Political cooperation and the Gospel

Clearly the most important thing for Christians is to share the Gospel. Many of the issues we deal with on a daily basis would be eliminated through conversion to Christianity. However, we would still deal with Christians who have a liberal view of things or are at different levels in their Christian walk.

There are Christian organizations whose goal is not primarily spreading the Gospel. I know it is a goal, but they use other avenues to get the Word out. For example, Crown Financial Ministries main goal is to teach Christians how to handle their finances according to God's Word, but they routinely discuss the Gospel. Samaritan's Purse is there provide aid, but they use the aid as an avenue to share the Gospel.

So I think there is a place for Christian Ministries that have a primary goal other than sharing the Gospel as long as the Gospel is not forgotten. Remember, the goal of the church is to spread the Gospel. Para-church organizations should come along side the church, not replace the church or compete with the church.

 

In my mind, Christians should cooperate with secular political entities in as much as it accomplishes a common goal, and does not compromise the Word of God. That is where we should put our foot down and part ways.

Joseph Botwinick

 

This is where I part company with a lot of my reformed brethren. I don't see the New Testament church anywhere in the NT trying to reform the government. We're just told to pray for them and pay our taxes and obey the law as long as it doesn't violate the scripture. I think when we align ourselves with political parties too closly we set ouseves up for great disappointment and find ouselves trying to justify thier unbiblical and sometimes satanic behaviour so we can save face.

 

In a democratic nation in which we live, we have a Christian obligation to vote, to speak out for the rights of the oppressed, and to do our duty as citizens to make sure that there is justice for all. To me, that is not a matter of obeying nor disobeying the law or paying taxes, unless doing so would somehow violate the great Commission. Speaking out for the civil rights of the unborn, in no way, violates Scripture.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I will certainly agree with you Joeseph. However, a great number of christians have been duped by the Republican party into thinking that they are going to curtail or put a stop to abortion. At last count Republican administrations have appointed 8 of 9 supreme court justices and nearly 65% of all federal justices. Guess what. They're still killing babies. We need to change hearts to stop the killing of unborn children. The repulican party will do nothing.
As for an obligation to vote I don't know. I've heard some compelling arguments that we shouldn't. Of course we should always be trying to help the poor and oppressed.

 

The Republicans have indeed made some mistakes while trying to play politics by nominating a moderate swing vote. Our current president almost made that mistake with Miers. But it was conservative pressure that made him change his mind. This president has done some good things for the pro-life movement and is moving in the right direction. We should encourage that as much as possible.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Conservative evangelicals are very much in danger right now of being led away from their principles by the loyalties developed for the Republican party.

They are going to have to do much better on discipline and integrity concerning the recent revelations of corruption if they want to keep my vote. I cannot vote for a party that supports decadence and abortion... nor can I vote for a party that tolerates corruption.

 

I think Christians lose a lot of their potential influence with unsaved people by pushing a particular political party. Supporting Christian issues is fine and should be done. But if you push the Republican party agenda exclusively you will turn off 50% of the lost, those that are registered Democrats.

Many evangelical Christians no longer see a dividing line between the faith and the Republican party. They go around telling people that you cannot be a Christian and a Democrat. How many Democrats are you going to bring to the faith with that kind of absurd statement?

 

==Let's note that while "ministries" like Focus On The Family (etc) have grown the culture has gotten worse. Why? I believe the answer is found in the way these folks are approaching the problems of our society. They approach these problems as political and/or social problems when in fact they are, at their root, spiritual problems. We cannot win the war against sin by passing laws, boycotts, and shouting at people. It will just simply not work. It is a clear case of attempting to fight a spiritual war with fleshly weapons. It will simply not work. Abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and all the other social ills are at their heart spiritual problems. Sure there are social, mental, legal, and political aspects but the heart of the problem is spiritual. You will never cause a person to live Godly via the law or politics. They may clean up their lives but they are still lost, dead, damned, hopeless sinners. And their "morality" is only superfical. True morality comes from a heart that has been born again. How do we solve the social ills of our society? By preaching, teaching, and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then by bringing the new converts into the church and growing them in the Lord. We change our society one heart, one soul, one life at a time. Period.

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==BINGO! James Dobson has even gone so far to have Dr Laura on his show! This women is a Christ rejector (openly!). Why is she on his show? There is no excuse for that. Another example is the recently held Justice Sunday III. Let's take a quick look at the speakers:

Jerry Falwell - Baptist.
James Dobson
Senator Rick Santorum, U.S. Senate (R-PA) and a Catholic.
Bill Donohue - Catholic
Dr. D. James Kennedy

Two Catholics and one of them is a politician! I think Falwell and mainly Kennedy, at least, should see the problems here. They know better! Yet they still want to hold hands with the Catholics for political purposes. However by doing so they are in error. Sad to say catholics and protestants don't have enough in common (the Biblical Gospel) to ignore our differences for political purposes.

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==Amen, Amen, Amen, and Amen.....

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==I think we should vote, and we should let our "voices" be heard. However we should not allow our time and energy to be wasted on political solutions to our problems.

In Christ,
Martin.

 

I have a Christian obligation to vote?

 

I so agree with this! This is why I do not align myself with either party, though I did when I was a fairly new believer (briefly). I vote but I don't have party or political stickers on my car, nor do I wear political buttons, etc.

I don't think it's good for unsaved people to think born-again Christians are automatically aligned with the Republicans.

 

This is why I tend to vote for the person and not the party.

Joseph Botwinick

 

My job is to preach the Word of God to them. God will bring them to salvation.

I don't vote for a party, either. I vote for the person.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I have a Christian obligation to vote? </font>[/QUOTE]IMO, your vote is one way in which you stand up for the rights of the oppressed and for justice in our society. So yes, you have a Christian obligation to vote.

Joseph Botwinick