Defending Christian Participation in the Civic arena
The Colson Center has developed a great page to help Christians respond to questions often asked in order to dismiss our views. Topics range from politics to economics to gender. Please go to their website -What Would You Say? to see all they have to offer on government and other issues.
Below are situations where people may try to prevent you from exercising your christian beliefs n the civic arena. Below ar examples on how to share when when told:
- There's separating church and state.
- Christians should focus on evangelism
- You vote won't matter so don't
What Would You Say?
What Does “Separation of Church and State” Mean?
You’re in a conversation about church and politics and someone says “The Separation of Church and State means churches shouldn’t talk about political issues.”
What Would You Say?
The next time you hear someone say that the Separation of Church and State protects government from religious people and religious ideas, remember these three things:
1. The “Separation of Church and State” isn’t in the Constitution.
2. The Constitution protects the church from the state, not the State from the Church.
3. In public debates all ideas and all people are welcome. Even religious ones.
Christians Should Avoid Politics and Focus on Evangelism
You’re in a conversation and someone says, “Government can’t change the human heart. So Christians should avoid politics and focus on evangelism.”
What Would You Say?
It’s true that the goal of the gospel is change people’s hearts, not just their behavior. It is also true that government is not the most effective way to reach someone’s heart. Does this mean that God wants us to stay away from what happens in government and focus only on evangelism? No. And here are three reasons why.
First, God created government.
Second, Civic stewardship does not require neglect of the gospel.
Third, Apathy is not the solution to idolatry.
My Vote Won’t Make a Difference
You’re in a conversation and someone says, “My vote doesn’t make a difference, so I’m not voting.”
What would you say?
137 million people voted in the 2016 election. That’s a lot of people. One vote, out of 137 million, doesn’t seem likely to make a difference, does it? But is that a good reason not to vote? No. And here are three reasons why:
First, in local elections, a single vote matters a lot.
Second, when lots of people decide their vote doesn’t matter, it makes a big difference. Elections are decided by who shows up.
Third, voting is an act of stewardship.