Re: What to do as a Christian in politics? -- ExUBF's Parlor

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Date Posted: 08:25:01 01/30/05 Sun
Author: Chris
Subject: Re: What to do as a Christian in politics?
In reply to: Shane 's message, "Re: What to do as a Christian in politics?" on 21:29:07 01/29/05 Sat

It doesn't have to be either/or situation. We should do both; preach the gospel AND participate in democracy. The two are NOT opposed to each other. As far as those who say Christians shouldnt be active in politics: what would they say to our founding fathers?

This is right, but I want to add:

* Every Christian should be politically informed and engage in the democracy in some way or the other, at least by carefully voting.
* But not every Christian needs to or should get actively involved in politics. Christians should engage in all honorable areas of social life and thus influence the society by being salt and light. Some may be medical doctors, some may be politicians, but there are many other areas where it would be important that they are influenced by Christians. For instance in Germany we have a popular journalist and news anchorman who is a really salty evangelical Christian. His name is Peter Hahne. We also have executive managers and CEOs in the industry who are salty Christians, like the shoe factory owner Deichmann. Recently there was a talk show where it was discussed why Germany was once the land of the Wirtschaftswunder and now the industry is down. Deichmann said basically that faith in God was replaced by materialsm and socialism and that believing in God can free people from the idol Mammon. This is also a way of preaching the gospel.
* Third, we should not engage in politics with the illusion that we can create a just and perfect Christian world here and now, a world that would also enforce Biblical laws by making them legislation. Something like a theocracy, a Christian version of the islamic Sharia, or a regression to the era of Mose. For instance, divorce should not be forbidden (as it is in Malta!), and adultery should not be punished by the state (as Turkey had planned). The legislation should only protect the special value of marriage. Jesus did not come to enforce Mose's laws. God wants people to voluntarily follow his commands, under the forgiveness and using the power of the gospel. The state needs to create and protect an environment where this is possible and where justice can rule. It must be clear that always the majority of people will reject Jesus. The state needs to create an environment where unbelievers and believers can live peacefully together, where believers can live according to their faith and where unbelievers are encouraged to find God in the end. The state is also not called to lead a war for God similar to the crusades in the medium age, but now again popular among jihadists and parts of the American government. This will never work out since no country is so just that it can assume and anticipate God's judgement. See Abu Ghraib recently. Of course, there are situations were war is necessary. But it should be the last means. The war in Iraq was unnecessary, for example.

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