A-Political!
Are you political? In contrast, are you a-political? You may ask, “What does this mean?” The meaning of this little used term is “Not involved or interested in politics.” Or it may mean, “Of no political significance” (Random House Webster’s College Dictionary.). Another dictionary puts it this way: “Having no interest in or association with politics” (The American Heritage College Dictionary).
We may ask the pertinent question: “How can the Christian have no connection with the subject of politics?” Isn’t this a very important area of concern for the child of God?” Shouldn’t the true Christian have ultimate interest in politics? Should the Christian perhaps even knock on doors to “get out the vote” or donate his hard-earned money to promote his party and the party’s choice for the election?
In some respects, we must answer this in the affirmative. Since the follower of Christ is very interested in the world and in this country in particular, and since the government is very much a part of this nation, in this respect, we must be interested in this subject. I freely confess that this is a subject that not only interests me but concerns me! For instance, tonight there will be the first presidential debate—the first in four years. I plan to see this myself and consider the issues from a Biblical standpoint. (Since I don’t have TV and would not have one, we do view the internet.)
However, we also know that the child of God doesn’t involve himself in the political realm. As Jesus, our Lord plainly said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36; cf. Matthew 22:21). As it has been pointed out, we follow and are interested in the government, but we do not participate in it. You may have seen the articles on this website that refer to this matter:
https://truediscipleship.com/the-ambiguity-of-president-donald-trump/
https://truediscipleship.com/a-christian-as-president/
The question then arises: If the Christian does not participate in the civil government, why even be interested in this subject? We are interested since we live in this world and this world is very much concerned with government. It may be true that God chooses our rulers (cf. Daniel 4:17, 25-26; 5:21), but as Christians we will want to see how God works in this world and in this country. Aren’t you?
As Christians, we may wonder what stance we should take on this subject. Quite frankly, we don’t have a solid answer on this. Presently, there are two main contenders for the upcoming election. One would be Joe Biden and the other would be Donald Trump. As Christians, we may not find either of these personalities desirable, tasteful, truthful, or displaying Christian character. I know that I don’t. Do you? We think that probably you don’t either.
It is true that some candidates are less objectionable than others, thus although we can’t endorse, approve, or encourage you or others to vote for them, we can definitely say that some persons are more grossly evil, irreverent, crude, and outright sinful. But we must admit that none of them are worthy of our outright trust or approval.
We realize that Evangelical Christians (so-called) generally promote certain candidates over others. What do we mean? Most Evangelicals (those who generally hold to a more conservative Christian, political, and moral position) do look down on Joe Biden. This man is often regarded as wicked, dishonest, immoral, evil, and totally secular. Thus, the follower of Christ wouldn’t want to vote for him—even if we were to vote at all. On the other hand, Donald Trump is the epitome of pride, arrogance, materialism, false religion, and much worldliness. We wouldn’t want to vote for him either.
Just today or yesterday, Trump endorsed Amy Coney Barrett as the Catholic woman as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He castigated those who would condemn her since she is a devoted Catholic. But we all know that years ago, in 1960, nearly every conservative professing Christians refused to vote for anyone or refused to vote for President Kennedy because of his Catholicism! (Kennedy was the first Catholic president America had.) Yet, if Barrett were to be approved, this would make six (six) out of nine Justices as Catholics! We wonder, what made political Catholicism wrong sixty years ago but permissible and even laudable today? So strange and so wrong! Just because a professing Christian may condemn the murder of babies, this does not say that the American populace should vote for the person!
As for the contenders for the vice-presidency, we think of Kamala Harris. What of this woman? We all know that she is a radical feminist, something that God abhors and condemns. She wanted to open the doors to murdering babies until they were born—nine months after birth! We could go on and on, but conservative professing Christians almost universally condemn this woman or any endorsement for her. (Liberal people who profess to be Christians would accept her as well as Biden.) Strangely, professing Christians who make their will known overwhelmingly support this ultra-liberal feminist as vice-president! We wonder how this could possibly be!
What about Mike Pence? This former governor does seem to have an interest in the Lord and seems to have a law-abiding attitude about him. Of course, there must be dozens of ways that Vice-President Pence does not have an honorable and conservative attitude but this is not revealed openly or often.
We know that this is not just a matter of choosing the better man to be president, nor the better man or woman to be vice-president. No, but it is a matter of realizing that the character of the millions of people who endorse and approve of the candidates. We know that hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people approve of the rioting, the looting (stealing), the insubordination to the police, as manifested by the Democratic party. On the other hand, we know that there are multitudes of Republicans who also are not law-abiding citizens or are honorable people. We know that constituents of both parties are opposed to the ways of God. Neither the Republican nor the Democrat is honest and holy. Neither are they honorable Christian people, thus must not be emulated.
What is the conservative professing “Christian” to do? We do not want to definitely say what Jesus or the apostles would say about this. We all know that they have not spoken about this matter—directly. It is true that Joe Biden is an ungodly secularist and Donald Trump is a proud and belligerent opponent. They both are slanderers and both are dishonest. It is interesting that since both presidential leaders are in their 70s and could possibly die in office, it could be that we would soon have two new presidents! It could be that both Harris and Pence might be our new presidents!
Let us pray that God will work in the political process and install His man (or woman!) into the United States presidency! This is the only choice that is God-honoring and desirable. May God have mercy on the United States of America and spread its influence around the world.
–Richard Hollerman
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