The Politics of Religion

Explore the top three ways that Christianity is unmistakably tied to politics.

Last time, we discussed four ways in which politics and Christianity are uniquely connected. In fact, it would be naïve to think that politics doesn’t and shouldn’t play a role in the Church. If you missed part 1, please check it out here.

Below are the top three ways:

3.    In America, the fight about “political issues” in the Church came to us—not the other way around.

For example, when did marriage become a political issue? The answer: when our government made it one.

Marriage between one man and one woman in a committed relationship—as created by God—has been recognized and celebrated in every culture since the beginning of time. The institution of marriage should never have become politicized. Period.

But in 2015, five Supreme Court justices went rogue and, in violation of the United States Constitution, attempted to “remake society.” According to Chief Justice John Roberts’ dissent:

“The majority’s decision is an act of will, not legal judgment. The right it announces has no basis in the Constitution or this Court’s precedent. The majority expressly disclaims judicial ‘caution’ and omits even a pretense of humility, openly relying on its desire to remake society according to its own ‘new insight’ into the ‘nature of injustice.’

“As a result, the Court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the States and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen and the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians and the Aztecs. Just who do we think we are?” Read more here.

We must push back on this insanity. If we, as the Church of Jesus Christ, fail to influence the culture, the chasm between the Biblical Worldview and our society will continue to grow. For example, Russell Brand, on Joe Rogan‘s podcast, made the observation that even eating right and exercising has been framed as right-wing extremism.

2.     God’s judgment in the Old Testament often came through enemies “both foreign and domestic.”

When we think of God’s judgment, we often picture flashes of lightning and a deep, booming voice from heaven at our displeasure. (Think Wizard of Oz.) In reality, however, when God wanted to punish nations for their rebellion, he sent them evil kings and dictators.

Yes. God used corrupt politicians to punish a nation’s disobedience on many occasions.

Take the example of when the people of Israel rejected God as their nation’s leader and requested a king like all the other nations. Samuel warned them about how the king would exploit and oppress them. Read 1 Samuel 8:10-18.

So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots, making them run before his chariots.  Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.  The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.  He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.  He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.  He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.  When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”

Or in other words, the Prophet Samuel warned the citizens of Israel that a king (or dictator) would steal their property, siphon off their wealth, force them into slavery, and traffick their children. Think about that for a minute.

In more recent days, God’s judgment has taken other forms. Check out this video of a church in Massachusetts that was struck by lightning hours after a Pride Month celebration here.

Is God possibly using corrupt politicians and disastrous policies to judge America for turning away from His laws and principles? It’s something to consider.

1.     Jesus was arrested, detained, and executed as a political prisoner—not a criminal.

The political environment of the first-century Roman Empire dramatically affected Jesus’ birth, ministry, and death. To argue that religion and politics are, and should be, completely separate denies this inconvenient truth.

The Roman governor presiding over Judea even admitted that Jesus was innocent of all charges. He understood that the religious establishment in Israel wanted to kill Jesus because they felt threatened by him. His wife pleaded with him not to convict this innocent man unlawfully, but Pontius Pilate ultimately conceded to the mob. See Matthew 27:11-24.

The Wrap Up

Similar to first-century Rome, our culture is guilty of assassinating the Truth under the guise of tolerance and political correctness.

In the Last Days, this connection between church and state will only accelerate—not decline. We know from the book of Revelation that the Antichrist will establish a one-world currency, government, and religion.

Consider Daniel’s prophecy about the coming “man of lawlessness”:

^“He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^”

Daniel 7:25

Yes, the Antichrist will change the laws to persecute the believers.

So why should we, as Christians, be actively involved in the political climate? It wasn’t just Jesus who was tried and convicted because of his radical ideology. Many of His followers suffered the same fate.

We would be naïve to think that our government, even in the beautiful United States of America, won’t turn on us and incarcerate and even kill us for our allegiance to Jesus Christ. Every government does this at one point or another.

Thanks for reading, and remember to always pursue The Truth—wherever it leads.