As we who are Christians come to understand and appreciate the blessings that God has bestowed upon us, the position in which He has placed us in this world, and the hope that we have for all eternity, I believe we will come to the realization that God has not called us to get involved in the politics of the world.
“Our conversation [or citizenship] is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). If we are citizens of the United States, we do not go to Canada, Switzerland, Kenya, or any other country to vote in the elections of those countries. By analogy, if we are citizens of heaven, it is inappropriate for us to take part in government elections on earth. We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20).
The blessings that we possess as Christians are in heaven. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: … and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3; 2:4-6).
Further, we are enjoined by the Lord Jesus, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, … for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). The reason we want to have our hearts centered in heaven is
that Christ Himself is there: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection [or mind] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-4).
Finally, our whole future for the ages of eternity lies in heaven. “I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shot, … and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16,17).
Thus, our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth. Our blessings are in heaven, not on earth. Our treasure is to be laid up in heaven, not on earth. Our mind is to be set on things above, not on things on the earth. And our dwelling place for eternity will be in heaven, not on earth. Do not these simple truths speak volumes to us as to our involvement in earthly causes and politics?
In all things we have Christ as our example for our walk here on earth (1 Pet. 2:21;1 John 2:3-6). If we study His life and walk here on earth, as described in the Gospels, we will find that He was not occupied with trying to influence government officials, alter the laws of the land, or bring about a change in government in His native country. Rather, He was occupied with showing the people their lost, sinful condition (Matt. 18:11; 22:12,13; Luke 5:32; 13:3; 15:1-31; 16:19-31; 19:10) and what they must do to be saved (John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 6:35,51; 10:9). He said of His disciples, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16).
The apostle Paul as well, with all of his zeal and energy, directed that energy totally toward bringing the good news of salvation to the world and toward building up the saints in Christ. He taught that we should “be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1). He also enjoined that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for … kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3). Thus, instead of trying to bring in a change in our nation’s leaders and officials and lawmakers, we are enjoined to be subject to them and pray for them.
Now taking a stand of not voting and not getting involved in our nation’s politics on the ground that we are citizens of heaven caries with it some weighty implications that we do well to consider:
1. We will accept without complaint the fact that some of our public officials are morally corrupt or dishonest or apathetic or incompetent (Dan. 4:17). Instead of complaining about them we will pray for them.
2. We will accept without complaint any legislation passed, including that favoring abortion, permitting pornography, enhancing gay rights, etc., and we won’t seek to influence legislation by signing petitions that are aimed at preserving Christian freedoms and maintaining some semblance of national morality. Rather, we will pray for our legislators and seek ways to show the love and compassion of Christ to those involved in and affected by these evils.
3. We will accept without complaint high taxes and poor public services (such as the quality of public education, condition of roads, speed of mail delivery, etc.). We will be so occupied with the things of the Lord and with leading others out of earthly darkness into heavenly light that we will not be bothered about how our tax money is being spent.
4. We will accept without complaint increasing lawlessness, crime, and persecution of the righteous in our country. Rather we will allow these adversities to cast us all the more wholly upon the Lord and upon our fellow-Christians (see Matt. 5:10-12). Also, we will seek ways of showing the love of Christ to the victims, and criminals and prisoners.
If we are heavenly-minded to the extent that we do not get mixed up with the politics of the world, neither will we have any interest in indulging in the pleasures the world has to offer. We will not be seeking to be entertained at the world’s theaters, pool halls, night clubs, rock concerts, etc., nor by ungodly television programs, videos, and internet sites in our homes. Neither will we be laying up treasures upon earth (Matt. 6:19), nor ambitiously seeking fame, fortune, promotion, and reputation in this world through our jobs, social circles, club memberships, and the like.
“Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13), the Lord told His disciples. Salt here is symbolic of a preservative, and some take this as warranting Christians being active in trying to preserve our nation from the evil forces of atheism, secular humanism, pornography, etc. But, as we mentioned earlier, we find neither the Lord nor His apostles engaged in this kind of preservative work. We can only go so far in legislating morality. The only way to be a lasting influence for good in one’s community and nation is to be helping our fellow citizens to receive Christ as their Savior, and helping and encouraging our fellow-Christians to be obedient to “be followers [or imitators] of God” (Eph. 5:1), and “love not the world” (1 John 2:15).
The Scripture says that “in the last days … men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, … fierce, despisers of those that are good. … Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:1-13). I do not believe it is possible by any political means to stem the tide of wickedness described in these verses. If one kind of evil is eliminated through legislation or swift execution of justice, the void will quickly be replaced by another kind of evil. What this world needs is changed lives more than changed laws. So may we who have the light of Christ in our lives be faithful to proclaim Christ to the world and show forth in our lives His love and light to those about us. “Ye are the light of the world. … Let your light [that is, Christ] so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16).
In conclusion, consider Abraham’s nephew, Lot. When the angels came to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family from the judgment that was about to fall upon that wicked city, where did they find him? “Lot sat in the gate of Sodom” (Gen. 19:1), meaning that he had a place of leadership and authority there. While sitting in the gate of a fundamentally law-abiding people (as in Exod. 8:13 and Prov. 31:23) may be a positive thing, Lot was “vexed with the filthy conversation [or behavior] of the wicked (2 Pet. 2:7,8). But instead of separating himself and his family from the wickedness, he seemingly allied himself with the unbelievers by becoming one of those authorities who “sat in the gate.” He may have thought he could change the tide of lawlessness and immorality in Sodom by his influence there at the gate, but we sadly see just the opposite effect.
Not only was the entire city destroyed by “brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven” (Gen. 19:24), thus attesting to Lot’s total failure in influencing the city for good, but we find failure in influencing his own family for good, and indeed failure in his own relationship with Jehovah. When he went out to warn his sons-in-law to flee, “he seemed as one that mocked” unto them (vs 14). Lot himself lingered so long that the angels had to practically drag him and his wife and daughters out of the city (vs 16).
What a solemn warning this gives us to separate ourselves from this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) rather than joining any effort with the goal of improving the world which is soon going to be judged by God. May we be more heavenly-minded, having Christ as our one object. May we strive to “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).