Politics and the Christian

Basil Wolf, Jr.

That the place of a Christian is in the world but not of it is very evident from the prayer of the Lord in John 17, ere he went to Golgotha. The example which the Lord set His disciples was one of meekness, humility and obscurity as to the affairs of this world. He came not to judge the world but that the world through Him might be saved. To that end He was willing to suffer what in the eyes of the world was defeat but in reality was the triumph of the grace of God. The way of freedom and liberty is now open to all, even though in this life a man may have to be subject to an overbearing government. True liberty is freedom from sin, the world and Satan, and the blood of Jesus has opened that new and living way, the way of liberty.

It is an open contradiction for a man who knows the way of liberty to be engaged in the politics of this world for such an one must be conscious of the scene of death all around. It is patently impossible to make comfortable those who are in the grip of death and to try is folly. They need life! The remedy is the preaching of the cross, solely and simply. It is God's remedy. It was commenced by Jesus and carried on by His apostles who made no attempt to better the world, defeat the Romans, or introduce education. They simply preached Christ and Him crucified. Those thus brought into liberty were then exhorted to obey them that had authority.

When Christians aspire to positions of power in the world they become prey to the doctrine of Balaam (see the letter to Pergamos) and this soon degenerates into the terrible excesses of Jezebel, who usurps authority (see the letter to Thyatira). However, the letter to Sardis expostulates that there is death in the midst and the works are incomplete before God. It is evident then that if a world-loving church gives rise to Romish corruption, Protestantism is also sadly at fault in that it harbours death and its works are incomplete.

What is needful therefore is a complete reappraisal of the situation by all right-minded Christians whose faith is founded on the finished work of Calvary and not on creeds and dogmas. Surely we would not be so occupied in making the dead more comfortable in their death that the Lord would come upon them as a thief? No! No! We would rather be found with our lamps trimmed and our eyes watchful, awaiting the glorious advent of the Life-Giver. Rather would we be found "Holding forth the word of life," and "exhorting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more as ye (we) see the day approaching" (Phil. 2: 16; Heb. 10: ).