Below merely summarizes my own thoughts on the church and political activism. I think Piper hits the nail right on the head regarding the power of the Church and its place in the political arena.
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"Don't press the organization of the Church or her pastors into political activism. Pray that the Church and her ministers would feed the flock with the Word of God centered on the gospel of Christ crucified and risen. Expect from your shepherds not that they would rally you behind political candidates or legislative initiatives, but that they would point you over and over and over to God and to His Word and to the Cross.Now, please try to understand this concluding point. When I warn you against politicizing me or politicizing the institution called Bethlehem [Church], or the Church in general, I do so not to diminish the Churches power but to increase it. The impact of the Church for the glory of Christ and for the good of the world does not increase when she shifts her focus from worship of God, winning of souls, and maturing and nurturing of faith, and raising up of a new generation. It doesn't! It feels in the moment like it does, "Hah, Look how many people showed up for the rally!" or, "Look at how many signatures they got in that church," or, "Look at how that committee is functioning..." it feels powerful! [But just] give it a generation, and little by little that vaunted power bleeds away the very nature of the Church and it's power.
If the whole counsel of God is preached with power, week in and week out, Christians who are citizens of heaven and citizens of the democratic order will be energized (as they ought) to speak and act for the common good. It's your job. Not mine [as a pastor]."
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As I listened to this sermon for the first time, my lips involuntarily, formed a strong amen in response to Piper's message. "The impact of the Church for the glory of Christ and for the good of the world does not increase when she shifts her focus from worship of God, winning of souls, and maturing and nurturing of faith, and raising up a new generation." Wow. That is a powerful statement that Christians have seemingly forgotten. I may differ with Piper on some of the finer points - namely his saying that we're also citizens of a democratic order and therefore must be politically active. However, in regard to his stance on the Church's place in politics, we couldn't be more in agreement. What are your thoughts? Feel free to post a comment or email my blog at labelledunord@gmail.com .
Great post. I agree that involvement in politics has compromised the church. My uncle says it is an excuse to avoid personally living out Christ's pattern of life. Are you implying at the end that Christians have no obligation to vote or be politically active? If so, I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteYour uncle makes a great point. I am still pondering my own political involvement at the moment, although Christian political activity was indeed what I was questioning at the end. Politics has compromised the Church undoubtedly, however, I'm not sure if the answer is for individual Christians not to be politically active, or if it is simply to consider politics a natural part of living on the earth (like paying taxes, getting a driver's license, etc.) I don't want to - in my efforts to counteract current problems - err by go too far the other direction. How did you come to your current conclusion regarding this issue?
DeleteThe church is not supposed to be a political tool. That was not God's original intent. The First Baptist Church of Cleveland should not say "As a congregation, we endorse so-and-so for President." However, the church is called to show the truth and stand up for it. Therefore, the First Baptist Church of Cleveland can say "As a local embodiment of ambassadors for Jesus Christ, we stand against abortion since it is murder and homosexuality since it is a perversion of God's original design." [NOTE: Even though the church has taken this stance, it should still show Christ's love and share His message to all, even those it disagrees with.]
ReplyDeleteChristians themselves are to participate in the political process. Here in the United States, Christians have been given the opportunity to elect (or be elected as) God-fearing people to run our nation and pass righteous laws. Failure to do so would, in my opinion, be a waste of something that we, as stewards, are to protect and use. God has made us stewards of our country, and we must do everything in our power to have our nation be one that pleases God and has His laws and standards as our own.
You're right...I agree that we are privileged as Americans, but what I often wonder is how far we ought to go in passing "righteous" laws. The laws should be for the common good surely, but in a world of non-Christians should we expect them to rise to a Christian standard of obedience to God's commands? It's something I've been wondering about frequently.
DeleteOn another note, what I've found is that most Christian Americans seem to associate patriotism with godliness--"God Bless America" and the whole bit. The way we vote/participate in politics definitely ought to be influenced by our faith, but I would suggest that we have allowed our actions of faith to be influenced--perhaps deterred--by our avid participation in politics. For example, making abortion illegal will never solve the problems and hurt in the lives of the women who want them. When Christians let their political actions stand as manifestations of their faith ("I voted pro-life! Now I'm going to feel all good for saving the lives of little babies everywhere,") then politics becomes a dangerous tool for creating apathy in the body of Christ. This is mainly why I wish that Christians would put politics on less of a pedestal - in hopes that we'd realize that our mission isn't for a reformed nation, but for hearts turned to Christ.
At least, this is how I have perceived Christian involvement on the whole. But of course, this is only my perception. :)
I would disagree with your reasoning in the second paragraph. People associating patriotism with godliness and allowing their actions of faith to be influenced--perhaps deterred--by their avid participation in politics, politics becoming a dangerous tool for creating apathy in the body of Christ, and Christians putting politics on too high a pedestal are, from what I have seen, rarely supportable. Christians, for the most part, are inactive in the political arena. Christians are apathetic toward involvement in politics.
ReplyDeleteAs far as your statement about abortion goes, you are right, making abortion illegal will not solve the problems that the women who want them have. But does that give Christians the license to vote pro-abortion or be apathetic toward the issue? This issue only highlights the need for Christians to be involved both in the Church and in the political arena.
Based on your reasoning in the first paragraph, if we start with the fact that God is righteous, we can assume that God's laws are righteous. By definition, righteous is measuring up to a moral code. Since we know that the moral code of the Bible is for the common good, then it is imperative to set Biblical laws as governmental laws. However, if you did not intend your first paragraph to mean that, then I have a question. Does God expect unbelievers to rise to obey His commands?"