Should a True Christian Seek Public Office?

I posted a few scrambled remarks on this blog a few days back. The post was titled The Church's Dalliance with the World of Politics (March 17, 2008). It did not cover all the issues I wanted to cover. For example, it is possible that I did not sound a clear and certain trumpet blast on the matter of an individual saint running for an elective office. (It is not actually what my opinion is, but what I glean from the Word of God.) So I want to lightly touch on that in the present post.

The Intricacies Involved in Seeking and Holding Public Office

Although I believe (with some trepidation) that you, as a saved individual, have the scriptural right to seek and campaign for public office, there are a few things I want you to consider.

I frankly wanted to find a scripture that would prohibit a believer’s holding a public governmental office of any type. And, just as frankly, I found none. I did see where Paul told his Corinthian parishioners to avoid associating with sinners. But he amended that by this:

“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber--not even to eat with such a one.” (1Co 5:9-11 RSV)

Paul is telling the Corinthian saints they are allowed to associate with sinners; they were not, however, to mingle freely with hypocrites, those who professed to be saints but failed to live up to what they professed.

Further in the same epistle Paul makes this comment:

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 1Co 10:27.

This shows that Paul did not forbid social interaction with the world. Yet, as we know from all of his epistles, he required them to remember always they were the people of God and to conduct themselves accordingly.

Some Elective Offices Make More Demands of the Christian

In general, the higher the office is that you seek, the more trouble you will have in fitting your Christian moral values into the demands of attaining and filling the office. There will be decisions you have to make that could compromise your conscience. Of course if you trample your conscience underfoot, much or little, you will do harm, much or little, to your relationship with the Christ who enlightened your conscience in the first place. It is true that hard decisions have to be made in all types of positions, but for the true believer they are more numerous in the political arena.

In politics you cannot always deliver what you fully intended to deliver, but you should never promise something you know you cannot or will not do.

Don’t deliberately use doublespeak (sometimes known as speaking out of both sides of the mouth at the same time). It will be difficult at times to be candid and transparent in your speeches and interviews. Many people will pressure you to do what is expedient because that is the way your opponent is conducting his or her campaign. This is where Christian integrity has to come to the fore. There is no office, no reward, no prize so valuable that it is worth your salvation.

Be careful about putting a corrective “spin” on something you have hastily spoken. If you spoke wrongly, admit it and move on from there. In trying to rectify a misspoken statement, avoid looking like a “politician.” Be sincere and transparent.

The Christian who is seeking public office will encounter many snares and pitfalls in his or her attempts to woo the voters and he has to remember at all times that he is first and foremost a Christian, which is like saying he is a prey for every predator that comes his way, and that might include his opponent. The Christian can earnestly contend for the office he wants, but he cannot fight back against his enemies, he cannot retaliate. This surely makes him or her a sitting duck.

The Christian office-seeker should realize that he (she) is not like the average person whether it is in the political realm or wherever. He should never want the office more than he wants to please his Lord, and if God does not want him to be president, governor, mayor – or dogcatcher – then the aspirant should let go of his dreams for that particular post at that particular time. It is possible that God will allow him to seek public office again at a future date; but if He does not, the Christian office-seeker knows what He should do – the only thing he can do: say a fervent amen to the will of God and cut his dream loose.

A Word of Caution

The more I examine the matter of a Christian seeking public office, the more difficult it appears for the hard-core, born again believer to expect to win an election and then fill the demands of the office while all the while maintaining his integrity. You will note that I am not saying it is impossible; merely improbable.

The political arena is full of landmines, those explosive devices that can maim or kill their victims. Of greater concern is this: the arena contains the most beautiful and harmless looking plants and flowers that, despite their attractiveness can exude a poisonous vapor that can kill just as effectively as a landmine. Often propositions will be brought to the candidate/office holder that seem to be just the right answer to a nagging problem. But you should never agree to any proposition without seeking the Lord’s will in the matter. This of itself will make you different from the majority of people in public life! Many of them talk a good talk, but they do not walk the walk of a born-again believer, which is the only “believer” God recognizes.

I would seriously advise anyone seeking public office to pray fervently about it before committing him/herself to the task. You may be setting yourself up for a very unpleasant fall from your wishful thinking down to hard reality.

Comments

[Jackson]

Dear Learned Bro. Smith (aka Dad),
I might paraphrase one of your many thoughtful points by saying that the first responsibility of those saved in Christ is to remain saved. As you say it may not be inherently evil to gamble, but if you know yourself to have a weakness in this area then you should stay away from casinos.

However if you are not so tempted and are other ways firm in your walk with Christ then you might even work for a casino in good conscience. (I know I'm stretching the analogy a bit)Point being that even in the moral morass that politics often is there are those who might be spiritually equipped to walk in that minefield. Or I could go as far to say it's possible there are those that God has equipped for this purpose.

I realize you were not directing your commentary towards those truly special cases--as God can set aside and endow anyone as He wills. But are there regular mortals armed merely with a strong spiritual compass who are needed to serve in government?

And to some extent aren't we all somewhat responsible (complicit, even?) for the government that acts in our names, and many times to our personal self interest vis a vis other citizens or vs. peoples of other nations? I'm suggesting that even if we regard ourselves as apart from politics/politicians we still have real accountability for their actions.