man of righteousness influencing the people. Vs. 29-30 are our rallying cry to bold actions. Chapters 5 and 7 exhibit the persecution they endure and Stephen's bold speech decrying the evils of the Israeli government. 16:35-39 illustrate Paul's shrewd use of his rights as a citizen [also in 22:22-29]. The Occupy movement is even described in scripture-19:23-41, especially 32 and 40! Chapters 23-26 detail his dealings with the Roman government, using his rights to obtain opportunity for testimony. Paul finishes up with chapter 28:31: "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." Of course, Paul's mission was not to change government, but he was unhesitant to exercise his rights as a Roman citizen to advance the gospel, even before kings [Acts 9:15-16]. The book of Philemon is the seed which flourished into the worldwide abolitionist movement, freeing untold millions from slavery. Revelation 11 tells of the two witnesses prophesying to the nations, and the rest of the book tells of God's judgment upon the nations of the earth and finally the establishment of his kingdom on earth.
Our mission as Christians is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. If we participate in society as a means of doing so, then so be it!
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2Cor3:17
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