The Church and Politics

What right has the church of Jesus Christ, as a church, to mix in politics? We hold that the separation of church and state is a fundamental principle of both civil and ecclesiastical polity. We remember that the Lord took the kingdom away from Saul and his dynasty because he had intruded into the priests' function; Uzziah was stricken with leprosy because he had offered incense in the temple. God will not entrust the office of civil leader and priest to any individual. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who can be Prophet, Priest, and King at the same time.

The individual Christian has every right to participate in politics; vote, run for office, be elected and serve, accept appointments none of these is out of harmony with the Word of God. If the individual is seeking to be surrendered to the Lord every moment, he can witness to those with whom he comes in contact no matter where he is. But the church, as a church, will lose its power if it seeks to act as an individual. The idea of a church in politics can come only from that false postulate that the purpose of the church is to save the world.

I once found a booklet which made some rather extraordinary statements. Its author, in teaching that the purpose of the church was to save the nation, laid down the following proposition: "The position taken by a government with regard to morals and religion will in the long run, if unchecked, bring to its own likeness a majority of the people. Not all the people, but a majority will come to the position of the government."

Such lack of historical insight and spiritual comprehension would be difficult to parallel. Did the fact that the early legislators of the United States wrote into their laws full moral and religious principles bring the majority of the people to personal adoption of those ideals? But that is an example that might be open to debate or argument. Let us look instead at the priestly government of the children of Israel, which at the beginning took a position with regard to morals and religion that was never checked. Did these priestly laws bring a majority of the people to the position of the government? Of course not; but it is just as nonsensical to think that men can be legislated into being good in the twentieth century. When will we learn that man is a failure, whether it be a failure under the innocence in Eden, or under law from Moses?

The Bible is the story of "man's complete ruin in sin and God's perfect remedy in Christ." Men get into difficulties because they are not willing to admit that mankind's ruin was absolutely complete.

1. Is it good stewardship of our American rights to vote? Why or Why not?
2. If so, is it then unbiblical to not vote and participate in our society and communities politically?
3. What are some good examples of biblical characters being good stewards of their political responsibilities?
4. Are there any bad examples of biblical characters utilizing their political rights?