Christians NOT to be Involved, in Politics

Silver Surfer

The Lord would have His people bury political questions.

On these themes silence is golden.

Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God.
We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for.
Motives, are often hidden under flatterning words !

We cannot with safety take part in any political scheme.
We cannot labor to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty.

The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office.

What are we to do, then?
Let political questions alone.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
....and what communion hath light with darkness?

.....or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" [2 COR. 6:14, 15.]
What can there be in common between these parties?
There can be no fellowship, no communion.

The word "fellowship" means participation, partnership.

God employs the strongest figures to show that there should be no union between worldly parties and those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ.

What communion can there be between light and darkness, truth and unrighteousness?

None whatever.
Light represents righteousness; darkness, unrighteousness.

Christians have come out of darkness into the light.
They have put on Christ, and they wear the badge of truth and obedience.
They are governed by the elevated and holy principles which Christ expressed in His life. . . .

Those teachers in the church or in the school who distinguish themselves by their zeal in politics, should be relieved of their work and responsibilities without delay; for the Lord will not co-operate with them.

The tithe should not be used to pay any one for speechifying on political questions.

Every teacher, minister, or leader in our ranks who is stirred with a desire to ventilate his opinions on political questions, should be converted by a belief in the truth, or give up his work.

His influence must tell as a laborer together with God in winning souls to Christ, or his credentials must be taken from him.
If he does not change, he will do harm, and only harm. . . .

"Be Ye Separate"

I call upon my brethren who are appointed to educate, to change their course of action.

It is a mistake for you to link your interests with any political party, to cast your vote with them or for them.

Those who stand as educators, as ministers, as laborers together with God in any line, have no battles to fight in the political world.

Their citizenship is in heaven. The Lord calls upon them to stand as a separate and peculiar people.

He would have no schisms in the body of believers. His people are to possess the elements of reconciliation.

Is it their work to make enemies in the political world?
No, no.
They are to stand as subjects of Christ's kingdom, bearing the banner on which is inscribed, "The commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

They are to carry the burden of a special work, a special message.

We have a personal responsibility, and this is to be revealed before the heavenly universe, before angels, and before men.

God does not call upon us to enlarge our influence by mingling with society, by linking up with men on political questions, but by standing as individual parts of His great whole, with Christ as our head.

Christ is our Prince, and as His subjects we are to do the work appointed us by God. . . .

The question may be asked, Are we to have no union whatever with the world?

The word of the Lord is to be our guide.
Any connection with infidels and unbelievers that would identify us with them, is forbidden by the Word of God.

We are to come out from among them, and be separate.
In no case are we to link ourselves with them in their plans of work. But we are not to live reclusive lives.

We are to do worldlings all the good we possibly can.

Christ has given us an example of this.
When invited to eat with publicans and sinners, He did not refuse; for in no other way than by mingling with them could He reach this class.

But on every occasion . . . He opened up themes of conversation which brought things of eternal interest to their minds.
And He enjoins us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." [MATT. 5:16.]

On the temperance question, take your position without wavering. Be as firm as a rock.
Be not partakers of other men's sins. . . .

There is a large vineyard to be cultivated; but while Christians are to work among unbelievers, they are not to appear like worldlings.

They are not to spend their time talking politics or acting politics; for by so doing they give the enemy opportunity to come in and cause variance and discord.

Those in the ministry who desire to stand as politicians, should have their credentials taken from them; for this work God has not given to high or low among His people.

God calls upon all who minister in word and doctrine to give the trumpet a certain sound.
All who have received Christ, ministers and lay members, are to arise and shine; for great peril is right upon us.

Satan is stirring up the powers of earth.
Everything in this world is in confusion.
God calls upon His people to hold aloft the banner bearing the message of the third angel. . . .

God's children are to separate themselves from politics, from any alliance with unbelievers.
They are not to link their interests with the interests of the world.

"Give proof of your allegiance to Me," He says, "by standing as My chosen heritage, as a people zealous of good works."

Do not take part in political strife.

Separate from the world, and refrain from bringing into the church or school ideas that will lead to contention and disorder.

Dissension is the moral poison taken into the system by human beings who are selfish.

God wants His servants to have clear perceptions, true and noble dignity, that their influence may demonstrate the power of truth.

The Christian life is not to be a haphazard, emotional life.

True Christian influence, exerted for the accomplishment of the work God has appointed, is a precious agency, and it must not be united with politics, or bound up in a confederacy with unbelievers.

God is to be the center of attraction.
Every mind that is worked by the Holy Spirit will be satisfied with Him.

"None of us liveth to himself." [ROM. 14:7.]

Let those who are tempted to take part in politics, remember that every move they make has its influence upon others.

When ministers or others in responsible positions make remarks in regard to these matters, they cannot gather up the thoughts they have planted in human minds.

Under Satan's temptations they have set in operation a train of circumstances leading to results of which they little dream.

An act, a word, a thought, cast into the minds of the great concourse of humanity, if it bears the heavenly endorsement, will yield a harvest of precious fruit; but if it is inspired by Satan, it will cause the root of bitterness to spring up, whereby many will be defiled.

Then let the stewards of God's grace in any line of service, beware how they mingle the common with the sacred.
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Again and again Christ had been asked to decide legal and political questions; but He refused to interfere in temporal matters. . . . He stood in our world as the Head of the great spiritual kingdom that He came to our world to establish,--the kingdom of righteousness.

His teaching made plain the ennobling, sanctifying principles that govern this kingdom. He showed that justice and mercy and love are the controlling powers in God's kingdom.

John 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world......"

Luke 20:23 "But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
20:24 Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's".
_________________
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

45degreeN

As Christ's representative here on Earth we have the responsibility to demonstrate God's love for everyone. Certainly the political bickering is not of that nature and there is a lot of it around lately.

I'm not sure that voting for someone is the same as being yoked together. Which doesn't mean that some people are not yoked but their connection is far more than merely voting for them.

Our concern for worldly things you're right should not be our primary concern. But in as much as those worldly things affect the lives of those around us it is very hard to separate them from the spiritual things that are very much more important. Maybe we should try harder to make that separation.

Silver Surfer

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

thanks for taking the time to write that s.s....i enjoyed reading it... Very Happy

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:42 am Post subject:

Trinity1 · Emperor of the World Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 3123

45degreeN · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:06 am Post subject:

My father who was a preacher went to graduate school and fell into the social gospel movement. Theologians within that group are usually post-millennialists who think that the kingdom of God will not come until we rid the world of all sin through our own effort.

They typically are activists who preach about social injustice and seek to remedy them. They fail completely to teach about who God is and how to be saved. Leaving the poor, still poor and still unsaved. Which doesn't mean that we shouldn't seek to remedy injustice but first the essentials. Their ideas about righteousness are usually all about self-righteousness.

What the social gospel preachers will do of course is to invade the political sphere and seek to bring about social change through political action instead of seeking to save people and letting God deal with their poverty. Their faith seems to be in politics rather than God.

So where does this little story lead us, I hope into our prayer closets and into a humble search for God's help. Not into the political arena searching for votes.

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

Trinity1 · Emperor of the World Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 3123

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:50 pm Post subject:

[quote="Trinity1"]

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

well said...

Trinity1 · Emperor of the World Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 3123

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

good points tri...silver?.....

Silver Surfer · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:42 am Post subject:

[quote="Trinity1"]

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817