It's not because of the restrictions imposed on my gender, or because of my experience, although those things do lend a little bit of an issue (who ever saw a PM with a degree in Political Science? Oh, wait.)
I could never be the Prime Minister, or, if I were American, the President, because I am a Christian. And I'll say it: I don't believe that Christians can be political leaders. I believe political leaders can go to Church, and I believe political leaders can think nice things about God and morality. What I don't believe is that they can follow Jesus and make decisions for Queen and Country. Or, as it were, Oil and Country.
I don't know if you've had a chance to keep up on the election in the US, but having watched debate snippets and read motivational (dramatic) ramblings about jobs and guns and national policy, I see that there are things one needs to do and say, and ways in which one must treat others, which do not lend themselves to living like Jesus did.
Being a Christian means being striving to live like Jesus all the time. Not perfectly, but not on a part-time basis either. And to represent both Jesus and the State would be leaving oneself feeling muddled and compromised on every level: how should one accurately represent democracy if also representing Jesus? I hold the concept of democracy high on a pedestal in my life and political views, and I believe with all my might that every voice should be heard, considered and weighed, however I believe that this is not something a Christian can do justly as leader of a nation. Because at the end of the day, if you are living your faith on a full-time basis, how would it be possible to justify decisions which are for the overall betterment "of the people"?
Arguments for the death sentence are compelling, but Jesus wouldn't be swayed. Discussions in favour of abortion might lead one to think twice, but Jesus likely wouldn't. Giving additional funds to the military would not lend itself to turning the other cheek. What would Jesus say about illegal immigration? Foreign terrorism suspects - would he give them constitutional rights?
Jesus' mandate was clear: As followers of Him, we are to love God, love others, and spread His message. I believe that these three goals are not something a political leader can achieve.
**Little addition here: My point is that I don't believe you can be faithful to Jesus and faithful to democracy, as a decision-maker, unless the entirety of your country is faithful to Jesus as well.
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I cannot agree. Looking back on the principals that founded the nation of the United States, (which were not just written by Christians; Ben Franklin was a compelling atheist) I appreciate the difficulty of walking ones faith while making decisions for a nation. But we face those difficulties daily in our personal walks. I know that leadership is a character trait that is developed and earned, and that strong personal Christian morals benefit a leader. I do not have to agree with a leader that has strong religious beliefs in order to respect them. I see religious beliefs interfering with a leaders ability to do his job when he begins to manipulate his beliefs to influence others. Granted, being a Christian with a job as crushing as leading a nation would be incredibly difficult, but consider this; a Christian knows he is ultimately responsible to a higher power, and that the actions he chooses influence his ability to convey Christ. Not religion: Christ. Wouldn't you want the person making life-altering decisions for a nation to be lead by the holy spirit? Jesus was a mediator, a peacemaker, a radical, and a "troublemaker" in his time. God lead his actions, and he changed the world forever from a political standpoint as well as a religious and spiritual one. I'm not saying that a man can be exactly like Jesus and always be right, but I would love to stand behind a leader I knew was being led by a God who is always right. Wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteOf course I would! If the world had a Solomon, I'd vote for him. But Solomon was not leading a Democracy, and he would not be today, either.
DeleteMy concern is not with holy people of God. I believe that people can be put through trials and be tested thoroughly, I believe they can have a job as "crushing as leading a nation" and still live like Jesus, but I do not believe they can do it by leading the nation democratically.
If a concern arises and the majority wants what God does not, the Christian would have their hands tied. Do they live as an effective politician? Or as a Jesus-follower?
If you have a solution to the issue, I want to hear it! I don't mean that sarcastically, I mean I actually want to hear it. I WANT to be proven wrong here. I want to believe that a spirit-led person can fulfill both the desires of Jesus and their country. But at this point, I can't. What "the people" want is more than often what God does not.
I don’t know you and I’ve never read your blog before, but I stumbled across this post and I have to say something about it doesn’t sit right with me. I appreciate your thoughts and think it’s courageous to post something like this outright.
ReplyDeleteTo me, after reading through your whole post, it sounds like you are actually implying (2nd para) that you don’t think political leaders can be Christians, rather than the other way around, as you have stated. You said, “I believe political leaders can go to Church, and I believe political leaders can think nice things about God and morality”. This comes across like you don’t think any political leader can be a true follower of Christ, which I think is dangerous territory upon which to begin an argument, and I’m sure, quite untrue.
I agree with you that as Christians we are called to live like Jesus. But I think in doing so we can DEFINITELY be leaders… in our communities, workplaces, and yes, even of our country. I think to say anything differently, and to imply that Christians can’t be political leaders or that political leaders can’t be Christians, is limiting what God can do.
Hi Jacqueline - thank you for reading and for commenting. First of all, I really love your last sentence. You made me think. Is my perspective limiting what God can do? I think you're right about that.
DeleteAnd you're right, at this point I don't think a political leader of a nation can be a Christian. (FYI - I'm not saying "any political leader" can't be a Christian - I think you can be an MP and follow Jesus, because you're representing your locality, not being a decision-maker). I'm not sure why this is dangerous.
Please see my reply to the above comment RE democracy. The issue here is whether the person can be both faithful to Jesus and faithful to democracy.
very interesting Sam! I think you and are are similar in a lot of ways, but in one way we differ is politics. However, I don't pay attention enough to write a long-winded comment, so just thought I'd let you know I read this too! I totally get your point but would tend to agree with Jaqueline and her comment about God being able to do anything. I do think there are few Christ-following, dying-to-self Presidents in the past...but I don't know what it could never happen. I'd like to see it happen actually!
ReplyDeleteThat's not really what I was getting at! I think those people exist, but I don't think they can serve democracy and Jesus because more often than not, the people (democracy) wants what Jesus does not. You can't simply run a country by following your faith and not your people.
DeleteI think it would be lovely if we could have a dictator president that made God inspired decisions and shoved his faith based agenda down the populations throat. Think about it, the people would rise up against that christian idealist leader like they would in any other oppressive power.
ReplyDeleteYou can't be a leader "by the people, for the people" and also be a "man after God's own heart". There's a difference between making decisions that go against God's will for your life, and supporting those decisions for a nation. Remember that in a democracy you don't just make decisions that feel right.
This is a pretty loaded debate.. Theology, politics, world views..
I agree that you're raising good questions but biblically God is the one to appoint kings.
ReplyDeleteBut, if God appointed a truly Christian president, the End Times would never be fulfilled.
I love the post and the comment controversy. I think I mostly agree with you.
ReplyDeletePersonally I couldn't be the Prime Minister/President because I really don't like people that much. :) That and it wouldn't be acceptable to wear your pajama's all day like I prefer to do.