Issues: Politics and Social Responsibility

Viewpoint 2: Christians Should Be Involved in Politics

Most Christians believe that they should take an active part in politics.

They say that Christianity is a whole way of life. It is impossible to separate your faith from the rest of life. These Christians believe that they should vote for the political party they believe upholds Christian principles the most.

In history, many Christians have spoken out against injustice and have been instrumental in changing the laws of the land. Lord Shaftesbury for example, a Member of Parliament in the 19th century, was driven by his Christian principles to campaign against the awful conditions in factories and the lack of education provided for poor children. He caused Acts of Parliament to be passed which provided free education for children and changed the conditions in factories for the better.

Desmond Tutu is a black bishop in South Africa . During apartheid, when black, white and coloured people in South Africa had to attend different schools, using different buses, live in different areas, Tutu openly criticized the South African Government because he believed that apartheid was not Christian and not just.

He said 'We are Christian not only in Church on a Sunday. Our Christianity is not something we put on like our Sunday best, only for Sundays. We are Christians Monday to Monday. We have no off days ... It is not either worship or trying to do all the good works in our community. It is both.'

Supporting References

Most Christians want to be involved in politics because there are many refences in the Bible to getting involved in the world.

In the The Bible, James chapter 2 verses 14-17, it says that religious faith must be shown by action. Christians are told to do something about poverty. Politics is one way Christians can change people's situation. It seems sensible for Christians to get involved in politics in order to make our society fairer.

The Churches have often said that Christians should help the poor, work for peace and work to ensure that there is a fairer sharing of the world's resources. To do these things means getting involved in politics.

In the New Testament, in Matthew chapter 6 verse 24, Jesus said ' No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money .'

Christians believe this verse shows that you cannot serve both God and money. Christians believe they have to serve God because He is the most important thing in a Christian's life , so their faith must control politics. They believe you cannot separate God and politics, or else politics - not God - could end up controlling you. If you do not get involved in politics, these Christians believe that society could become very anti-Christian or un-Christian. These Christians want to influence society for the benefit of all. Not just Christians benefit if society is fairer.

Jesus summarized all the commandments in the Bible with the Two Greatest Commandments 'Love God and love your neighbour as yourself.' Many Christians believe they have to get involved in politics to ensure that other people get fairly treated. They want to show God's love to others. They do this by voting for the party they believe is most likely to show God's love to people or by standing in elections and becoming part of the Government.