My Answer: " Using Your Christian Citizenship"

Using Your Christian Citizenship

Don't you think that Christians should stay out of politics? Doesn't the Bible warn us "not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage?"

I certainly do not think that Christians should be disinterested in the affairs of our government. Christ said: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God, the things that are God's."

   Nothing would please the racketeers, gangsters, and the underworld more than for all church people to stay away from the polls and to be uninformed about the goings on in Washington.

   I would urge every Christian to vote and to show a keen interest in the politics of his community. I would even encourage him, if he felt so called, to take an active part in politics and to crusade for clean, honest, and upright handling of community affairs through good government.

   The cliche "Politics is dirty" is plainly untrue. I know men who are in government who have high principles, fine motives, and unquestioned integrity. They have dedicated themselves to a life of public service because they sincerely want to serve their fellow men. While it is true that politics seem to attract some men of questionable principle, that fact makes it all the more imperative that good people everywhere cast their vote for the best candidates.

Should a Christian participate in defense measures of war involving the use of weapons, considering that his purpose is to kill other children of God?

First of all, the purpose of war is not to kill other children of God. If they are killed through the ravages of war, it is because they are members of a warring society and incidentally Christians. If war has any good purpose, it is to settle the differences that men think cannot be settled by peaceful means. It is certainly not the Christian way of settling either individual or global problems.

   On the other hand, we must accept our responsibility as citizens. A man may protest against war and criticize his government for becoming involved in war, but as a citizen, accepting the privileges and benefits of any government, he must also accept certain responsibilities. If we are in entire disagreement with our government, we can always elect to take our citizenship elsewhere. John the Baptist said one time when soldiers inquired of him concerning their duty: "Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages." But he did not tell them that they must cease being soldiers.

   A Christian would find it hard to be a loyal citizen in a nation that promoted warfare. We can thank God that we are part of a nation that seeks to solve all problems by peaceful means.

Recently I heard a preacher, while referring to politics during a sermon, make the statement that corrupt conditions in politics is the reason he has never registered or voted. Don't you think that Christians should vote?

Personally, I don't think people who are not even interested enough in what is going on in our country to register or vote are qualified to speak authoritatively on government. I know a great number of fine, upstanding Christian statesmen. Perhaps there are some who are unethical and ulterior in their motives. That gives even more reason why every Christian should vote. The ballot is part of our great American heritage and freedom. It is our only means of keeping government clean and proper. I think that it is not only the right, but the duty of every American to use his franchise, prayerfully and thoughtfully.

   Russia is an example of a country which was indifferent to corrupt politics, and when the Communists took over, they destroyed the partisan system, and subsequently, the right of free franchise. Let us hope that the indifference of our people toward the importance of voting will not lead to a similar situation in the years to come.

In the last war my husband was killed by the Nazi troops. I have not been able to overcome my hatred for Germans since then and I resent the financial aid we give them. What is the answer to such a problem?

First you must recognize that there is a difference between troop actions in wartime and personal actions in peacetime. Back of German military operations was a machine that must be held responsible. There are some wonderful people among the Germans and we must not allow such feeling to jeopardize a possible friendship with a great nation. Second, there is the more personal problem of hatred that is directly related to a lack of spiritual adjustment. In our times we are constantly reminded of maladjusted people but we seldom hear of a maladjustment to God. This is what lies at the base of all hatred, jealousy, envy, deceit, and passion. I think you have both an intellectual and a spiritual problem. If you treat them both and settle each on its own merit, you will find that you will have a genuine respect and love for this people. They have given to the world some of its great leaders in religion, technology, and politics. Let us have a sympathetic understanding that will bring about co-operation. Let us also be certain of our proper relationship to God through an active faith in Christ.

I live in the suburb of a Northern city. A Negro family bought a house in our area. This has created a great deal of discussion, and tension. Having spent several winters on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I find there is as much racial prejudice in the North as there is in the South. What can we Christians do about it?

I think Christ was quite definite as to the position that every true Christian should take. He said: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." We must approach our racial problems with love, tolerance, and a spirit of give and take, no matter what the conditions. There is no excuse for any Christian to participate in acts of violence against a person because of race. The Scripture says in Proverbs 10:12: "Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins." Again the Scripture says in I John 2:9: "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now." A true Christian will have love, tenderness, compassion, and understanding when he approaches this problem that threatens to divide the country.

Do you think the church ought to concern itself with politics, or should it confine itself entirely to a spiritual ministry?

This is one of those questions to which the answer is: It all depends on what you mean by a word. Here, of course, the critical word is the word "politics."

   If we use the word to denote what is usually called party politics, then clearly the church ought not to interfere in such matters. It is not the business of the church to judge the merits of rival systems or programs of government — unless any such system or program flagrantly disregards God's commandments. Still less is it the church's business to identify itself with any one political party, as though that were the only "Christian" party.

   But the word politics has a much wider and worthier meaning than that which we have so far attached to it. It really has reference to the community life of a town or city — and with this, needless to say, Christianity is very deeply concerned.

   Christianity is a personal and also a social religion. Part of its "spiritual ministry" is to bring men into a right relationship with one another as well as with God. And the church is not preaching the whole Gospel unless it emphasizes social righteousness in addition to proclaiming personal salvation.

   The common life of humanity is part of the church's concern because it is part of God's concern; and in these days, especially, it is important that men should be reminded that all life — political, social, economic, and industrial — must be subject to the eternal laws of God.

Don't you think the Christian church should take a more aggressive and positive stand with respect to the great problems of our day, such as the outlawing of the atomic bomb experiments?

The church has a very specific assignment, and that assignment is to teach the Gospel to every creature. I do not believe that a clear-thinking Christian is in favor of the advancement of the use of weapons that can annihilate the human race. In fact, the Christian church is committed to the propagation of peace. However, we must be careful not to impose Christian ethics and principles on people who have never yielded to the Gospel message. Although they are bound to feel the impact of the conversion of multitudes of people, yet society itself can never be renovated and renewed until every individual comes under the influence of the Gospel of Christ. You can be sure that if this took place that no use would be made of these terrible weapons of destruction. As it is, we can only hope that wicked men will refrain from the use of such weapons and give us the blessing and privilege of a world that is at peace.

   As long as there are gangsters in a community there is need for a police force. Unfortunately, there are also international gangsters.

   The peace Christ promised was actually individual peace. He indicated that "international peace" would come only when He had set up His Kingdom.

Why don't you preachers talk more about social reforms? It seems to me that you are floating around on a cloud, when you ought to get down to earth and help solve the big problems of the day.

Jesus was one of the greatest social reformers, but He accomplished it by transforming the individual. He was not a revolutionist, He was the Redeemer; but by redeeming the individual personality, He brought about many social reforms. The abolition of slavery, the dignity of womanhood, our modern system of civil justice, and many other gains in human progress can be traced to Christian influence.

   When our thinking is wrong concerning God, our thinking becomes warped about our fellow men. We believe that the best way to improve the social order is to improve the nature of man through the redemption of Christ.

   Lyman Abbott was a famous preacher and advocate of social reform at the close of the last century. In his letter of resignation as pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church, Brooklyn, in 1899 he said: "I see that what I had once hoped might be done for my fellows through schemes of social reform and philanthropy can only be done by the influence of Jesus Christ. There is no dynamo in reform save the Cross of Jesus Christ."