Excusing Sin

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, and as a disciple of Jesus, I must separate myself from the ways and ideologies of this sinful world. Not physically, but spiritually and morally. Holiness before God and Jesus is not optional:

• “Follow after peace with all men, and the holiness, without which no man will see the Lord” - (Hebrews 12:14).

• “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?  And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Wherefore, Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, And touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you” - (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).

[Dirty Hands - Photo by jesse orrico on Unsplash]

Jesus warned that anyone who loves his 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 the marginalized.

The idea of committing evil to achieve some alleged greater good is contrary to the life and teachings of Christ. As the Prophet Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those men who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness!” How much more does that admonition apply in the kingdom ruled by the Crucified Messiah than it did in Isaiah’s day?

Most, if not all, church leaders will agree with these principles. However, implementing them is rather different and often difficult, or at least, when applying biblical mandates and principles to the political arena.

At the critical moment, the Great Political Exception always rears its ugly head, and again we hear the argument in one form or another that the end justifies the means. Always, political expediency before holiness at the decisive moment.

In politics, pragmatism conquers principle. This becomes especially so when politically active “Christians” turn to the political means to advance their social and political agendas and otherwise rally around their preferred political leader, party, and ideology.

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 the sins on the Apostle’s list. They certainly do not represent God’s Kingdom and are excluded from it by their evil deeds.

• “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, which is the Second Death” – (Revelation 21:8).

If lying and adultery alienate men from God, why is it that in our political system, prodigious liars and serial adulterers get a free pass if they support the correct “Christian” programs? We gouge out our eyes, if necessary, so we do not see with whom and what we have allied ourselves.

I am not protesting the sins of politicians and political parties. They belong to the fallen world order and act accordingly. Can a leopard change its spots? They cannot do otherwise. My disagreement is with “Christians,” supposedly followers of Jesus, who make common cause with sin and sinners. If we think we can change the system from within to make it more Christ-like, we deceive ourselves. We become blind and deranged.

Our political system belongs to 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 Satan – (1 Corinthians 7:31).

INEXCUSABLE HYPOCRISY

It is not the politician’s sin that is so troubling, but the excuses made for his offenses by his “Christian” cheerleaders. If he promotes programs approved by the Church, his supporters will ignore, rationalize, and even justify his sinful actions taken to achieve his declared goals.

What is inexplicable is not the sin of the politician. He will answer to God for it. But when his “Christian” apologists heap praise on him as if he is God’s holy anointed vessel of righteousness, we cross a serious line. What has Jesus, God’s true Anointed One, to do with Belial, the Devil? Must we, indeed, do evil that good might come?

Compromise and hypocrisy are the inevitable fruits of participation in an inherently corrupt and fundamentally unholy system. Jesus called us to something far higher, which includes, among other things, holiness. And the essence of the biblical concept of holiness is separation for service to God.

If we remain in the system, inevitably, we will make excuses for the politician, political party, ideology, or government of our choice. It will become necessary to rationalize sins and crimes of the worst sort, and we will tarnish our Christian testimony.

Hypocrisy is the defining characteristic of church leaders and “Christians” who replace the mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus with agendas of social and political reformation. If resorting to partisan politics necessitates compromise and sin, that answers the question - Should disciples of Jesus be involved in politics?

Human society is in trouble because of 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.

What humanity needs is Jesus and the Word of the Cross, rather than more sinful politicians and anti-biblical political ideologies.

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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)