Why do church leaders excuse lying, adultery, extortion, and other serious sins when committed by their political allies?
Early in my
Christian life, I was taught to strive for holiness in every area of life
whether private or public, and as a disciple of Jesus, I must be separate from the ways of this fallen world, not physically, but spiritually and
morally. As the Apostle Paul warned the Church of Ephesus, “But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness,
let it not even be named among you!”
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[Photo by jesse orrico on Unsplash] |
Jesus warned that anyone who loves a father, mother, or child more than him is unworthy of his Kingdom. His followers are called to “deny themselves, take up his cross, and follow after him,” to live righteous but humble lives of service to others, especially the poor and marginalized. As Paul also wrote, “Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?”
Any notion of committing evil
to achieve some supposed greater good is contrary to the life, example, and
teachings of Christ. “Woe to those men who call evil good, and
good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness!”
Most if not all
church leaders will agree with such stated principles. However, implementing
them is rather different and difficult, or at least, when applying biblical
mandates to the political arena. At the critical moment, the Great Political Exception always
raises its ugly head, and once more we hear how the end justifies the means.
In politics, pragmatism prevails over principle.
This becomes especially so when politically active “Christians” turn to partisan politics and coercive government power to push their social and political agendas and otherwise rally around
their favorite political leader.
Paul warns us not to
be “deceived,” for “the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God.” This category includes “fornicators, idolaters,
adulterers, covetous, revilers, extortionists,” and so forth, and more
politicians than we might care to admit are guilty of at least three or four of
the sins on the Apostle’s list. They certainly do not represent God’s Kingdom and are excluded from it by
their unrighteous deeds.
Or take the list of sins from the
Book of Revelation that will put sinners in the “Lake of Fire”
– The “fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderer, the
fornicator, the sorcerer, the idolater, and all liars will
have their part in the Lake that Burns with Fire and Brimstone.”
So, if lying and
adultery condemn a man before God, why is it that in our partisan political system, prodigious liars and serial adulterers get a free pass if they support the correct “Christian” agendas?
Our political system is part of the existing evil age that even now is “passing away.” Like the other institutions of this world, it is under the dominion of sin and inherently corrupt. The politician who is a committed disciple of Jesus and “follows the Lamb wherever he goes” is rare.
However, it is not
the sin of the politician that is so troubling, but the excuses made for his
offenses by his “Christian” allies. If he promotes programs
approved by his allied Church leaders, they will ignore, rationalize, and justify
his actions, perhaps even celebrate his rougher edges.
What is intolerable is not the sin of the unregenerate
politician, but when “Christian” apologists heap praises on him as if he is God’s
anointed holy vessel of righteousness.
HYPOCRISY
Compromise, sin, and
hypocrisy are the inevitable fruits of participation in an inherently corrupt
system, and Jesus has called us to something far higher, namely, holiness.
If you remain in the system, inevitably, you will make excuses for your preferred
politician, party, ideology, or government, you will rationalize and even justify
sins of the worst sort.
Hypocrisy is the
defining characteristic of church leaders who replace the biblical mission of proclaiming
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and living for his Kingdom with an agenda of social, political, and national
“reformation.” If resorting to partisan politics necessitates compromise
and sin, that answers the age-old question - Should disciples of Jesus be
involved in politics?
Human society is in
trouble due to sin, not because the wrong set of sinners is running the government.
Sooner or later, politically active Christians will find themselves sleeping
with very strange bedfellows in a system already judged on the Cross of Christ and therefore doomed
to destruction.
Paul warned of the
coming “Apostasy” that he linked to the “Man of Lawlessness” who
will seat himself in the House of God. Over the decades, I have watched and
waited for this Master Deceiver to appear, but it is distressing to witness this very thing beginning to unfold before my eyes as so many church leaders climb into bed with parties and agendas that are contrary to the “Word of the Cross.”
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SEE ALSO:
- Whomever He Pleases! - (The God of Israel changes the times and seasons, removes kings, and sets up kings as He sees fit)
- Presumptuous and Profane - (The Bible claims God gives political power to whom He pleases, “even to the basest of men.” He “removes kings and installs kings” to accomplish His purposes)
- His Realm - (Jesus proclaimed a new political reality, the Kingdom of God, one that bears little resemblance to the political systems of this world)
- The True Emperor - (Messianic promises from the Psalms are applied to the present reign of Jesus who possesses all authority in Heaven and on Earth)
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