As Christians we are going to be involved in politics. How we vote should be guided by our beliefs. That said I am concerned with a trend on all sides of Political Spectrum that is weaponizing Christianity, making our faith or large group of the church so intertwined with political parties and causes that people see no difference, no “separation of church and state.”
This Byzantine bridging of religion and politics makes me worried that the gospel which is for all peoples, Jesus who is the Savior of the World, will be cloaked in politics and thus be unapproachable to people of a different party. This worries me to no end because the call was disciple all people, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19) not just our party line, that there is no distinctions, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Galatians 3:28) and I’d argue “no right or left, all are one in Christ.” Sadly the church in its zeal for politics has forgotten there must be a separation, “Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him,” (Mark 12:17) and “He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:17). Be warned by the words of The Word of God!
I am not saying Christians should not tackle social issues or avoid politics, I am arguing against Byzatine Christianity, blending church and state to the point they are one, and the gospel becomes the property of the state and political parties! It is suppose to be for all people, good news to all!, “Go to the entire world and preach my Good News in all creation.” (Mark 16:15). But if we keep allowing our faith to be weaponized, and manipulated in political schemes, we risk that people will see our faith as one and same with the right or left party, and ultimately people may come to hate our faith cuz its so connected to the state like Catholicism was under the Avignon Popes, and the Emperor of Byzantines who had power of over religion and state; appointing bishops and deciding doctrine and making law and state policies; England did this to an extent by Henry VIII becoming Supreme Head of the Anglican Church. The problem with letting The Church and State hybridize is it leads to the corruption of the church, and taints the faith and gospel in politics.
I am greatly concerned. Our faith is not be mingle with politics in this way. Inform our choices when voting yes, but not become a product of politics or the possession of political classes. If we are not careful Christianity is going to lose its legitimacy as it morphs into Politicanity. Our faith belongs not to one party or cause, it is for all people who call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Son of God. We are in battle to preserve our faith in the West from being transformed into a shell of itself and the property of the state to be weaponized and used for its purposes. Amen.
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