Bible study and Politics??

 Jon had accepted a job offer in another state which presented him with the opportunity for advancement and a better income. He was torn between staying where he was and taking advantage of the terrific offer before him. He was an elder in his home church and had been deeply involved in the church’s Bible teaching ministries and other activities. He was content with his job and then the offer came from a man he had went to college with. He told Jon he was familiar with his work and really wanted him to come and work with him. Jon prayed hard about this move and spent time praying with his wife and discussing it with her. Jon had two children in middle school, and this would be a big move for them. Finally, Jon believed it was the Lord’s will for him to take advantage of this opportunity and make the move. He trusted this was the right move for his family’s future. He knew it would be a big adjustment for them but in the long run, it would be a big advantage.

He had video calls with his old friend and as they talked, Jon discovered that his old friend and new boss, Jim, was a Christian. This seemed to confirm that the Lord was definitely in this move. And so, off they went. It was a bit of an inconvenient move as most are, but they managed. Jim had set Jon up with a real estate agent and Jon and his wife had found and purchased a home prior to the move. This actually made the move that much easier. It took a couple of weeks of settling in and getting the children enrolled in school. Jon’s wife asked him, “What about a church? We have been here over two weeks and haven’t thought of or even discussed church.” Jon told her, “You know you are right. Jim mentioned something about the church he attends but at the time I didn’t give it much thought. We were still trying to get settled and I simply forgot. But now we should be looking and finding a church we can attend. A good Bible teaching church.”

Monday morning Jon talked to Jim about the church he attended, and Jim told him it was a good church with a good pastor. It was a little bigger than the church Jon and his family had attended back home. He trusted Jim’s information, so he took his family there the following Sunday. It was a nondenominational church and that is the kind of church they had attended back home. The pastor was a good Bible teacher, and the music was the contemporary style and the service in all was similar to their home church. They seemed to be very satisfied with it and decided they would make this their new home church.

On Monday morning, Jim asked Jon what he thought of the church and Jim told him his family really enjoyed it and they would be back. Then, Jim invited Jon to the Men’s Bible study on Saturday mornings. It would start at 8 AM and the assistant pastor was the teacher. So, the following Saturday morning, Jon showed up for the Bible study where there were about thirty guys standing around some tables and talking about various topics, but none seemed to be about the Bible, the Lord or anything church related. The topic he heard the most was politics. It was a big election year and that seemed to be of most interest to these guys.

 Finally, the assistant pastor got them all seated around the tables. He opened in prayer and within his pray, he seemed to spend a great deal of time asking God for special favor for specific political candidates and ballot measures. Jon was becoming uncomfortable with this but decided he would not judge the man on his prayer since it was the first time he had heard anything from him.

But he still was uneasy with the political rant within the prayer. They were in the book of Romans in chapter 13. The pastor read through the first five verses and then stopped and began to explain what Paul was actually saying. ‘What Paul was actually saying’ stood out to Jon like no turkey at a Thanksgiving Day meal. He thought, “What does he mean what Paul is actually saying?” That was the first red flag. But when this pastor said they needed to vote for a certain candidate to ensure that God’s will would place the right man, their candidate, into office, Jon knew he was at the wrong Bible study. This man actually believed that voting for their chosen candidate was God’s way of using them to make sure His person of authority was in office. Or, in other words, they had to vote for their chosen candidate so God would have the right person in office. So, it was up to them to make sure God got it right.

Jon couldn’t believe what he was hearing. A discussion on this began and it was close to being a heated discussion at times. This pastor had totally twisted God’s word into saying He needed people to accomplish His will. Jon wanted to get up and leave but thought better of it and decided to stay and hear how much crazier this Bible study turned political convention would get. So, Jon sat quietly and listened and at one point almost laughed out loud at the ridiculous rhetoric being spread. Jim looked over at him and seemed embarrassed by all of this.

Then, the pastor looked at Jon and asked, “Jon, right, your name is Jon? You haven’t said anything. Do you have any input?” Jon was quiet for a few seconds while he asked God for guidance in what he was about to say and then spoke. “First, I have never been to this Bible study before. I am new in this community and my family and I were looking for a church to attend and I thought we had found one here. I also thought I was coming to a Bible study this morning, but it appears I was wrong. In the church I attended back home, I was an elder and we had a standing policy there. There would be no political discussion taking place in a church service or Bible study. That time was for God’s people to hear from Him and His word, not the world and its issues. We weren’t against one-on-one political discussions but not like this. Not what I’m hearing this morning. These are my convictions and I’m not here to attempt to criticize or judge anyone. I was invited to attend so I came. But now, I’m going to politely get up and leave.” “Just wait a minute!” This came from a man across the tables from Jon. Jon was getting up but stopped and asked, “Yes? What do you want?”

The man was older, maybe in his 60s and he said, “Who do you think you are coming in here and saying that? We are Christians just like you. Why do you think you’re better or smarter than us?” Jon sighed and replied, “I don’t consider myself a better or smarter person than anyone in this room. I simply don’t believe in discussing politics on God’s time. I feel the same way about sports or any other worldly topic being discussed on God’s time when we should be hearing His word being discussed. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to go.”  

This is a fictional account of what happens in churches all across this nation. And it doesn’t just happen in a Bible study, it happens on Sunday mornings in the pulpit. Political candidates are invited to come in and speak on Sunday mornings from the pulpit and these people are not talking about Jesus. They are talking politics from the pulpit. Do any of the leaders and pastors in these churches ever stop and consider what God thinks about this? If those in attendance are Christians, why do they want to come to church on Sunday morning and listen to this rhetoric?

Well, Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

While Paul is telling Timothy that these people will be chasing after false teachings, religions and myths, this is what politics and issues have become in our time and culture. Climate change has become a religion as well as a political issue. The same is true with abortion and other political issues. So, why would people want to go to church on Sunday and listen to someone talk about climate change? Because it is what their itching ears want to hear.

Our God doesn’t want us putting anything in His place. He doesn’t want us giving our allegiance to anyone else but Him. He doesn’t want us having any idols in our lives is want I’m saying. He is a jealous God.

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods     Ex, 20:4-5a

Some might say they are not worshipping false or other Gods when they discuss politics and that can be true for many Christians. But when they place a politician or candidate on a pedestal and march around and protest and scream and shout at others in support of the person, it has become an idol. I only have one question for them, “Would you do this for Jesus in a public gathering?” Jesus never protested against any government. He never protested against the Roman rulers. The closest He came to any political discussion was in MT 22:15-22 when He answered a question concerning if it was right to pay taxes to Ceasar or not. His answer was simple.

 ….he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

He didn’t begin a debate over why they should or shouldn’t pay taxes to the Romans. Jesus didn’t come to debate or discuss the politics of that time or the abuse of the Roman rule. He came to tell as many as he could about the kingdom of heaven and why He was there. So, think about this; the Christian who spends hours watching cable news or listening to political talk radio or engaging in political discussions, do they spend an equal amount of time in God’s word or telling others about Jesus?

My main point in this post is there is no problem with Christians being aware of current news events or what’s happening in the realm of politics, but it has its place in our Christian lives in the same way sports and other worldly activities do. But they are never to supersede our time with God or take His place at any time. It’s just my opinion but politics should never be heard in a Bible study or church service.

That’s a time for God’s word to be heard and bringing in a guest speaker on a Sunday morning to step into the pulpit and talk about anything but God’s word is wrong. That person who comes in and talks about political policies or a political agenda is cheating those in attendance out of the opportunity to hear God’s word. And no one ever was saved listening to a political lecture, that I’m aware of. When you just stop and think about it, what is gained by a political discussion in a Bible study? Is there any spiritual growth as a result? Does it bring you any closer to the Lord in your relationship with Him? Have you gained any spiritual insight at all? The answer to all these questions is no. When we meet together and study and discuss God’s word, we grow closer to Jesus. We mature in our walk with Jesus. Anything else which might be discussed is simply wasted time and adds no value to our Christian lives.

Churches, on Sunday mornings, are setting up voter registration tables along the way from the parking lot to the building. They have political ministries established within the church and a spokesperson who will travel around the country giving lectures to churches telling them how they too can start these political ministries in their churches. And it is all to ensure they get their candidate elected. It seems to me they have lost sight of the sovereignty of God. He is the one, the only one, who has the power and ability to place a person in the position of authority. (Rom 13) Wouldn't this time be better spent telling people about Jesus instead of how to start a political ministry?

Politics has created the largest divide this nation has known since the Civil War. And for Christians to jump onto this worldly bandwagon on either side, is a waste of time in their walk with the Lord. His concern for it is far less than His concern for your spiritual wellbeing and your walk with Him. Remember, He is a jealous God and wants you to worship only Him. When I saw all those flags and banners with the name of Jesus on them before the mob stormed the capitol, I just cringed. Jesus would never bless that activity and He really didn’t want His name associated with it.

As a Christian, having a political discussion with a family member, friend or neighbor is not a bad thing (unless, of course, it turns ugly). But when it becomes a major part of the Christian’s life, it is a problem. There is more, much more, benefit in reading and studying God’s word than discussing politics or anything in the realm of politics. Just know and understand where the line to cross is located and then don’t cross it. Life will be so much happier and more blessed.

-Bill Petite