Some say conservative Christians should not be involved in politics because it distracts from the gospel. We will offend some with our stand on issues or our support of candidates. Because of that, some will be unwilling to listen to the gospel. I do not believe this is reflective of the nature of Scripture, and I consider it a dangerous idea which can hinder the propagation of the truth and the gospel so long as our positions and character are reflective of Scripture.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20).
No other country has seen as many missionaries take the gospel to other places in the world as the US. Worldwide missions require God to lead, and Christians who desire to obey God. But it also takes two temporal realities, which are the direct result of political and civil actions.
First, it requires religious liberty. Many countries have Christians who desire to send missionaries to the uttermost reaches of the world, but they do not have the freedom to do so. In the US, we have the freedom because of our founding documents, laws, political representatives who protect them, and physical safety in the marketplace. Without this, we could not be the greatest missionary sending country in the world. Religious liberty is a blessing of God that comes through the political process of elections, legislation, and appointments to the court system. If those who value religious liberty withdraw or fail to vote for candidates who will fight for religious liberty through their speech, influence, and legislation, religious freedom will vanish, and with it our present scale of missions.
Second, it requires extraordinary wealth. Many countries have Christians who want to advance the kingdom worldwide, but because of their countries economic systems such as welfare states, socialism, Marxism, and communism, people have little or no discretionary income to invest in sending missionaries around the globe with the gospel. Through high taxation, socialistic governments attempt to take care of their citizens rudimentary needs, but people are left with little if any discretionary income for anything, including the missionary enterprise.
We in America have the wealth to fund the greatest worldwide mission endeavor on earth because of our capitalistic economic system. Without which, even if we had the freedom to send missionaries, the financial wherewithal would be so meager that it would pale in comparison to what we have now. With all its flaws, capitalism potentiates the most discretionary wealth for the largest number of people of any economic system in the world, of which the US is the premiere, but not the only example. Rod Martin, CEO of Martin Organization, speaking on the topic of The Road to Serfdom, said, “American Christians give 5.5 times more to world missions all by themselves as the entire rest of the world combined.” [1]
If we lose either religious liberty or capitalism, the most significant worldwide missionary sending country in the world will be no more. These are both political issues that exist and are protected by laws, voting, supporting candidates who believe in and will fight for religious liberty and capitalism. Therefore, Christians withdrawal from politics, civil life, and focusing on candidates personalities more than the substance of their policies will cripple or end our level of worldwide missions. In this regard, Never Trumpers have equally, albeit unintentionally, undermined the spread of the gospel to the world. Political involvement with the goal of protecting these freedoms is essential to the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. This very hour the forces of the welfare society, socialism, social justice, and cultural Marxism seek to eradicate these two political essentials to evangelism and missions.
If we as Christians fail to bring the Christian mind and attitude into the darkness of politics, we abandon those who have fought to give us religious liberty and the wealth to spread the gospel, Christians who are in public office now, and present and future generations around the world who need the gospel.
For four additional reasons why Christians should be involved in politics see my article Why Conservative Christians Should Be Involved in Politics”.
[1] https://sovereignnations.com/category/video/, accessed 11/27/20.
