Politics and the Church
Lou Tiscione, Pastor Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
For years there have been debates over the issue of the church’s engagement in politics. Some use the terms religion and politics. For clarity, definitions of terms are essential for dialogue. Politics concerns the civil government. The church, the visible church, is made up of all who profess the true religion and their children. The true religion is that which professes Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as He is offered in the gospel by God’s grace alone through faith alone. Religion is man’s expression of his belief in the divine.
In the Old Testament there was unity between the church and politics because biblical Israel was a theocracy. In the New Testament, God revealed three circles of life over which He rules: the family, the church, and the government.
The Apostle Paul wrote of the Christian’s relationship to civil government. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1). Likewise, Peter wrote to the church to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…” (1 Peter 2:13ff). Now we see that the guidance that the Bible gives to the church is to every believer. We might even say that the question is not whether Christians should be involved in politics, but how should believers engage in the political arena. Christians are commanded to “walk by faith not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Individual believers should be involved in politics as responsible citizens. That is not to say that the church as an entity ought to engage in politics. The church is accountable to God to preach and teach the word and to worship Him as He has commanded.
Consider the historical context under which Peter and Paul wrote their letters. For example, the likely date for the writing of Romans is A.D. 57. At that time, the Roman Empire was ruled by Nero. One need not do a great deal of research to discover the behavior of Nero; he was an evil man.
Tacitus, a Roman Historian who lived during Nero’s reign, wrote of some of Nero’s atrocities. “Before killing the Christian, Nero used them to amuse the people. Some were dressed in furs, to be killed by dogs. Others were crucified. Still others were set on fire early in the night, so that they might illumine it…” (Annals 15.44). Throughout the world Christians are still being persecuted and martyred.
The principles outlined in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 do not suggest a sliding scale. They are absolute. Christians are to submit to the governing authorities because God has ordained all authority.
God has given instruction concerning what believers are to do when forced to submit to a human authority that commands that which is opposed to God’s law. When a ruler commands killing for evil purposes, we who profess Christ are to obey God rather than man (see Acts 5:29). In so doing we must understand that the evil ruler will likely execute his own wrath against us. I immediately think of those who resisted the Nazi mandate to exterminate the Jews. Many were executed by the Nazis for harboring Jews. Here history reminds us of the personal cost of doing what is right.
So then, from God’s word, here are several things He has commanded concerning the Christian’s engagement with politics:
- Believers are to submit to the governing authorities.
- God ordained civil authorities for the good of all.
- Civil authorities have a granted authority under the Sovereign God.
- Believers must obey God rather than man when man’s laws conflict God’s Law.
- Christians are to “pay to all what is owed them…” (Romans 13:7).
- Christians are to live in peace with others to the extent that we are able (Romans 12:18).
- Christians ought to exercise their rights as citizens and engage in politics as each is given opportunity (Cf. Acts 16:37ff).
Believers have been set apart by God for God. Christians are to live under the word of God. When persecution comes let us not wander from the truth. May we all have the strength to bear all things for the glory of God. May we demonstrate good citizenship by expressing what we know to be true in the political sphere, being willing to engage the culture in which we live.
