Stand up to be Counted as a Follower of Christ in Matters Politics

Dear brethren in the Lord,

No doubt some believers have entered politics and in the course of time got so infused with it that they compromised the basic teachings of the Christian faith and in the end discouraged many others from getting involved. Equally true is that we can’t change the world fully by participating in politics because, ultimately, only the encounter with Jesus brings a transformation and total change. As we debate on participation or non-participation in politics in our Christian discourse, we should understand that it is a mistake to completely isolate ourselves from politics. Harold Lasswell, a political scholar, defined politics as who gets what, when and how. If we are to go by his definition, our role in politics shapes how the allocation of resources is done, either with justice for the ultimate good of man or vice versa.

I am not an expert in theology but with the little knowledge I have acquired, I feel obligated to share this.

We are in the season of the General Election as a nation and incidentally, it is during such seasons that a lot of yapping and hullabaloo rent the air. Today, it seems like life is at a standstill as every business deal you want to seal gets difficult… “Let’s talk after elections,’’ everyone seems to be saying. The strife and ethical tension escalating on social media is sad! Good will messages are passed across different platforms as we Kenyans preach peace while others spew verbal diarrhea and hate speech all round. I am sure you have received mass forwards of prayer chains to speak peace for our nation and it is almost without doubt that every charismatic movement and mainstream church has had prayers categorically for our nation. This is by all means very commendable and a reason why I am driven to share these few thoughts. Paul admonishes young Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:1-2;“Prayers and petitions be offered on behalf of Kings and all men in authority that we may lead a quiet, peaceful and understood life full of godliness and all reverence…” Praying is commendable and good.

I have been disturbed lately though, by sentiments that have been shared by individuals I respect in the faith. Hearing some of them say involvement in politics is not good is why I write this.

 “I don’t really care, you know politics is not my thing,” “The men of God should not enter into politics”;  “Politics is a dirty game that will corrupt men of God.” Sounds familiar? Absolutely!

I have been attending a Biblical Foundation Class recently and I must admit that the biggest error I am unlearning and is the dichotomy I have grown up believing. We have with time dichotomized (created a separation marker) between what we believe is work that is acceptable and not acceptable for Christian involvement. Unfortunately, politics is one of those professions we feel is non-Christian. 

Let’s get to the scriptures. The message of the gospel which is the good news to humanity is that salvation is by grace through faith that causes sinners to be reconciled with God (Ephesians 2:7-8). The message of the cross transforms individuals in the totality of their lives and enables them to lead godly lives.  After our transformation we are called to go back to the world as mandated by Scripture in Matthew 28:19-20, go ye therefore and make disciples by sharing the good news and discipling others in faith. The gospel is a holistic message with implications for the entirety of life, which is not limited to a particular aspect of spirituality but also physical involvement that encompasses political engagement.

The Christian worldview should address life in its totality

While I was at campus, a common phrase was that of going out to preach because souls are perishing. The key priority is to go ye and preach the gospel for the salvation of men. I miss that zeal we had but of importance to note is that the good news addressed the holistic life of the people. As Jesus begins His Ministry for example, He affirms the words of Isaiah about His ministry and says in Luke 4:18:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,^[j]
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
¹⁹ To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

The year of the Lord’s favor …debt cancellation and Jubilee as we get a picture from Leviticus addresses the social injustices in the society. Not just that, throughout His ministry, Jesus addresses the physical reality and needs of the people by healing the sick and feeding the hungry. When He is questioned about giving, he tells the Pharisees to give to God what belongs to Him and to Caesar what belongs to him because he recognizes the legitimacy of the government and the role it plays in policy making and societal order.

A good example also is the service of men like Daniel. He was a spiritual person but served in a very influential position in the Assyrian government under Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Darius , Belshazzar and Cyrus. It is said of Daniel that he carried out his work very well, without defying his God and no deceit was found in him. His good deeds made people recognize and lift up his God. His presence in the government did not only attract prosperity and favor from God but through his excellency in service, God was lifted up and He drew men to Himself.

We are Sojourners anyway, should it matter?

It is also true that we are aliens in the world who are heaven bound but remember, we have been saved for good works that the Lord prepared beforehand for us in creation. (Ephesians 2:10).  Part of the good work is continuing what Christ had started and reminded the disciples to wait for until they received power to be His witnesses; first within their locality and then to the ends of the earth. We are sojourners in the world, yes, but we have been sent back to the world (kingdom of darkness) to bring the light of Christ. We as believers move from where we are to the dark world to reach out to them with that light. What this then implies is that we be what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23; to relate to all men as they are so we may be able to impact. Because politics significantly affect our life even as sojourners, politics greatly shapes religious liberty.

We belong to the kingdom of God which is enshrined with justice and righteousness and as the salt of the world, we should take bold steps, stand up to be counted,  be involved and propagate policies that promote what is just and right. Praying is good, by all means, but is only one of the facets of the life of a believer and as such, active and physical participation becomes critical too.

We can pray for peace forever but if our faith then is not accompanied by works as true subjects of God’s kingdom, it becomes difficult to experience that holistic transformation. Praying  can make a leader’s heart be transformed, as Proverbs tells of the heart of a king being in God’s hand and like waters He knows how to turn…. However, being involved in the center of service like Daniel was will mean that we actively get involved; creating a just society through wise counsel and simply doing what is right as an individual in the area God has called you to work.

We have been called to serve and to do the good works that were prepared for us before creation…Ephesians 2.9-10. It is a call to service, which  JESUS summed up as loving our neighbor as we love ourselves( Matthew 22:39). From the story of the Good Samaritan in primary CRE class, we defined a neighbor as someone and anyone who needs our help. Must we serve in politics to feel that we are now serving our neighbors? No, but rather in whatever thing God has capacitated you to do. Politics is a critical place where we can demonstrates acts of service to our neighbors. Why? Because the politics of any nation shapes the freedom and rights of people, formulation of policies and laws that care for the disadvantaged and propels the thriving of o society. Most importantly, as we champion for the justice of people especially those who have no voice, we are serving Jesus and he says assuredly, “As you did it to one of the least of these you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). 

In Jeremiah 29:7 the children of Israel, who have been taken captive and live in Babylon as exiles, get a message from the Lord through the prophet. He says “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”  Why were they urged to be concerned with the welfare of the city? Simple. Secular governments, as was the case with Babylon, served a legitimate purpose in God’s plan for Israel. By extension, good governments today promote literacy, advance just laws, provide religious liberty and allow churches to preach and teach. Good government can serve as a conduit for the furthering of the gospel and human flourishing. 

As we near August 8, stand up to be counted.

If you can’t vie, support one who is vying, educate others to rise and be counted, go out, vote, and be involved.

Your vote is your voice.

I hope that you vote; even one vote will be a step towards propagating a kingdom of justice and righteousness.

Shalom…

Sisters’ Keeper!