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This is an actual question for Ukraine in 2006!
First I want
to make a clear distinction between the task of the church
and the responsibility of the individual Christian.
The Church
a. The task of the church is first of all to preach Christ, call people to repentance, give pastoral care to the members of the
congregation:
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in
Mat. 28, 18-18 the apostles receive the task to make all the people disciples of Christ
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Abraham Kuyper
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Acts
6, 1-4 shows how the apostles of the first congregation in Jerusalem defined
their task: to pray with the people and to preach the
Gospel; the care for the poor members of the congregation was also seen as a
core task
–
in
Acts 20, 20-21 Paul looks back on his service among Jews and pagans – which
existed in teaching, calling to repentance and faith in
Christ.
–
in
Acts 20, 28 Paul defines the service of the elders of the church: ‘watch over
yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with his own
blood.’
b. The task of the church is also to pray for the all people and for the
authorities - 1Tim. 2, 1-2:
‘I urge, then, first of all, that requests,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all
those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and holiness.’
c. In some cases the church has the task to ‘obey God rather then
men’ (Acts 5, 29).
In 1934 the German ‘confessing church’ protested against the anti-Semitic
measures of Hitler and in the Soviet time brave Christians in the USSR told
their children about Christ.
d. The church should never become the representative or
promoter of a political group or party. What binds us together in the church is
the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2, 11f.). The calling of the
church is to point to Christ, to keep Him in the center of its sermons and
service. If Christ is pushed aside because of politics or other human ideals,
the church fails its calling! (1Cor. 9, 19-22)
The Christian
a. Christians are personal responsible before God – to
glorify Him, to be a living member of the congregation (1Pt. 2), but also to
serve his neighbor in the world:
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Jesus
commands his disciples to be ‘salt of the earth’ (Mat. 5, 13) – with the testimony
of Christians in public life this world loses its real flavor!
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Christians
should show through their personal life – in their work and family and in
society that the belief in Christ as the Lord of our lives makes us different
people. Christians do not want to participate in corruption and unlawful
behavior which is so common in this world. Remember that Paul wrote about the
obedience to the authorities in a time when there was as much corruption and
abuse as today! (Rom. 13)
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Christians
must proclaim in public that God is the King of this world and that there is nothing in this
world that should not be subjected to the Word of God (1Cor. 10, 26). A famous
saying of the Reformed Dutch statesman Abraham Kuyper was: “There is not a
square inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ, who
is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!”
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neglect
of the Law of God leads to corruption and destruction of state
and society. ‘The Law of God is the only dress that suits this world’.
Why is that? Because God is the Creator! He
knows how this world has to function and how it has to be governed. He tells us
so in His Word and Christians should show this in their own lives and proclaim
God’s Lordship to ‘all creation’ (Mark 16, 15).
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Christians
sometimes think that to be involved in politics means just to make ‘dirty hands’
and that we should not be involved in it. But Paul tells that we cannot leave
this world (1Cor. 5, 10). We have a task in this world: ‘to be children of God
without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like
stars in the universe’ (Phil. 2, 15).
b. People sometimes think they can create a ‘happy new world’ through politics. This humanist
dream will never become true. It is only Christ who will make all things new
(Rev. 21, 5). All our political efforts are in vain without Christ: ‘What good
will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?’ (Luk.
9, 25)
But this does not mean that politics or social efforts that do
not result in the conversion of people are without meaning. To fight for justice and peace is in full accordance with God’s revealed will in the Ten Commandments
(Ex. 20). For this reason God ordered secular authorities to be obeyed (Rom. 13,
1f.). when Christians strive for justice and peace in society this belongs to
the proclamation of the Lordship of Christ in this world!
Conclusion
My answer to the initial question may be clear: Christians should strive
to be salt and light in this world and for this reason it is good when they
participate in voting or in Christian political or social activities. Just
complaining about the violations of the law of God or social evil (corruption;
abortion; addictions; the lack of care for orphans, old people etc.) is too
easy. As Christians we can use our gifts by making a contribution to Christian
politics which give opportunities to make the love of God for His own creation visible in
this world. The crucial point in Christian involvement in politics is the
motivation: Christ is Lord – and all the world belongs to
Him!
Some
Literature
- Éîõåì Äàóìà, Ââåäåíèå â
õðèñòèàíñêóþ ýòèêó, Ñàíêò-Ïåòåðáóðã. 2001.
- Àáðàõàì Êàéïåð, Õðèñòèàíñêîå
ìèðîâîççðåíèå. Ëåêöèè ïî êàëüâèíèçìó. Ñàíêò-Ïåòåðáóðã. 2002.
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