The Danger of Elevating Politics Over the Gospel

“When we put our trust in the political system to change society, when we become more consumed with winning the elections than winning the lost, when we marry the Gospel with politics, when our Christianity becomes an appendage to a political party, we have confused politics with the Gospel,” warned Dr. Michael Brown.

Brown, a Christian apologist, author and radio host, was recently a guest on CNB’s Faith vs Culture and expressed this concern that too many Christians have mixed up politics with the gospel.

Apparently Dr. Brown addresses these issues in his new book which he promoted, “The Political Seduction of the Church: How Millions Of American Christians Have Confused Politics with the Gospel.” I haven’t read the book, but the title definitely reveals a reality that we’ve observed the past several years.

While we are dealing with serious issues in our society that have moral implications–abortion, same-sex marriage, gender confusion, and redefinition of the family, please be advised that the answer to these problems is not a political party or candidate, but the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6).

The beloved John also affirms that Jesus was the incarnate Word. The “only begotten of the Father.” And the embodiment of grace and truth. Indeed, “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn. 1:14).

Peter put it this way in speaking of the person and preeminence of Jesus. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Ax. 4:12).

In various ways, the apostle Paul reminds us that “Jesus is our life” (Col. 3:4). He’s our Savior. Our Redeemer. Our Justifier. And “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1Tim 6:15).

Furthermore, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that “is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Because the gospel is of Divine origin. It is “the gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1) and “the gospel of the grace of God” (Ax. 20:24). It is God’s Good News for a world lost in sin.

Involvement in politics, however, is not wrong. I’ve known of some fine Christians who served their communities in various political offices. Their influence made a difference. In our system of government we have the right to vote for the candidate of our choice. You may support whom you choose. Contribute your money and campaign for his election.

However, let us never make the support of any political party or candidate a litmus test for determining the faithfulness of one’s Christianity.

With the mid-term elections heating up and the increased news coverage of the 2024 Presidential election, we need to be reminded that our priorities are spiritual. That our #1 allegiance is to Christ. And our heart’s desire is the salvation of the immortal soul more than a form of government that will one day perish.

“We are in this world, but not of it. We operate based on different principles,” Dr. Brown correctly observed.. “And if we are more [aligned] to a candidate or a party than we are known for allegiance to Jesus, our priorities are out of whack.”

If Christians can’t get this right, how can we ever expect to be “the light of the world,” and “the salt of the earth”?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman