Issues: Politics and Social Responsibility |
Viewpoint 1: Christianity and Politics Should Be Kept Separate |
Some Christians believe that Christianity should only be concerned with the spiritual development of Christians. They say Christians shouldn't interfere with politics or society. |
Supporting ReferencesThey say this because in the New Testament (part of the Christian Bible), Jesus summarized the Christian faith as 'Love God, love your neighbour as yourself'. These Christians believe that their lives will be judged on whether they have loved God and other people, not on whether they have got involved in politics etc. A Christian, they might say, should be concerned with spiritual development and not society. |
| To back this argument up, these Christians use more passages from the New Testament. In Mark chapter 12 verses 13-17, Jesus' followers ask whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the Romans. The picture on the coin was a picture of Caesar the Roman Emperor. The Romans occupied Israel , the country Jesus lived in at the time. Jesus replied 'Pay to Caesar what is due to Caesar and to God what is due to God.' Christians who believe that Christians should not get involved in politics interpret this to mean that you should give to political leaders what you should give (e.g. taxes, obey the laws etc) but give to God your faith. These Christians suggest this means Jesus wanted us to keep religion and politics separate. |  |
Roman coin with the head of Caesar |
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Other Bible references:Romans chapter 13 verse 1 'Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God.' Titus chapter 3 verse 1 'Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.' |
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In these references, Paul, one of the first great Christian leaders, tells people to obey the political leaders because they have been placed in their position of responsibility by God. Therefore, the politicians have God's authority. God looks after the leaders, these Christians believe, the Christians should look after their own souls and leave the politicians to get on with their God-given job. Our society is not a purely Christian society, these Christians argue. We live in a multi-faith society with a significant number of non-religious people. Some Christians say that in order to avoid conflict, all religion should be kept out of politics. Christians cannot impose their faith on followers of other religions. In the New Testament, Jesus says 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you.' (Matthew chapter 7 verse 12)This is known as the Golden Rule. Christians would not wish to live under the government of another religion and so shouldn't impose their religion on others. |
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Christians Should Be Involved in Politics | |