THE CHURCH AND POLITICS
Scripture & Culture — Study 7
Did Jesus Establish His Church to Change Governments—or to Change Hearts?
TEXT B4 TRADITION — Read First. Conclude Later.
1. Should the Church Be Involved in Politics?
Christians disagree about the relationship between the church and government.
Some believe churches should actively support political candidates, promote legislation, and organize campaigns to defend biblical values.
Others believe the church should stay entirely out of politics and concentrate on preaching the gospel.
Still others believe the church must speak about public injustice but should never become an instrument of a political party.
Who is right?
Before answering, we need to distinguish two questions:
What responsibilities has Christ given His church?
What responsibilities may individual Christians have as citizens?
Those questions are related, but they are not identical.
An individual Christian may be a farmer, business owner, soldier, judge, elected official, or voter.
Does that mean the church itself has been authorized to operate a farm, business, military organization, court, or political campaign?
Not necessarily.
The activities of Christians do not automatically become the responsibilities of the church.
But we must also avoid assuming that Christians should remain silent whenever government actions raise moral questions.
Let us begin with Jesus.
2. What Kind of Kingdom Did Jesus Establish?
Read John 18:33–37.
Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.
Pilate asked whether Jesus was the king of the Jews.
Jesus explained that His kingdom was not of this world.
He added that if His kingdom were of this world, His servants would fight to prevent His arrest.
Jesus did not deny being a king.
He explained that His kingdom had a different source and character from earthly kingdoms.
His authority did not come from Rome, elections, armies, or political agreements.
It came from God.
Notice something important.
Jesus did not say that His kingdom had nothing to do with people living in this world.
His kingdom certainly affects how people live.
But He rejected the use of armed resistance to establish or preserve His kingship.
Christ's kingdom is real, but it does not depend upon the political methods by which earthly kingdoms gain and maintain power.
Does this mean Christians can never participate in government?
The passage does not say that.
It tells us what kind of kingdom Jesus established.
We must examine other passages before deciding what individual Christians may do in civil government.
3. Did Jesus Attempt to Take Political Power?
Read John 6:14–15.
After Jesus fed the multitude, the people wanted to make Him king.
Jesus withdrew.
Why?
The people were impressed by His power and wanted a leader who could meet their earthly needs.
But Jesus refused to let the crowd determine His mission.
Later, He entered Jerusalem as the promised king (Matthew 21:1–11).
Yet He did not organize an army to overthrow Rome.
He taught, healed, confronted religious hypocrisy, and went to the cross.
His victory came through His death and resurrection, not through the capture of an earthly government.
Jesus did not need control of Rome in order to establish His kingdom.
That raises a question worth considering:
If Jesus refused an opportunity to become the kind of political ruler people wanted, should His church seek the kind of earthly power He declined?
That is a reasonable question, though John 6 alone does not settle every issue of Christian political involvement.
4. What Belongs to Caesar—and What Belongs to God?
Read Matthew 22:15–22.
Jesus' opponents asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.
It was a trap.
If Jesus opposed the tax, He could be accused of rebellion.
If He supported it, He risked alienating people who resented Roman rule.
Jesus asked to see a coin.
He pointed to Caesar's image and inscription.
Then He instructed them to give Caesar what belonged to Caesar and God what belonged to God.
What was His point?
Jesus recognized that civil government could make legitimate demands.
But He also recognized a higher obligation to God.
Caesar was not entitled to everything.
The coin bore Caesar's image.
Human beings bear God's image (Genesis 1:26–27).
That comparison is a useful reflection, although Matthew does not explicitly make the second point.
Government has a legitimate place, but it does not possess unlimited authority over human beings.
Jesus did not teach that paying taxes meant approving every action of the Roman government.
Nor did He teach that serving God required rejecting every civil obligation.
5. What Did Paul Teach About Government?
Read Romans 13:1–7.
Paul instructed Christians to be subject to governing authorities.
He explained that authority exists under God's sovereign rule and described government as responsible for restraining wrongdoing and supporting what is good.
He also instructed Christians to pay taxes and show appropriate respect.
These instructions are striking because Paul wrote while Christians lived under Roman rule.
Rome was not a Christian government.
Its rulers were not chosen according to biblical qualifications for church leadership.
Yet Paul still recognized a legitimate function for civil authority.
Does this mean every government action is approved by God?
No.
The fact that government has a God-permitted function does not mean every ruler or policy is righteous.
Scripture repeatedly condemns rulers who abuse their authority.
The prophets rebuked injustice.
John the Baptist condemned Herod's unlawful marriage (Mark 6:17–18).
And the book of Revelation portrays political power becoming an enemy of God's people.
Romans 13 cannot reasonably mean that Christians must obey government even when it commands disobedience to God.
Other passages make that limitation clear.
Christians should respect legitimate civil authority without treating government as the highest authority.
6. When Must Christians Disobey Government?
Read Acts 4:18–20 and Acts 5:27–29.
The authorities commanded Peter and John to stop teaching in Jesus' name.
The apostles refused.
Peter explained that they must obey God rather than human beings.
Notice the reason.
They were not resisting government because they disliked a tax, an official, or a political policy.
They were being ordered to stop carrying out a responsibility Christ had given them.
When human authority directly conflicted with God's command, obedience to God came first.
Daniel provides an earlier example.
When a royal decree prohibited prayer to anyone except the king, Daniel continued praying to God (Daniel 6).
Does every political disagreement justify civil disobedience?
No.
Disliking a law is not the same as being commanded to disobey God.
Christians should carefully distinguish between a policy they consider unwise and a command that actually requires them to violate God's will.
The apostles did not teach rebellion against every imperfect government. They taught obedience to God when human authority demanded otherwise.
7. Did the Apostles Try to Reform the Roman Government?
The apostles lived under a government that tolerated slavery, practiced emperor worship, collected burdensome taxes, and sometimes persecuted Christians.
Yet the New Testament does not describe the apostles organizing a political party or campaigning to replace the emperor.
Their recorded mission centered on proclaiming Christ, establishing congregations, teaching disciples, and caring for people in need.
Consider Paul's activities in Acts.
He preached in synagogues, marketplaces, homes, and public meeting places.
He reasoned with Jews and Gentiles.
He defended the gospel before governors and kings.
But he did not seek political office or organize a movement to take control of Rome.
Does that prove political involvement is always wrong?
No.
An absence of recorded political campaigns does not, by itself, establish a universal prohibition.
The apostles were carrying out a particular commission in a particular historical setting.
And the Roman Empire did not provide ordinary citizens with the same political opportunities found in modern democracies.
Nevertheless, the New Testament's emphasis is significant.
The apostles devoted themselves to spreading the gospel rather than gaining control of the government.
That should strongly influence how we understand the church's mission.
8. What Mission Did Jesus Give His Church?
Read Matthew 28:18–20.
After His resurrection, Jesus declared that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him.
He then commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey His commands.
Notice what Jesus did not say.
He did not instruct them to conquer nations.
He did not command them to establish a Christian political party.
He did not tell them to gain control of legislatures before preaching the gospel.
He commanded them to make disciples.
The church's mission is to bring people under the authority of Christ through the gospel and the teaching of His word.
That mission certainly changes how Christians live.
It may influence their families, businesses, communities, and governments.
But influencing society through transformed lives is not identical to operating a political organization.
We should not confuse the possible effects of the gospel with the mission Jesus actually assigned.
9. Can a Christian Hold Political Office?
The New Testament does not contain a general command forbidding Christians from serving in civil government.
The Bible includes faithful people who exercised government authority.
Joseph served under Pharaoh in Egypt.
Daniel served under foreign kings.
Nehemiah held an important position in the Persian court and later governed Judah.
These were Old Testament examples, so they do not automatically establish every detail of Christian conduct.
But they show that serving within a government is not inherently presented as sinful.
In the New Testament, Luke mentions believers associated with Caesar's household (Philippians 4:22).
We are not told precisely what positions they held.
Romans 16:23 refers to Erastus as a city official or treasurer, depending on the translation and understanding of his title.
Again, we should not claim more than the evidence establishes.
What about voting?
The New Testament does not directly discuss voting in modern representative democracies.
Therefore, a claim that every Christian must vote—or that every Christian must refuse to vote—requires reasoning beyond an explicit New Testament command.
Christians who participate in elections should do so according to conscience, truthfulness, and their responsibility to God.
Those who choose not to participate should not automatically be accused of disobedience.
The New Testament gives no general prohibition against Christians holding public office or participating in lawful civic life.
But serving in government must never become an excuse for violating Christ's commands.
10. Is There a Difference Between a Christian and the Church?
This distinction is central to our study.
Consider an ordinary example.
A Christian may own a restaurant.
Does that mean the congregation has been authorized to operate a restaurant?
A Christian may serve as a police officer.
Does that mean the church has been commissioned to enforce criminal law?
A Christian may be elected to a city council.
Does that make city government an activity of the church?
No.
The fact that Christians may engage in an activity does not automatically establish that the church has been assigned that activity.
The church is a people belonging to Christ, not merely an institution or a building.
Yet the New Testament also describes congregations acting together in worship, teaching, fellowship, and organized care for those in need.
Those shared responsibilities deserve careful attention.
What about political campaigns?
A Christian may decide to support a candidate.
But should a congregation use its worship assemblies, contributions, and teaching program to promote that candidate?
That is a different question.
The New Testament does not give a direct command about modern campaign endorsements.
However, the mission assigned to the church provides a standard for evaluating whether political campaigning belongs among its responsibilities.
We must not assume that everything an individual Christian may do is therefore an activity Christ has assigned to His church.
At the same time, we should not pretend that every collective action by Christians is automatically a formal action of a congregation.
The circumstances matter.
11. Should Preachers Endorse Political Candidates?
The New Testament gives preachers and teachers serious responsibilities.
Read 2 Timothy 4:1–5.
Paul instructed Timothy to preach the word, correct error, encourage believers, and remain faithful in his ministry.
That assignment was not to promote a political party.
A preacher may certainly teach biblical principles concerning justice, honesty, sexual morality, treatment of the poor, or the responsibilities of rulers.
Those subjects appear in Scripture.
But endorsing a particular candidate is something different.
Candidates usually represent a mixture of policies, promises, personal qualities, and political judgments.
A biblical principle may be clear while its application to a particular election remains debatable.
For example, Scripture commands honesty.
But deciding which candidate is more honest may require evaluating disputed evidence that Scripture itself does not address.
What happens when a preacher presents his political judgment as God's command?
He risks giving divine authority to a conclusion that Scripture does not directly establish.
He may also divide Christians who agree about biblical principles but disagree about political strategies.
A preacher should never turn a personal political judgment into a supposed command of God.
That does not require silence about sin or injustice.
It requires care in distinguishing God's word from the preacher's own conclusions.
12. Should the Church Speak Against Public Sin and Injustice?
Some Christians argue that the church should avoid every subject that might be considered political.
But can we defend that position from Scripture?
The prophets condemned injustice, oppression, dishonesty, and the abuse of power.
John the Baptist rebuked Herod.
Jesus condemned hypocrisy, exploitation, and the neglect of justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23).
Paul reasoned with Felix about righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment (Acts 24:24–25).
These examples show that God's truth may confront people who hold political authority.
The fact that a moral issue has become politically controversial does not make it inappropriate for biblical teaching.
But there is an important difference.
Teaching that bribery is wrong is not the same as endorsing a candidate who promises to fight corruption.
Teaching that human life has value is not the same as declaring that one political party possesses God's approval.
Teaching Christians to care for the poor is not the same as claiming that Scripture requires one particular government budget.
The church must not stop teaching biblical truth merely because politicians disagree about it.
But it must also avoid presenting political strategies as though they were revealed commands.
13. Can Christians Disagree Politically and Still Be United in Christ?
Read Romans 14:1–13.
Paul instructed Christians not to condemn one another over matters in which faithful believers could reach different conclusions.
The specific examples concerned food and special days.
Romans 14 does not mean every moral question is simply a matter of personal opinion.
But it does teach humility in matters where God has not given an explicit requirement.
Christians may agree that government should act justly while disagreeing about which policies best accomplish justice.
They may agree that the poor should be helped while disagreeing about the best combination of personal charity, congregational assistance, and government programs.
They may agree that human life is precious while disagreeing about particular laws and their consequences.
Not every political disagreement is a disagreement about the authority of Scripture.
What about political parties?
No modern political party can claim that its complete platform was written by Jesus or the apostles.
Every party's policies must be evaluated rather than accepted simply because of its name.
And Christians should be especially cautious when political loyalty makes them excuse conduct they would condemn in someone from another party.
Our loyalty to Christ must be greater than our loyalty to any political organization.
14. What Does Our Heavenly Citizenship Mean?
Read Philippians 3:17–21.
Paul reminded Christians that their citizenship is in heaven.
He was not denying that believers might possess earthly citizenship.
Paul himself was a Roman citizen and appealed to his legal rights when appropriate (Acts 16:37–39; 22:25–29; 25:10–12).
His point was that Christians belong ultimately to Christ and await Him as Savior.
Earthly governments rise and fall.
Political leaders come and go.
But the authority of Christ does not depend on election results.
Does heavenly citizenship mean earthly responsibilities do not matter?
No.
Paul's own use of Roman citizenship demonstrates that earthly citizenship could have practical significance.
But it could never replace his allegiance to Jesus.
A Christian may be a citizen of an earthly nation, but no earthly nation is the kingdom of Christ.
That distinction is essential.
15. What Happens When National Loyalty Replaces Loyalty to Christ?
Read Ephesians 2:11–22.
Paul explains that Christ has brought Jews and Gentiles together in one body.
Their former divisions did not disappear from history.
But those divisions no longer determined their standing before God or their membership in Christ's people.
The church was not established to preserve one nation's superiority over another.
Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations.
The church therefore includes people who live under different governments, speak different languages, and hold different political opinions.
Imagine Christians in two nations whose governments are enemies.
Both groups belong to the same Lord.
Neither government has authority to redefine the gospel.
The church must never become so identified with one nation that Christians elsewhere are treated as outsiders to Christ's kingdom.
Patriotism and loyalty to Christ are not necessarily identical.
They must be distinguished.
16. What Does Revelation Teach About Political Power?
Read Revelation 13:1–18.
John describes a beast receiving authority and demanding allegiance.
The imagery is symbolic, and Christians differ about its precise historical and prophetic applications.
But the central warning is clear.
Political power can become an instrument of evil when it demands the kind of loyalty and worship that belong to God.
The first-century churches lived under the Roman Empire, where emperor worship and pressure to conform could create serious conflicts for Christians.
Revelation encouraged believers to remain faithful to Christ even when earthly power opposed them.
What is the lesson for us?
Government is not always a protector of righteousness.
It may become a persecutor.
Therefore, Romans 13 and Revelation 13 must be read together.
Romans 13 recognizes the legitimate function of civil authority.
Revelation 13 warns that earthly authority can become corrupt and demand wrongful allegiance.
The Christian must never give government the place that belongs to God.
17. Should Churches Seek Government Power to Enforce Christian Morality?
This question deserves careful thought.
God's moral standards do not become unimportant merely because society rejects them.
But how did Jesus instruct His followers to spread His teaching?
Through preaching, teaching, repentance, baptism, and discipleship.
The New Testament does not describe the church using civil force to make people become Christians.
Faith cannot be produced by government decree.
A government may prohibit theft or violence.
Such laws may agree with biblical moral principles.
But obeying a civil law is not the same as becoming a disciple of Jesus.
Does this mean Christians may never support laws that reflect biblical morality?
No.
Many laws concern questions of justice and human welfare.
A Christian legislator or voter may support a law because it protects people from harm.
But that is not the same as claiming that Christ commissioned His church to gain political control.
The church's mission is to proclaim the gospel and teach obedience to Christ—not to make conversion a requirement of civil law.
18. What About Churches That Receive Government Benefits?
Congregations may face practical questions about property, taxes, legal recognition, public programs, and government assistance.
The New Testament does not directly discuss modern tax exemptions or nonprofit regulations.
Therefore, we should avoid claiming that a particular legal arrangement is commanded or forbidden by Scripture without further argument.
But one principle is clear.
A church must not surrender its obligation to obey Christ in exchange for government approval or financial advantage.
The apostles accepted the consequences of refusing orders that conflicted with their commission.
Likewise, a congregation should carefully consider whether any agreement with government would compromise its teaching or responsibilities.
Civil benefits may be useful, but they must never become more important than faithfulness to Christ.
19. What About Christians Who Believe Political Action Is Necessary to Protect Others?
We should take this argument seriously.
Some Christians believe political action is necessary to defend the vulnerable, protect religious freedom, oppose injustice, or prevent harm.
Their concern may arise from sincere biblical convictions.
Scripture repeatedly commands justice, mercy, and concern for those who suffer.
Other Christians fear that political involvement may distract the church from the gospel, divide believers, or turn Christianity into a movement for earthly power.
That concern also deserves consideration.
These two concerns are not necessarily opposites.
An individual Christian may participate in civic life because of a sincere desire to protect others.
At the same time, a congregation may determine that its collective mission should remain focused on the responsibilities assigned to it in the New Testament.
The central issue is not whether Christians should care about justice.
They should.
The issue is whether every worthy cause automatically becomes an authorized activity of the church.
A good objective does not, by itself, establish that every method of pursuing it belongs to the church's mission.
20. What Are the Strongest Arguments on Both Sides?
Before reaching a conclusion, let us state the main positions fairly.
Position One: Churches Should Be Politically Active
Those holding this view may argue:
God's truth applies to public life, not merely private conduct.
Scripture condemns injustice and the abuse of power.
Christians are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).
Churches can help defend the vulnerable and encourage moral responsibility.
Silence may allow serious injustice to continue.
These concerns deserve attention.
But they do not automatically establish that endorsing candidates, funding campaigns, or organizing political movements is part of the church's assigned mission.
That additional conclusion must be demonstrated.
Position Two: Churches Should Avoid Political Activity
Those holding this view may argue:
Jesus established a spiritual kingdom rather than an earthly political state.
His commission centered on making disciples.
The apostles preached the gospel without organizing political campaigns.
Political alliances may divide believers and compromise the church's witness.
Individual Christians can participate in civic life without making political activity a congregational responsibility.
These arguments have substantial New Testament support.
However, they should not be used to silence biblical teaching about justice, morality, or the wrongdoing of rulers.
Where do the arguments differ?
The real disagreement is often not about whether Christians should care about public morality.
It concerns whether the church should act as a political organization in order to address it.
That distinction brings us to our conclusion.
21. What Can We Actually Conclude?
Let us separate what Scripture clearly teaches from what requires further inference.
What Scripture clearly teaches
Jesus is King. His authority comes from God, not earthly government (John 18:36–37; Matthew 28:18).
The church has been commissioned to make disciples. Its mission includes proclaiming the gospel, baptizing believers, and teaching obedience to Christ (Matthew 28:19–20).
Civil government has legitimate responsibilities. Christians should respect lawful authority and fulfill appropriate civil obligations (Romans 13:1–7).
God's authority is higher than government's. Christians must obey God when human authorities command what conflicts with His will (Acts 5:29).
Christians may use legitimate civic rights. Paul himself appealed to his Roman citizenship (Acts 22:25–29; 25:10–12).
The church must teach moral truth. Scripture's teaching about justice, honesty, mercy, and righteousness does not become irrelevant because those subjects are politically controversial.
Christians belong to a kingdom greater than any nation. Their ultimate allegiance is to Christ (Philippians 3:20).
What Scripture does not directly address
The New Testament does not explicitly discuss modern political parties, election endorsements, campaign contributions, voting procedures, or tax-exempt religious organizations.
Conclusions about these practices must therefore be drawn from broader biblical principles.
We should not pretend that a modern political question is answered by a verse that does not directly discuss it.
Which conclusion best fits the New Testament?
The strongest New Testament evidence supports keeping the church's collective mission centered on the gospel and the responsibilities Christ gave His people, rather than turning the congregation into an instrument of political campaigning.
That conclusion rests on the mission Jesus assigned and the example of the apostles.
It does not mean individual Christians are forbidden to vote, hold office, support legislation, or speak about public affairs.
Nor does it mean the church must remain silent about sins that happen to involve governments.
It means we should distinguish biblical teaching from political campaigning, and the church's assigned responsibilities from the lawful activities of individual Christians.
22. A Simple Answer
Should the church be involved in politics?
Christians live in the world and have responsibilities toward their neighbors and governing authorities.
Individual Christians may participate in civic life while remaining faithful to Christ.
The church, however, was established to proclaim the gospel, make disciples, worship God, teach His word, and carry out the responsibilities Christ assigned to His people.
Its mission is not to become a political party or gain control of earthly government.
That does not require silence about injustice or immorality.
It requires that the church speak from Scripture rather than from party loyalty.
The church must never confuse the kingdom of Christ with the political fortunes of any nation or party.
23. Questions Worth Asking Before You Decide
What did Jesus mean when He said His kingdom was not of this world?
Why did Jesus refuse when the crowd wanted to make Him king?
What responsibilities did Jesus assign to His disciples?
Did the apostles organize political campaigns, or concentrate on proclaiming the gospel?
Does Romans 13 require obedience to every government command?
What can we learn from the apostles' refusal to stop preaching?
Does the New Testament forbid Christians from holding public office?
Is there a difference between what a Christian may do individually and what a congregation is authorized to do?
Can a preacher teach biblical morality without endorsing political candidates?
Are we treating our preferred political solutions as though they were commands from God?
Can Christians disagree politically while remaining united in Christ?
Has loyalty to a political party ever caused us to excuse conduct Scripture condemns?
The Final Principle
Jesus did not ask His disciples to build a political empire.
He told them to make disciples of all nations.
Governments may change laws.
Political leaders may change policies.
But the gospel calls people to change their allegiance, their conduct, and their relationship with God.
The church must never lose sight of the mission Christ actually gave it.
Before claiming that the church must support or oppose a political movement, ask:
Where does Scripture assign that responsibility to the church?
If the answer comes from Scripture, demonstrate it.
If the answer comes from our own political judgment, acknowledge that distinction.
TEXT B4 TRADITION
Read First. Conclude Later.
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