Bible Studies

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I’m writing to you today to discuss a matter of great importance as election time draws near: What role should we as Christians take in politics? Although this question is often debated and just as often misunderstood, in fact, the Bible makes the answer perfectly clear.
First Timothy chapter 2, verse 1 says: I exhort, therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life of godliness and honesty. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.

This shows that God cares enough about politics, and our role in them, to ask us to spend some of our precious time in prayer with him praying for our leaders in order that there might be an environment of peace. He asks us to reach up to him, to pull His grace into our leaders’ and, ultimately, our lives.

Perhaps no words have caused more confusion than the words “separation of church and state” when it comes to Christian political participation. In today’s America, they are frequently quoted out of context by people across the entire political spectrum, from believers to diehard atheists, and with time their original meaning has been lost. Today, these words can be used in reference to school prayer, town square nativity scenes, the election of religious individuals to public office, and many other issues—none of which have anything to do with the words’ original intended meaning.

There are many in government and in society who want you to leave your Christianity outside when you go into a voting booth or a school. This is the furthest possible thing from the intentions of the original founding fathers. In fact, most of the men who signed our nation’s founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, had been to seminary school. This influence upon them led to God becoming intertwined with this country’s underlying principles and standards, and stands as the foundation upon which our greatness as a nation has been based.

As it was originally intended, the concept of “separation of church and state” simply refers to the idea that government would neither create nor certify an officially-sanctioned religion, as had been done in the case of the Church of England. That’s all. But these words have limited Christians’ participation in politics, and have planted the idea in many Christians’ minds that when they enter the voting booth, they are to forget their Christian identity. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There is debate over the role Christians should take in politics within the Christian community as well. There are those who don’t believe that we should do anything politically, and there are others who want to have storehouses of food in their basements and take up arms against the government. But the Biblical truth is that we’re to submit to government. Our real aim should be to pray for those in leadership roles. The Bible states that we should engage in no ungodly communication with reference to anyone, even an ungodly leader. Just the opposite: Every word we speak should edify and build up, rather than diminish and harm.

In the book of Timothy, God is talking about those who lead our country and our state. The Bible calls upon us to participate politically, though in a more restrained fashion than that of many other faiths. The Bible tells us to lead lifestyles that are peaceful, ordered, and gentle, and to submit to every ordinance of man. From a Christian standpoint, we’re not to go and have sit ins where you get arrested, or which call in the authorities to take action against us. That’s not submitting to the ordinances. But if you have the opportunity to work for change within the ordinance of the law, then you should take every opportunity to do so. This means get involved—vote, state your opinion, back a candidate.

We must note the importance of submission to every ordinance of man. Most religions in the world try to impose their beliefs upon people. But God didn’t do that, and we are not called upon to do it either. Our role is one of persuasion, through work with the Holy Spirit and through His word, rather than forced or coerced conversion.

America’s greatness stems in large measure from the recognition of our rights as citizens to worship, believe, and speak as we see fit. All of us would love for everyone to believe as we do, but the simple fact is that in a democracy this is never going to be the case. God granted man both the power of free will and the presence of a conscience, and in the end all of us will have to answer to Him for our actions, our beliefs, and our speech. It is the job of the church, and of each of us as Christians, to convince as many people as we can to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior within the framework of the law.

As Christians, our faith dictates that at all times we act in accord with the principles set forth in the Bible, and in harmony with the ethics and values established by God. We are to be Christians all the time—at work, at home, at church, and yes, in the voting booth. Clearly, we do have a role to play in the political life of our great democracy—we are blessed with the right to speak freely, to put up signs, to vote, to run for office. There are many ways in which we may work in accord with the law to help guide our cities, states, and country. But too many Christians today are going around complaining about things that have been taken away from us, without understanding or acknowledging our responsibility when it comes to our government.

I believe that as Christians, we have sat on our hands for too long. Perhaps we have taken our necessary submission to the ordinances of man too seriously, not participating enough in ways that are appropriate for us. It’s easy to see how our participation or lack of it can make a crucial difference: Surely, none of us would have chosen to live in a nation with abortion, corruption in both business and politics, and attempts to banish God from classrooms and public places—but it is our elected officials who have allowed these to happen. God didn’t put these officials into office—we did, the people, the electorate, by either voting for the wrong candidate or simply not voting.

Being a Christian entails maintaining an active conscience, and letting it guide our choices. The benchmark question we face when contemplating alternatives is this: What is the right, moral choice? What is the choice that is most in harmony with the words and deeds of Christ, and the will of God? Most of the time, our choices are simplified when we look beyond our own self-interest or pressure from our peers and use this litmus test to help us make decisions.

In the political arena, this means that we do not necessarily vote according to our pocketbooks, or lend our support to the most popular or outwardly appealing candidate. We use our votes as an extension of our principles and our faith, use them as a tool for sculpting a society which reflects our values. Our votes are not only our declaration of whom we choose to represent us, but of what we stand for. It is our job to choose leaders who will lead our city, state, and nation down the most righteous path possible, without attempting to take our individual rights. By listening to our consciences, by voting in accord with our faith, we create the America that our founding fathers truly intended.

Let me ask you a question as a Christian: Do you believe that God cares about your life? Of course he does. So why wouldn’t we want to put in authority those who share His concern for our well being, and for the moral direction of our society? Someone who submits to the will of God, someone who prays, someone who believes, and who truly acts in accord with His will? As you make your choices this election day, I hope that you decide to participate, and to do so in a way that serves to amplify and promote God’s will for his people.

God bless,
Sebastian Lucido

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