The Role of Churches in Politics

Ministers were on the front lines of the civil rights movement in the United States, and churches were instrumental in that movement both through direct action and by delivering the message from the pulpit that racism was inconsistent with the Christian concept of the dignity and worth of all humans. The liberal organizations advancing that cause were, for the most part, happy to have the help. Conservatives who wished to maintain the status quo objected vociferously, arguing that it wasn't the place of churches or ministers to make political statements. Numerous religious figureheads actively protested the Vietnam War, with similar reactions. The argument of those churches and ministers who did choose to participate was, in essence, that they were doing God's work. That was welcomed by those who agreed with their ends and objected to by those who did not. I find myself questioning how that was different from churches today working to restrict or outlaw abortion, or against same-sex marriage. It seems the opposition has flipped-that the liberal people and organizations who were all too happy to have the help of the churches and ministers in the 60s and early 70s now think it's "inappropriate" for churches to be involved in politics, and the conservatives who were outraged when ministers took to the streets in favor of desegregation now think they should be taking to the streets in favor of Prop 8 and against abortion. Gen 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image--after our likeness--and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. Gods original intent was that man would exercise true dominion on his earth with the end result being that it would be a true reflection of Gods heaven. We therefore begin with the premise that this is Gods earth upon which men was placed as a steward of its vast resources. The fall of man in the garden of Eden resulted in a fundamental fracture in relations between God and man and an open rebellion to this mandate. Man in doing so therefore rejected Gods claim in overall overlordship.This not only resulted in personal sin but in rampant injustice and moral decay by mankind. The restoration of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ does not only mean individual submission to the only one and true God but also restoration of human civilization and nations to a state of proper stewardship of Gods earth. With this as a frame work of understanding we therefore conclude that one, all nations with their resources belong to God and should be governed as such .All resources ultimately and sovereignty belongs to God and collectively to all citizens of those nations. The citizens have a right to equitable access, civil government therefore have the responsibility of maintaining and ensure equitable access of those resources for the collective benefit of all citizens. The role of the church in this environment is to develop and sustain a national awareness of this inherent responsibility of stewardship bestowed on the government and society. The church must make governments aware that our God reins and the country belongs to God not to a individual, party or particular group, any grouping that in any way tries to undermine this is standing in the way of God. We as the church we have a mandate to continuously make civil government aware of this responsibilty.Secondly the church is responsible for developing and protecting an awareness in the public to ensure that government carries out this mandate by educating ,mobilizing the public to participate responsibly in the legitimate political processes of that nation.