Gò0dNews for Everyone
Politics In Public
A
by Eddie Turner
ccording to the Book of Proverbs, drinking alcohol
Whenever you’re engaged in a political boxing match,
is described as a very risky activity that Christians
know that God is not in the ring with you, nor is He
are urged not to do in public (or at all) for its
fighting alongside your opponent. There’s no one political
ability to stain our credibility as proclaimers of Christ.
party that God considers good. How do we know this? It’s
Given the hostile nature of politics today, it’s a given that
because God’s definition of “good” is perfection. To Him,
publicly aligning ourselves with political parties can have
a thing cannot be called good if it is even 1% not good.
the same effect. Yet we are often outspoken and even drag
And so, being that you and I are among the things that are
Jesus into our claims that one party is “more right” than
not good, we can be certain that the institutions we create
another. Is this really the right thing to do? Something tells
based on our human ways of thinking are equally flawed.
me it’s not. And that something is the Bible.
So while abortion is clearly wrong according to Scripture,
Shortly before our most recent presidential election, I witnessed a heated argument on Facebook that erupted
being opposed to a political party that embraces it does not give us clearance to cast the first stone.
from a moderately civil discussion about politics between
“There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).
two outspoken Christians. The statement that lit the burner
In heaven, we will live and worship alongside people
expressed the writer’s bewilderment over how a person
who voted differently than we did. Instead of being at
could call themselves a Christian and yet support a political
odds with one another, we will behave like fans of a
party that favors the pro-choice position concerning
winning college football team whose common bond of
abortion. Not only did this statement give away the party
victory causes high-fives and hugs to erupt between total
that this person was loyal to, it questioned the salvation of
strangers. As we anxiously await our day of redemption,
others who supported opposing political parties. And, as
may we love one another instead of attacking our fellow
expected, others began to join in the fight. When the smoke
brothers and sisters in Christ for their ideals that are just
had finally cleared, disappointment over the tarnished
as imperfect as our own. While I do believe we should
witness of each person involved was all that was achieved.
embrace the privilege of aligning our convictions with our
Instead of arguing from a biblical standpoint, right and
votes at the polls, we would do well to remain mum about
wrong were attributed to human politics.
the parties we support and, instead, invest our energy in
“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3:9).
38 // May 2021
proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ. After all, His is the only party that truly matters.
