Mixing Christians and Politics

 Uncapped Salt Shakers

"Ye are the salt of the earth."  

Yesterday, I stopped by a coffee shop in town owned by a Christian woman. While I was browsing through the books on the shelves and enjoying the smell of espresso, I overheard a Christian man telling the owner of the shop that he doesn’t vote because he doesn’t want to contaminate himself with politics. After he left, the owner turned to me and said that many Christians in town had given her this reason for not being registered to vote. Some Christians think politics will contaminate them, so they stay away from involvement in elections. I think that this excuse is heresy. I have three reasons to back me up.

First, the Bible says in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 13 that “ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.” If we are salt, our function in this world is to preserve it. How can we preserve the world from evil if we stay—safe and secure—in our little salt shaker? We must uncap the salt shaker and pour ourselves onto our job, our communities, and our world. Yes, it is hard to fight. Yes, you will struggle with keeping yourself pure from the evil. But we are worthless if we don’t fulfill our purpose in this world.

Secondly, some of the most influential politicians have been Christians. William Wilberforce—one of my heroes—was a politician in England during the slave trade era. Before he was a Christian, he lived for pleasure. But after his salvation, he became intensely interested in social reform.

“So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the Trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for Abolition. Let the consequences be what they would, I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”-William Wilberforce 

 He fought against the slave trade for years and finally saw it abolished in 1833. Wilberforce poured his heart into killing evil and preserving human freedom. He was able to kill the slave trade through politics without a bloody war—unlike America. Wilberforce is only one of many Christian men who have changed the world through politics. Ronald Regan, often quoted by candidates and presidents today, was a dedicated Christian that pulled America through the Cold War and potential depression. In America, most of the founding fathers were dedicated Christians.

Thirdly, look at the life of Christ. He poured himself onto his world. Because of his great gift—salvation from eternal damnation through his blood— to the world, we have hope. Christ did not come to live a secluded life. At the end of his life when he was before the high priest he said, “I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing (John 18:20).” He always spoke in public places. He spoke to the great leaders of the Jewish world without fear.

How can we hold ourselves from the world? Perhaps, if we extend our hand to the world around us, we can save some souls or some good in this world. If we sit back and do nothing, we deserve to be judged by a God that gave everything for a filthy world. Can we withhold the good that is in us from the world? Are we too selfish that we won’t make a difference? Will we allow the weak to be trampled by greedy men and the innocent to be crushed by evil men? I will not.