Christians and Politics: A guide…

We have been following with interest elections in Africa and in most cases we have watched with sadness Christians failing to live up to the calling to be “the salt of the earth and light of the world”. Matthew 5:13-16:

You are the salt of the earth.
But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men
You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

For Christians, elections are not just opportunities to ensure that God-fearing leaders are elected into government, but also to promote righteousness and justice in the process by the discourse and treatment reserved to opponents. In this article, we want to explore the question regarding Christians and politics or Christians’ involvement in politics: Does the bible offer a framework for Christians’ involvement in politics?

It is important to note that the bible has a twofold view of Christians and citizenship: (1) the citizenship of Christians is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), that is, not of this world and (2) Christians are citizens of their respective countries. Both notions are not contradictory: Christians as citizens are expected to pay taxes (Matthew 20:21), vote, and contribute to the peace and prosperity of their respective countries (1Timohy 2:1-2). However, they are to be guided in the process by the values and principles of heaven or the kingdom of God, as opposed to political party lines or ethnic and tribal tradition –the “empty way of life inherited from forefathers” (1Peter 1:18). In so doing, they are allowing heaven, or godliness/righteousness, to manifest on earth (the Lord’s Prayer). I see no other way of being salt of the earth and light of the world….

Take note of Matthew 13:33,

….The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.

Here we have God’s method of bringing change into the world where it is needed, even in politics, by making human beings instruments of change as they truly follow Jesus Christ (the kingdom of God, Philippians 2:14-16). This is a reminder that real change begins within: a political party willing to change internally can be expected to change a nation.
I is important to understand that Christians’ involvement in politics follows the “incarnational” model (The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…”) in order to be redemptive (light of the world and salt of the earth) or lift the political game.

Accordingly, Christians do not need to form their own political parties in order to participate constructively in politics but rather infiltrate (incarnate) all political parties in order to ensure that the nation pursue righteousness and deny room to wickedness in any shape or form.

Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, are to do so for the love of their countries and peoples.
Imagine a country with political parties made of God-fearing politicians…. Undoubtedly, elections in such a country will bring cause for celebration and not mourning. It could become reality provided all Christians take seriously the calling to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.