Don’t make politics your idol

Churches and individual believers must embrace the biblical command to pray for the salvation of the lost— especially those in the political arena (1 Timothy 2:1-5).

Unfortunately, in an election year biblical duties all too often take a back seat to the urgent realities of pragmatic politics. As the November election approaches, Christians will spend vast amounts of time, money and energy supporting candidates running for office. But will God’s people remember to pray for the souls of those men and women seeking elected office?

God’s first priority and concern is with his church, not the state. The cause of weak morality in the culture is the church. The state at best is a reflection of the church’s obedience to its mandate by Jesus to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20). No disciples means no morality (Genesis 18-19). Show me a doctrinally weak church and I will show you a morally lax state — guaranteed.

In Erwin Lutzer’s book “Hitler’s Cross,” he writes about the early 20th century church in Germany. What allowed the rise of the runaway Nazi war machine? An impotent, distracted, compromising church. Lutzer writes, “Hitler’s political machine swallowed the church whole because the church had lost its biblical mission.” When the church fails to make disciples by preaching the Word of God the state eventually falters. Why? In a fallen world as societies and their governments obtain fewer and fewer agents of salt and light from the church, decay and darkness become overwhelming. With the weakness of the German church came the growth of the German government. Lutzer writes that “with the humanization of God came the deification of man.”

As believers we must consider the example of Jesus. We must prioritize our God-given mission above those that are merely temporal. We must not hunger after the world’s applause. Christians who desire political change must remember that our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) and that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

If during his time on earth Jesus was striving for worldly political success, he most certainly would rank among the worst politicians of all time. From the beginning he made all the wrong moves. He was born in relative poverty, far from the political power centers of his day, to parents with no clout or connections. During his three short years of public ministry, Jesus passed up many opportunities to make his political opinions heard. Consider three examples from the life of Jesus.

First, he spurned his follower’s advice in John 7:1-9. His unbelieving brothers said, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see the works that you are doing” (verse 3). Judea was the place of power. Jesus refused to perform miracles to enhance his approval ratings. Jesus understood the reasons for the world’s hatred toward him. Jesus said, “It hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (verse 7). Jesus refused to enhance his public profile.

Second, he alienated a rich, young ruler in Luke 18:18-27. In this encounter Christ’s truth telling limited his ability to attract a high-powered, wealthy member of society to his cause. Jesus did not use the occasion to lobby the rich, young ruler for policy reform or needed funds. Jesus exposed the young man’s secret materialism. Any skilled political advisor would have scolded Jesus for bungling a great opportunity to build his power base.

Third, Jesus confused a prominent politician in John 18:28-38. Pontius Pilate was the consummate politician. He put his political career before the cause of truth. Jesus showed him the great contrast between God’s agenda and the world’s agenda. Jesus declined to lobby for political change. Instead, Jesus, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (verse 36).

The church’s greatest priority is to declare the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. To exclude the gospel from our call for moral change is like instructing a drowning man to swim while hiding the only life preserver capable of saving him. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 reads, “For he [God] made him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” We are sinners who need a savior. The savior’s name is Jesus. Surrender your life to him today through repentance and faith. As sinners in the political arena are transformed by the gospel and instructed in sound doctrine, they become more like Jesus in their thoughts and actions. Their obedience benefits all of society, but even more importantly, it brings honor and glory to God.

Ethan Hansen is pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. Contact him at ethanchansen@gci.net.