Can Evangelism and Politics Mix?
Put bluntly, America is becoming more secular. Albert Mohler identifies the problem: “Recent studies have indicated that the single greatest predictor of voting patterns is the frequency of church attendance. Far fewer Americans now attend church, and a recent study indicated that fully 20% of all Americans identify with no religious preference at all. The secularizing of the electorate will have monumental consequences.” Constitutionally, the church and the state are separate. Practically, the church has an influence on the state even in the outcome of elections.
How does the church influence the state?
1. Do Evangelism, not Politics (Wayne Grudem gives the first two points)
John MacArthur advocates a version of this view: “The believer’s political involvement should never displace the priority of preaching and teaching the gospel because the morality and righteousness that God seeks is the result of salvation and sanctification” (Why Government Can’t Save You: An Alternative to Political Activism, page 8).
MacArthur is not saying there should not be any involvement, but the believer’s participation in government is not as important as spreading the gospel.
MacArthur, however, makes an even stronger statement: “God does not call the church to influence the culture by promoting legislation and court rulings that advance a scriptural point of view” (Why Government Can’t Save You, page 130). My question is if Congress had a chance to reverse Roe v Wade, should Christians try to influence their Congressmen to pass a constitutional amendment to end the murder of unborn babies? My personal answer is Yes!
2. Do Politics, Not Evangelism
This is the liberal view of the Social Gospel and Liberation theology. This view is a works for salvation view that advocates saving the planet but not saving individual sinners. This view advocates delivering all the marginalized minorities through redistribution of wealth by taxing more and more of the top income makers. Some of these believe it is the responsibility of the church to bring in the kingdom and once society has been totally reformed, Christ will return. There is a conservative wing that does believe in both saving the individual and bringing in the kingdom through social justice called Christian Reconstructionists.
This is contrary to Scripture. “In the last days, perilous times shall come.” “The love of many will wax worse.” Only Jesus can establish His kingdom.
3. Do Evangelism and Politics
Jesus was asked, “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:18). Jesus replied, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s” (22:21). This was a revolutionary statement.
Jesus indicated there are two separate spheres of influence in people’s lives. One is government and the other is religion. This was a huge change from the OT which was a theocracy where the entire nation was considered the people of God and God’s law regulated every area of life. There was no separation of religion and state in the OT. The political leader of the nation was also the spiritual leader of the nation (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). There was no freedom of religion. There was only one acceptable religion. This is not the case today as Jesus’ statement revealed.
We, believers, are citizens of America and we have certain responsibilities to our government. We pay taxes over which the government has control and authority. We are also citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) and we have certain responsibilities to God over which the government has no control. Government can expect us to keep zoning laws for the public safety of our people. But if the government starts telling believers what to believe and how to worship then as Peter said, “We ought to obey God and not man.” The first amendment reflects this truth: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
In my final post, we will consider what is the Christian's responsibility to the government.