The Limits of Politics (1)

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to executewrath on him who practices evil.  Romans 13.3, 4

A dirty business?
Bring up politics in polite company and you might start a fight or, at least, ruin a pleasant evening. No topic of conversation has the potential for so much contention, confusion, and consternation as politics.

Most Americans, I suspect, are of the opinion that politics is a dirty business, a necessary evil that we’d much prefer not to have to engage. Politics is the black sheep of family America – a source of disappointment and disgust, who only comes around at certain times, but from whom we’re never entirely separate.

Yet whom, alas, we can’t seem to do without.

That may be somewhat hyperbolic, but it’s not far off the mark. Americans are so used to politicians who are self-serving, disingenuous, and downright corrupt that we’ve come to connect the practice of politics, as we experience it in 21^st century America, with politics per se. We sense that you can’t have one without the other, so, if we must have politics, and we know we must, about the most we can hope for is that the dark side of the process won’t completely spoil whatever good might be accomplished.

The science of government
But politics is simply the science of government. Politics describes the ways people in society organize their relationships and apportion the exercise of power in an effort to establish order and maintain justice and peace. What can be bad about that?

The Scriptures teach that governments are instituted by God for various reasons, and, wherever there are governments, there must be politics, which is the science of government. The problem is not with politics, as, doubtless, most of us realize, but with politicians. Politics is a noble science, and, unlikely as it may seem, the practice of politics can be a way to bring glory to God and much good to people.

That politics has come to be associated with corruption and contention is not the fault of politics but of those who practice it.

Since politics, as a social discipline, enjoys divine sanction, there must be ways of practicing politics that don’t leave such a bad taste in our mouths. The challenge to the members of the Christian community is to try to understand politics, as the Scriptures – which are sufficient to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3.15-17) – guide and teach, and then to seek out politicians who are willing to work within, or at least close to, the parameters of political practice marked out in the Bible.

Understand the limits of politics
One of the most important Biblical teachings about politics is that there are limits to what it can do. These days we’re accustomed to thinking that everything is politics and, therefore, politics must be just about everything.

Politics – and certainly politicians – must not be expected to do more than they are able. We wouldn’t ask our auto mechanic to fill our teeth or our dentist to replace the carburetor in our car. In the same way, we must not expect of politics and politicians more than what God intends as legitimate for them, lest we end up seeking good social ends by the wrong means, and doing, in the end, more harm than good.

What are the limits of politics?

This is what I intend for us to consider in this series. But we must be convinced, as we begin, that politics per se is a necessary discipline, and that means that political activity and politicians are inevitable and even essential to the wellbeing of society.

If there is any part for us to play in the process – as, regardless of the polity by which we are governed, there surely is – we should do our best to understand and fulfill that part to the best of our ability.

Politics is necessary to a good society. And it’s not necessarily evil. It falls to those whose senses are trained by the Word of God to differentiate between good and evil to do whatever they can to ensure that what God intends for the business of politics is actually what we in our society enjoy (Heb. 5.14).

Government can fulfill its calling as God’s servant for good, but only when those who are entrusted with the science of government – politics – agree to live and serve within the limits God prescribes.

For reflection
1.      In what ways are you a participant in the political process in this country? Is this a good work for you to do? Based on 2 Timothy 3.15-17, how should you expect Scripture to guide you in thinking about your involvement in politics?

2.      Why is it true that politics is a “noble science”? What is it about politics that gives it such a bad name in the minds of many people?

3.      Christians have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2.16), and we are being trained to discern good from evil (Heb. 5.14). What can we expect if Christians fail to participate in politics from the persepective of God’s Word in Scripture?

Next steps: Talk with some friends – at church, work, or in your social media network. What do they understand to be the purpose of politics? What should we expect from politics, and what should we not expect? Download a copy of this week’s ReVision series, and share it with your friends. Invite them to join you to discuss this series on the limits of politics.

T. M. Moore

We’re pleased to bring ReVision to you daily, and ReVision studies each week in PDF at no charge. Please visit our website, www.ailbe.org to learn about the many study topics available. Your gifts to The Fellowship of Ailbe make this ministry possible. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

This week’s study, The Limits of Politics, is part 3 of a 5-part series on The King’s Heart, a Biblical view of government and politics, and is available as a free download by clicking here. We cannot understand God’s view of government, or how to function in a political environment apart from faith in King Jesus and His rule. Order T. M.’s books The Kingship of Jesus  and The Ground for Christian Ethics to supplement our studies of God and government..

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.