Actions of a Political Christian
by The Rutherford Institute (www.rutherford.org)
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Because religion has always played a vital role in American political life, Christians of the twenty-first century must ask themselves, “How then should I live?” Should I run for office, give money to candidates, or attend school board meetings? What role can we as Christians play in continuing to shape our nation? Here are some steps you can take:
Develop a coherent political philosophy . Every successful endeavor starts with a strategy, a broad vision of who you are, where you want to go, and how you are going to get there. It’s not enough simply to enter the political process. You need a coherent understanding of what you believe and why. Start with the Bible.
Be smart. Be tactical . Strategy goes hand in hand with tactics, the day-to-day effort to achieve one’s goals. In assessing tactics, one question is paramount: What works? Of course, Christians must not pursue what works at the expense of what is right. Ultimately, the best tactical advice for Christians is to speak the truth in love, the Bible does.
Use the media . Whatever their bias, reporters need something to report. Developing relationships with members of the media can be valuable. Whether they support you or not, they may use you as a source of information, so state your strongest position at every opportunity. The Bible has definite positions concerning speaking about other people
Use your status as a citizen . It’s tempting to look to Washington as the focus of political action. But for most people the greatest impact can be made at the state and local levels. Get to know your local representatives, and let your voice be heard.
Prepare your children to lead. Strong families build strong societies. Children must learn basic standards of right and wrong if our country is to survive. As a Christian parent, you must not only make sure your children learn how to read and write, you must also impart a code of moral principles to guide them through their lives. What does the Bible say?
Don’t give up. Our involvement in society is an act of obedience to God, who Himself is active in our world. To choose inaction is to give up hope and give up on God. Remember what Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9: “Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Enough said??
The time is now . Christians must boldly exercise their right to participate in the political process, while recognizing that politics is not the key to the kingdom. The successful Christian will think deeply, pray fervently, and act lovingly, in private and in the political realm. Can Christians bring Righteousness to our country.
Reprinted with permission from the Spring 2003 issue of Rutherford , a publication of The Rutherford Institute, Dedicated to the Defense of Civil Liberties and Human Rights.
