“So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.” (Acts 1:6-7 NLT)

When asked a political question, Jesus replied with a spiritual answer. He redirected the focus to spiritual things. Does that indicate that Christians are not to get involved in politics and government? Let’s figure this out.

Government has a responsibility to positively impact the lives of its citizens. This includes protecting them and providing for them. In the same way, Christians are taught to provide for family, praying for the Lord to protect and provide.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.” (Isaiah 58:9-10 NLT)

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:34-36 NLT)

These verses invite us to reach out to help those in need. Government is supposed to do on a larger scale what individuals do on a smaller scale. Christians can help make sure the government does its job by voting for capable Christian candidates whose faith will lead them to make sure our government does what it should do. That calls for Christians to become politically educated and involved.

We are also to render to Caesar what is his and unto the Lord what is his. We can see Caesar as representing the government. We need to pay taxes and vote. Our nation was founded as a Christian nation, one which would continue to be Christian as long as Christians voted as led by the Lord.

The USA was created as a nation by dedicated Christians who designed our nation to function according to scriptural precepts. One safeguard our Founding Fathers provided was the ballot box. We have the right to choose who leads our government. We can elect competent Christians who will keep on track and preserve a free nation for the following generations. In this age of attacks by radical Islamics, we can honor God by choosing godly leaders who will preserve the heritage upon which this nation was founded. If Christians choose to rise up and get involved in our political process by voting for capable Christians, then there is hope that our nation can be restored as a vibrant Christian nation once again, one which will honor our Christian heritage and ensure the love of God becomes a guiding force.

About the time of the American Revolutionary War, Edmund Burke was a respected British Christian member of Parliament. He is often credited with a well-known saying, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This succinctly embraces the basic Christian call to choose to become in government for good, lest evil overcomes society. Adolph Hitler rose to power in Germany because there were no good people who would rise up and stand for what is right. Americans have the same privilege to rise up and stand for our Christian values lest America be overcome by those who do not have our values. There are ways Christians can stand up for what it right. The first is by casting their votes for godly candidates for office. This calls for Christians to learn about the candidates.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus teaches us that if we do not use what God gives us, we can lose what we have. If we don’t use our right to vote, some day we may lose that right.

Jesus also taught us in the Lord’s Pray to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We know that God raises up leaders, but he also wants us to pray that his will be done. As Christians, we need to pray that God’s choice for leaders of our government be elected, that Christians get out and vote as they should.

Should Christians be politically involved? Of course, they should. It is another way to defeat the devil and do all we can to promote the Kingdom of God.