Successful Christians in Politics in History

[Justfiguringitout]

Hello,

I am new here and I plan to learn a lot from all of you. Not sure if this is the right forum to ask my question, so if I need to ask this elsewhere please let me know. Also, if there is a thread about this already feel free to let me know. I don't find it easy to navigate the forums with the search options.

I have a question for people who shun national politics and voting. A few years ago, I found I couldn't vote for the elections in my country (the Netherlands) for members of parliament. I couldn't figure out how to do that without violating my conscience. But not because I suddenly had discovered Anabaptist two Kingdom theology. That came much later, when I found out there is a whole branch of Christianity that (partly) doesn't vote out of religious conviction, so I was quite surprised to discover that.

But, the few people I have shared this with weren't very understanding. Because, if no Christians will enter into politics what will become of the nation. One thing I heard: what about for example William Wilberforce, who abolished the slave trade. Was he wrong in attempting to do that, because as a Christian he shouldn't have gone into politics?

I have no good answer to this, because I am still developing in my thinking and trying to decide if I REALLY shouldn't vote, event hough I have skipped both, national and European elections for a while now.

What would you as non-voting people reply to this?
Thank you in advance.

[JohnH]

I can trust God to direct national leaders:

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, He turneth it whithersoever He will.

[ohio jones]

Because, if no Christians will enter into politics what will become of the nation.

The more important question is, if no Christians will evangelize and disciple people, what will become of the nation?

As followers of Jesus, we look first to the example and teachings of the Christ. He was tempted by the power of the kingdoms of the world, and rejected that. He spent his time ministering to those who recognized their needs. He taught us to teach and baptize. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of heaven. If we do likewise, we will have a greater impact through changing the hearts of people than through forcing political change.

One thing I heard: what about for example William Wilberforce, who abolished the slave trade. Was he wrong in attempting to do that, because as a Christian he shouldn't have gone into politics?

I'm not in a position to judge him, and appreciate the good he was able to do. But I wonder if the results might have been even greater if he had used God's methods rather than man's.

[Soloist]

Part of the nature of the political process is compromise and on a lot of things in Christianity we cannot compromise so if you get into politics within intent of trying to persuade others of your Christian views, and you do not compromise, then you will either end up with a system that is dysfunctional and does not work or get voted out.
Christianity also is something where you freely choose to follow Jesus or not and compulsion is not what we believe or what we believe the Bible teaches.
Ultimately, though I don’t think someone can take the power of a political office, wield it for Christianity and remain untouched by the taint they handle, and God is perfectly able and capable of using any political leader to achieve his goals and we are not somehow restraining evil, but He is.

[JohnL]

Because, if no Christians will enter into politics what will become of the nation.

The more important question is, if no Christians will evangelize and disciple people, what will become of the nation?

As followers of Jesus, we look first to the example and teachings of the Christ. He was tempted by the power of the kingdoms of the world, and rejected that. He spent his time ministering to those who recognized their needs. He taught us to teach and baptize. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of heaven. If we do likewise, we will have a greater impact through changing the hearts of people than through forcing political change.

One thing I heard: what about for example William Wilberforce, who abolished the slave trade. Was he wrong in attempting to do that, because as a Christian he shouldn't have gone into politics?

I'm not in a position to judge him, and appreciate the good he was able to do. But I wonder if the results might have been even greater if he had used God's methods rather than man's.

Yep. All this.
I'm also thinking about the Roman Empire. Christians were tortured, killed and enslaved. In the earliest days of Christianity there really weren't any voting rights for Christians because so many of them were slaves or not eligible to vote. The Roman Empire fell and yet we still have Christianity with Jesus followers today.

[Justfiguringitout]

I can trust God to direct national leaders:

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, He turneth it whithersoever He will.

I can appreciate that. But it's something that I need to look at from all side. My friends truly believe that trusting God and participating in politics, do not hate each other, as they believe God ordained it so, that he would use Christians in politics.

But to me it seems more pragmatic than principled, because I think there is no way to be a politician and not violate your conscience on a regular basis. I find it a very difficult topic to work through. Maybe if one is raised like this it's easier to understand the depth and width of this.

Thank you.

[Justfiguringitout]

Because, if no Christians will enter into politics what will become of the nation.

The more important question is, if no Christians will evangelize and disciple people, what will become of the nation?

As followers of Jesus, we look first to the example and teachings of the Christ. He was tempted by the power of the kingdoms of the world, and rejected that. He spent his time ministering to those who recognized their needs. He taught us to teach and baptize. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of heaven. If we do likewise, we will have a greater impact through changing the hearts of people than through forcing political change.

One thing I heard: what about for example William Wilberforce, who abolished the slave trade. Was he wrong in attempting to do that, because as a Christian he shouldn't have gone into politics?

I'm not in a position to judge him, and appreciate the good he was able to do. But I wonder if the results might have been even greater if he had used God's methods rather than man's.

I agree, but most people I know seem to think you can combine the two. Be a witness for Christ in politics. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Justfiguringitout]

Part of the nature of the political process is compromise and on a lot of things in Christianity we cannot compromise so if you get into politics within intent of trying to persuade others of your Christian views, and you do not compromise, then you will either end up with a system that is dysfunctional and does not work or get voted out.
Christianity also is something where you freely choose to follow Jesus or not and compulsion is not what we believe or what we believe the Bible teaches.
Ultimately, though I don’t think someone can take the power of a political office, wield it for Christianity and remain untouched by the taint they handle, and God is perfectly able and capable of using any political leader to achieve his goals and we are not somehow restraining evil, but He is.

This was exactly one of my list of reasons that made me realise I couldn't vote. We have two outspoken Christian parties. One conservative reformed, and one more general Christian. But during covid, when one of those two parties was in government, my eyes were opened to the fact that it cannot be possible to serve in government and not violate your conscience one way or the other. So I thought I couldn't then vote and support such a person who would inevitably violate their conscience.

But I find it hard to discuss it with other people. People whom I appreciate and respect as Christians, who were rather upset about my choice.

[Justfiguringitout]

Because, if no Christians will enter into politics what will become of the nation.

The more important question is, if no Christians will evangelize and disciple people, what will become of the nation?

As followers of Jesus, we look first to the example and teachings of the Christ. He was tempted by the power of the kingdoms of the world, and rejected that. He spent his time ministering to those who recognized their needs. He taught us to teach and baptize. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of heaven. If we do likewise, we will have a greater impact through changing the hearts of people than through forcing political change.

One thing I heard: what about for example William Wilberforce, who abolished the slave trade. Was he wrong in attempting to do that, because as a Christian he shouldn't have gone into politics?

I'm not in a position to judge him, and appreciate the good he was able to do. But I wonder if the results might have been even greater if he had used God's methods rather than man's.

Yep. All this.
I'm also thinking about the Roman Empire. Christians were tortured, killed and enslaved. In the earliest days of Christianity there really weren't any voting rights for Christians because so many of them were slaves or not eligible to vote. The Roman Empire fell and yet we still have Christianity with Jesus followers today.

What did people vote on these days then?

[JohnL]

The more important question is, if no Christians will evangelize and disciple people, what will become of the nation?

As followers of Jesus, we look first to the example and teachings of the Christ. He was tempted by the power of the kingdoms of the world, and rejected that. He spent his time ministering to those who recognized their needs. He taught us to teach and baptize. He proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of heaven. If we do likewise, we will have a greater impact through changing the hearts of people than through forcing political change.

I'm not in a position to judge him, and appreciate the good he was able to do. But I wonder if the results might have been even greater if he had used God's methods rather than man's.

Yep. All this.
I'm also thinking about the Roman Empire. Christians were tortured, killed and enslaved. In the earliest days of Christianity there really weren't any voting rights for Christians because so many of them were slaves or not eligible to vote. The Roman Empire fell and yet we still have Christianity with Jesus followers today.

What did people vote on these days then?

I don't understand your question.