Of Course Faith & Politics mix. Duh!
Paul Bickley from Theos recently wrote an excellent article titled ‘Beware the religious right red-herring’ where he argues that it is the democratic right of Christians to engage in politics, although we are a long way from having a religious right as we find in the US.
It’s well worth a read.
He writes: “Let’s make no bones about it, there are people who hold all sorts of very conservative views on a range of social issues — often their views are informed by their religious commitments and experience. But it’s their democratic privilege to hold them, and their democratic privilege to work with like-minded political representatives on changing relevant legislation.”
All too easily Christians are silenced by a vocal minority suggesting that faith and politics should not mix. We even find some religious leaders promoting this viewpoint: Commenting in 2005, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks wrote in The Times “Religion becomes political at its peril, and ours.” Similarly, Pope John Paul II “untiringly [stated] that Priests should steer clear of politics”. How can this be right?
If we are, as God commanded Israel, to “loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke [and] to let the oppressed go free “(Isa 58:6f), and if we are to be the “salt of the earth… [and] the light of the world… ”(Mt 5:13-14), then surely we are obliged to lobby the authorities and to advocate justice and righteousness in government policy. As Senator Roy Herron writes, “If people of faith refuse to participate in politics, then others will make the crucial decisions. In a democracy, the people get the government they choose - and work for. You could say we get the government we deserve. Government can be awful or it can be good; often it is some of both. It is our duty, both as citizens and as Christians, to make it better. The question, then, is not, how can a Christian be in politics? The question is, how can a Christian not be in politics?” Well said Roy!
Not only is it our duty to engage in politics but surely everyone’s values and practices are informed by what they believe, whether religious or a-religious? The suggestion then that faith and politics should not mix is absurd and naive. All values are a product of convictions. Why then should those values informed by the Christian faith be any less valid or more inferior than those informed by some other belief system? Again to quote Bickley “There are plenty of religious people who want to influence a range of policy positions — and, if they can do so within the bounds of the democratic process, why shouldn’t they?” Why not indeed! Faith and politics mix for everyone else, why shouldn’t they for Christians too?
Footnotes
For further reading on the subject check out another article written by Adrian.
Comments
By Mat on 29/09/2011 at 12:11
While I believe that faith and politics definitely mix (faith gives a worldview which either advances ideology or clashes with ideology) I understand Sachs and Pope John Paul’s reluctance to encourage political participation. When I see the abuses that have been made of religion/faith/theology in the political sphere I can understand many Christians shying away from encouraging Christians to take part in it. Christians need to learn how to take part in the political sphere. Arguments such as ‘God said so…’ or ‘it’s in the bible and the bible is inherent’ can’t wash in a liberal democratic public sphere, just like ‘it says so in the Communist manifesto and therefore is truth’ doesn’t wash. We have to learn to taylor our arguments to an unbelieving world, and show them that what we say is in their best interests.
By Adrian Birks on 04/10/2011 at 15:39
Hi Mat,
Thanks for your comment! :)
I also understand many Christians’ reluctance to become politically involved but with you I think the answer is not to not get involved but to know how to get involved rightly.
As you say, there are many social benefits to doing what is right & we muddy the waters when we presume others must share our Christian motivation for action - good acts are good whoever they are done by & for whatever reason.
Also, I think Christians have sometimes been poor at choosing their ‘battlegrounds’ which can make us look rather silly. Is fighting for the right to wear a crucifix to work that important? Surely there are better things to stand for?
The bottom line is that political engagement requires wisdom! :)
By Rory on 07/10/2011 at 17:19
Thanks for this, Adrian.
You’ve summed up here what I’ve been thinking for quite some time, there are still problems though. Looking at Romans 13, are we not to support the government and see them (no matter what our political affiliation) as authoritative as “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Labour followers bang on about how the Conservative party have ruined the economy, whereas the glorious Tories (correctly) point out that it was Labour that bankrupted the country (due to over-conservative America). Lib Dems sheepishly agree with whatever they’re told to say.
Also, how are we to balance biblical views with politics? On foreign aid, care for the poor, sick, and elderly we should be extremely liberal & generous; yet on moral issues like abortion, adoption rights, gay rights and marriages - we should be very conservative.
Maybe we should just take Grudem’s book “Politics” and try to apply it as consistently as possible, plastic bags and all…
By Rory on 07/10/2011 at 17:20
Maybe I can BUY COFFEE so we can actually discuss this face to face!