Religion > Politics

In the days leading up to the election I was hit with a few objections about how my religious beliefs were informing my politics. "Religion and politics don't mix", "stop using the bible to justify your position", "you need to keep your religious beliefs to yourself", and my favorite "don't you know there is a separation of church of state!". Sometimes I responded, but often I would just ignore it because it is really just a silly objection. But now that the election is over, I felt that it would be a good time to respond in a bit more detail. Not for those who make the argument, but rather for Christians who actually believe it. 

  What was most frustrating about this election was seeing the number of professing believers who felt they could actually separate religion from politics. There were several who acted as if politics was the greater category, the one that matters in public life, and that religion was just simply what I did in my personal and private life.  If you believe this, then I want to tell you that you are one of little faith and may even be one who is out of the faith entirely. Is that a bold statement? Yes, and so it is now on me to back it up with scripture and explain. In order to do so, I need to make sure we are speaking the same language. 

  So, let's start by defining our terms. First is the term religion, what's meant by this? Well, according to the dictionary, religion is defined as the belief in and worship of a personal god or gods, a particular system of faith and worship, and a pursuit or interest to which one ascribes SUPREME importance. In scripture we see that religion is described as the display of that which is in one’s heart, and in James we are told that undefiled religion is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. I think these two definitions have a lot in common, religion is that which is held most dear and supreme and is therefore reflected in one's daily actions. 

  James goes on to speak of faith and works in the same context, telling us that he will show us his faith by his works. Once again showing that there is a direct link between what one believes, and how a person lives. Religion can then be described as core beliefs that include worship and are reflected in how we treat each other and live our lives. What those beliefs are often differ, even among professing Christians, but it is to our lives (actions) that we look to see what those beliefs truly are. For example, if one says "I believe Jesus is Lord", but is constantly looking to the culture to determine what is right, then they are professing with how they live that the culture is truly lord in their life and heart, not Jesus!

  Politics is simply the set of activities associated with the governance or decision making of a particular group. You can have politics taking place at the smallest levels; any time there are opposing sides attempting to influence a group in a direction, you have politics taking place. Often, we see this as a very corrupt process, with those attempting to win over opposition by making promises which they will never keep in order to gain power and control. It doesn't have to be this way, but in a fallen and sinful world this is often the result. 

  Politics will always include a moral framework and it must in order to govern and make decisions for the well-being of any group. For example, if one says that you should not murder, there is an assumption that this is a good which requires some sort of moral framework. Unfortunately, many people are often ignorant of their own moral framework. They can tell you that they believe something is good or bad but are unable to tell you why. This is why we get objections like the ones I am addressing in this blog. If we understood that morality doesn't simply exist in thin air, then we wouldn't be so quick to deny the necessary connection between religion and politics. 

  So then, how is it that these two are inseparable? Well, hopefully you've already seen it... Religion involves core or ultimate beliefs, beliefs which will give us the basis for morality and inform what we believe is good and what is bad or evil. Politics then sets out to govern or make decisions which will affect entire groups of people, whether it be the local school board or an entire country.  In order to do so, they are making decisions that they believe to be good for all those within that group. But according to what moral framework? According to what ultimate beliefs do they seek to govern, do they seek to make decisions? Whatever that ultimate is, then becomes one's chosen religion. They may not choose to call it that, but they can't avoid it either. 

  If you have an ultimate belief that says it's better not to murder someone, then why would you choose to not govern according to that ultimate belief? How could you ever govern in any other direction unless you don't really believe that it's better not to murder. All politics takes place from within a moral framework informed by core or ultimate beliefs. The politician who is fighting for free healthcare, is doing so because according to his or her beliefs, or religion, this is good. I'm not commenting on whether they are right on this one, but simply showing the connection. If they didn't believe this, why then would they fight for this? Yes, it could be that they are doing it because it's what the people want, but then they are just revealing that pleasing the people has become their chosen religion! You can't avoid it. 

  This is where the biblical definition is all the more important and why I made the bold statement at the beginning of this blog. When a Christian says, I don't mix religion and politics, they are really saying they don't believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ! You can't say that you believe in a sovereign creator of the universe who has spoken and told us all that is necessary for salvation, and for the flourishing of mankind on one hand. But then say, though I believe that, I am not really going to seek the good of all men on the other. Either you are extremely confused and inconsistent, or you don't truly believe what you say you do. 

  The great commission itself is a political statement, given as a command to all believers by Jesus Himself. There we are told first that Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth and then to go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. It is political in that Jesus is telling us what the rule is for governance; observe all that He has commanded! If you are a Christian, this is it for you, anything that is contrary to what He has commanded must be off limits to you, and if you live or promote anything contrary to that then you reveal your true allegiance. There is always repentance, and we all have areas of inconsistency, but the goal is never to be inconsistent. There lies the difference, you cannot seek for governance inconsistent to Christ’s word without also denying His lordship. 

  Religion is always greater than politics, and all politics is simply the outworking of a particular group’s chosen religion. Either that religion is true religion, or it is one that is made up and seeks to honor the creature over the creator, but it is still religion. So, next time someone tells you to stop mixing religion and politics, you can look at them and simply say, I will do it, when you do! Then proceed to show them the impossibility of what it is they are asking and proclaim to them the Lordship of Jesus Christ - not only in your life, but over theirs and the entire universe!