Church vs. State

This is such a strange subject for Message believers. Typically, believers around the world have been in the position that they are the minority, on the outside of politics and being impacted by the culture as a whole. There are a few countries in the world where Christianity became mainstream in the culture and even the most powerful voice. How do we as Bible believers stay true to God in this position that we find ourselves as voters? Would a Message believer be right in seeking political office or should we avoid politics completely?

Brother Branham, as a prophet to his generation, sought to stay distinct from politics. However, he did vote and stay involved that way.

“I didn’t vote for Mr. Kennedy. I voted for Mr. Nixon, ’cause I knowed Mr. Nixon, personally. And I—I liked him, and I—and I voted for him, personally, because I liked him.” [1]

If we turn back to the Old Testament we find that God’s expectations (once the king’s were installed) were that the political life was to be fully surrendered to God. God desired that the king seek his counsel from prophets and priests. He wanted the king to be the leader in worship in the nation, inspiring and in case of necessity enforcing a strictly monotheistic worship of Yahweh, God of Israel. Those who worshipped idols were to be stoned to death and the idols ground to powder. There was room for the prophets to prophesy in the name of Yahweh and operate according the leading of the Spirit of Yahweh, but there was no room for other religions or forms of worship.

Catholics had kings that did the same in their domains. Protestants are largely against this approach and have taken a more democratic approach to leadership. Even in the earliest charters of those moving from the old world to the new world there was a democratic vote on decisions made by the society. Each head of household had a vote and even the freedom to leave the area if they did not like the outcome. Even with that said, there was no question that beliefs must stay within the bounds of Christian decency.

Unfortunately, this form of democracy has led to an increase in immorality and Christian virtues are looked down upon and even called evil. How are we as believers to operate within such a perverted democracy? We continue to need to make our voices known for God and His Word. We understand the prophecies of the Scripture and the judgment pronounced on an evil world. I daresay Christians of bygone years knew this as well. Isaiah the prophet died making his voice known to a wicked king of Manassah. We should all be as those prophets, from the wilderness, speaking the voice of prophecy to a wicked world. We can never let that voice be silent, through public rebuke and through our vote as best as we know how according to our conscience. We speak out against sin and evil and injustice and racism and child abuse and homosexuality and abortion and all the evils that are bringing the just judgment of God upon our country.

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[1] 63-1124M, What Shall I Do With Jesus Called Christ?, Rev. William Marrion Branham