Presbytery Peacemaker

Peacemaking:
Religion & Politics

Quotes relating to Religion & Politics

In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united and that they reigned in common over the same country. Religion in America…must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it…

I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion—for who can search the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society…

I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors… in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless constitution.

Not until I went into churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.

America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.—Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835)

The problem is not that Christians are conservative or liberal, but that some are so confident that their position is God’s position that they become dismissive and intolerant toward others and divisive forces in our national life.—John Danforth, ordained Episcopal priest, former Senator (R-MO) and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.—First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, adopted 1791

In some states, Episcopalians constituted the predominant sect; in others, Congregationalists; in others Quakers; and in others again, there was a close numerical rivalry among contending sects. It was impossible that there should not arise perpetual strife and perpetual jealousy on the subject of ecclesiastical ascendancy, if the national government were left free to create a religious establishment.—Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Story describing America before the Constitution in Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1883

Whenever we engage in political processes, we are confronted with the reality that politics is an art of compromise, and for many Christians compromise is unthinkable. Compromise is essential in politics, and those who refuse to compromise their way toward what they believe to be biblically prescribed goals seldom accomplish very much. It can be argued that compromise is not wrong if ultimate goals are not forsaken and forgotten. A case can be made that temporary compromises may be the most effective means to creating a good society.—Tony Campolo, author and professor emeritus at Eastern University

The question is not whether people of faith should engage in politics, but how we go about doing so. Beyond the obvious choices of whether we are liberals or conservatives, Republicans or Democrats, is a more basic decision, one that is more consequential to our common life than how we might align ourselves on the issues of the day. It is whether, in the practice of our religion, we are a divisive or reconciling force in our country. Religion is now a divisive force in American politics, but that is not to say that it should be so. As we relate our religious faith to our politics, we can choose whether we are reconcilers or dividers.—John Danforth, ordained Episcopal priest, former Senator (R-MO) and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

All American Christians agree that in some way the Scriptures represent God’s unique revelation to us, and therefore the Scriptures should shape our political engagement in significant ways. We also agree that our politics should be grounded in honest, factual, socio-economic political analysis…

The centerpiece of all genuinely Christian politics is the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that the Galilean champion of the poor and marginalized is the Creator of the galaxies, the Sovereign of the universe. Therefore all who believe in him seek to submit every realm of life—whether gamily, economics, or politics—unconditionally to Christ the Lord.

Christians therefore reject the uncritical embrace of any and every secular ideology – whether right, left, Green, libertarian or communitarian. The Christian’s starting point must be the Word of God, which is revealed partially in creation, more fully in the Bible, and most completely in Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word become flesh. Founding political engagement on ideologies of left or right rather than Christ is fundamentally un-Christian.—Ron Sider, Founder and President of Evangelicals for Social Action

If Christians believe in a holistic gospel that declares that God is at work in the world, not only transforming the lives of individuals but also working to transform society, then their being involved in politics naturally follows. If they believe that the Church (Christians who are committed to doing God’s will in the world) is called to be God’s primary means for invading and changing “all principalities, and powers, and dominions and thrones,” then the church cannot refrain from addressing political issues. Such a church will challenge its people to be “leaven” within the political processes to the end that, insofar as is possible, the justice of God might be realized in society. Thus political involvement is essential for those who would be committed to working for justice, especially for those special people who are society’s poor and oppressed.—Tony Campolo, author and professor emeritus at Eastern University

Too many Christians have uncritically adopted left-wing or right-wing politics. The result has been a sub-Christian religious right that correctly championed the family and the sanctity of human life but neglected economic justice for the poor, uncritically endorsed American nationalism, ignored environmental concern for God’s creation, and neglected to struggle against racism. Equally sub-Christian has been a religious left that rightly defended justice, peace, and the integrity of creation but largely forgot about the importance of family sexual integrity; uncritically endorsed Marxism, the sexual revolution, and almost everything championed under the banner of gay rights; overlooked the fact that freedom is as important as justice; and failed to defend the most vulnerable of all, the unborn and the very old.—Ron Sider, Founder and President of Evangelicals for Social Action

Religious people have engaged with government since Moses confronted Pharaoh. One of the books of the Bible is called Judges. Two are called Kings. That is government. Acting for God, the prophet Samuel anointed Saul and David kings of Israel. In the Old Testament, God was the ultimate ruler, and kings answered to God. As God’s agents, the prophets told kings where to go and where not to go; which battles to fight and when to surrender; what to build and when; and how to treat the poor, the fatherless, the widows, and the aliens. And when kings did not do as they were told, the prophets, again acting for God, confronted them and meted out punishment. The idea of incompatible realms of religion and government is not supported in the Old Testament.—John Danforth, ordained Episcopal priest, former Senator (R-MO) and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

It should be declared that in imitating Jesus, Christians are required to abandon any designs on becoming the custodians of political power and then imposing their will on the rest of society… What this means is that sometimes those Christians who are in the majority here in America must be willing to forgo all they would like to see enacted into law if those minority groups who live among them are to be free from being oppressed by practices that violate their beliefs… We read in Philippians 2 that Jesus was the one who was wiling to set aside his power and save the world through sacrificially serving others. What this suggests as a modus operandi for Christians in the world of politics is that they should make themselves available of service in each existing political party insofar as their political beliefs and theological convictions will allow. They should join political partiers with the intention of seeking to lift them to the fulfillment of their highest moral potentialities.—Tony Campolo, author and professor emeritus at Eastern University

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—U. S. Declaration of Independence

Avoiding established religion… does not mean that religious expression is banished to the private sphere. Everyone, including religious people, should be free to develop and state the implication of their deepest convictions for public policy. Faith-based institutions have a long and venerable history of engagement in education, health care, ands social welfare. When government adopts programs to enable the voluntary sector to serve the public good in these areas, there should be no discrimination in eligibility on account of religion; nor should there be exclusionary criteria that force these providers to engage in self-censorship or to otherwise abandon their religious character.—Ron Sider, Founder and President of Evangelicals for Social Action

Relevancy requires that individual Christians participate in partisan politics, but if the church, as a social institution, chooses to endorse a particular party, it is bound to be compromised and its reputation challenged. Certainly history bears witness to this reality. During the last century, there was an array of instances wherein the church aligned itself with specific political parties, claiming that the policies of that particular party were the best manifestations of what God willed for its society. In each case, as has been true of the likes of the Christian Democratic Party in Germany, the character of the church has been marred by such a marriage. There is arrogance whenever any political party presents itself as representing Christianity, so that those who vote against that party are voting against God.—Tony Campolo, author and professor emeritus at Eastern University

The Jesus who is revealed in Scripture does not lend himself to being either a Republican or a Democrat. When asked about their party affiliation, those who claim to follow him should answer, please state the issue.” Being faithful to the Biblical Jesus should lead to being supportive of the platform of one party on some issues while being supportive of the other party’s platform on other issues.—Tony Campolo, author and professor emeritus at Eastern University

Yet Christians have a rich history of being government leaders and good citizens. Hope, not despair, is the hallmark of the faithful. Scripture holds many examples of people of faith who stepped into the political arena in response to God’s call. Moses stood before Pharaoh demanding that the public policy of Egypt be changed to allow the children of Israel to go free.

Isaiah and Jeremiah confronted powerful kings and queens with unpopular messages regarding national agenda. Joseph used his position of authority in the Egyptian government to influence international relations and to provide hope and aid to the needy. Paul lectured the members of the early church on the duties of citizenship.

Christians through the ages have taken their citizenship responsibilities seriously by assuming leadership positions supporting government programs, and confronting policies and kings when necessary.—From Christians and Government PC(USA)

Peacemaking: Religion & Politics

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Quotes relating to Religion & Politics

Peacemaking:
Religion & Politics