Politics is "Of This World"

Gary responds to a video from a pastor who claims “politics are not spiritual because they are of this world.”

Politics, because it deals with civil government, is not a necessary evil; it’s necessary because of evil (Gen. 4:4–15, 23–24; 9:5–7). The sword is the State’s God-ordained instrument of “wrath.” This is why the “law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers” (1 Tim. 1:9–10). Since civil government has the power of the sword, it is incumbent upon Christians to get involved in politics to ensure that political officials use it wisely and with restraint.

Secularism has become the official State religion of many nations. Social theorist Herbert Schlossberg observes: “Western society, in turning away from the Christian faith, has turned to other things. This process is commonly called secularization, but that conveys only the negative aspect. The word connotes the turning away from the worship of God while ignoring the fact that something is being turned to in its place.” Some ideology, always religious in nature, will fill the vacuum left by the exodus of the Christian faith.

The mixing of religion and politics is unavoidable. To prohibit one religion only opens the door for the entrance of another. There is no neutrality. Secularism is just as religious as Christianity and inherently dangerous since it has no built-in restraints. Those who “helped undermine the fabric of traditional Christian Europe” created the “frightful void that communism, socialism and later national socialism would fill.” As the anti-Nazi writer Ernest Junger wrote, “Deserted altars are inhabited by demons.”

Gary responds to a video from a pastor who claims “politics are not spiritual because they are of this world.” He refers to voting as a privilege that isn’t related to Christians being “spiritual.” Not only does he misunderstand what spiritual means, he also misunderstands what politics are and why we must be involved.

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American Vision’s mission is to Restore America to its Biblical Foundation—from Genesis to Revelation. American Vision (AV) has been at the heart of worldview study since 1978, providing resources to exhort Christian families and individuals to live by a Biblically based worldview. Visit www.AmericanVision.org for more information, content and resources