Should Believers Take Part in Politics?
The most dominant political system that we see in the Bible is a monarchy, where a fixed King was in charge and everyone else was to submit quietly. In our time, however, we have seen the rise of democracies. That is when citizens choose who they want to govern them, through the polling system. Now, the big question: should you, as a Christian, participate in any sort of political organisation, or should you just stick to the Gospel of our salvation and prepare people for an eternal kingdom?
The answer to this question is actually two-fold. That is, there is a difference between participation in politics in terms of registering to vote and being part of politics in terms of being a Member of Parliament or something like that. If we are talking about just voting, then yes, believers can and must cast the ballot as they attempt to choose their leaders in terms of earthly affairs. It’s true that it’s God who raises up leaders into power and also removes them (Dan 2:21). However, this is done through the means of the ordinary citizens casting their ballot papers. Because, as I hinted above, whatever decision is made in parliament directly affects the Church of God. One good example is what happened in 2020, when governments established a law banning public worship. Even today, there are countries where it’s illegal to preach against gay marriages, for example. Hence, it is paramount that believers are on the ground during Election Day, as they attempt to uphold righteousness by choosing those kind of government leaders who are at least closest to the Christian values. Some of us believe that voting is useless because “elections are unfair” or something like that. Yet the question remains: what difference will it still make if you don’t vote? It’s actually giving the enemy a walkover match. We are called to fight for that which we believe is true. We do our part and leave everything else to the sovereign will of the Almighty.
Now, in terms of a believer running for office, indeed, there is nothing wrong with that. As long as that good Christian is not a spiritual leader in the church who abandons his role at the local assembly and runs after a political position. You see, as much as we need believers in the health sector, financial department, science labs, business world, we also need righteous people in the House of Senate. That is what it means to be the light of the world; the salt of the earth; infiltrating all the spaces with Christian ethics. I can drop a few names such as Joseph, Esther, Daniel, etc., who used their high political positions to express righteousness. That, as long as we do not forget our main mandate of preaching the eternal Gospel.
Now, here is where my concern is: that is when the church itself, the house of God, becomes political. It is when a Pastor himself uses his pulpit, mainly to spew his political rhetoric at the expense of the word of God. As already mentioned, ministers must be known for what they are called for: the preaching of the Cross; feeding the sheep of Christ with Scripture. And yes, that means speaking truth to the political powers without fear or favour; as the servant of the Most High would. John’s rebuke of King Herod is a prime example. Yet there is a difference between that and a church which is outright political. Using God’s time and platform to promote a certain political party. That is a church that has lost its mission. Church and State must separate in the sense that what is happening in parliament must not affect how we do church. Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world (Joh 18:36).
My other worry is when believers themselves become more passionate about the political affairs than they are about the Gospel of salvation. I am talking about Christ’s sheep whose lives become consumed, fully dedicated, even losing their lives trying to serve a certain political leader. Christ is our leader, dear brethren; Him alone must we serve and die for. His Gospel must be the commitment of our lives. Then we add our political responsibility as a side duty since we are still citizens of this world.
The overall issue of politics and Christianity can be simplified this way: the Church’s goal is first the eternal state of souls, followed by teaching people to live God honouring lives in every area of life, including the political sphere. Therefore, let’s go out and vote if we may, yet let’s not make the mistake of believing that politics is the ultimate answer to the problems of this world, nor should we lose our lives (time and money) being loyal to the government leaders at the expense of the Christian message. Thank you sit down.
Sinothi Ncube
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