Kingdom Work

[JonC]

@MrW made a comment - a sentiment that I have seen expressed by many each election cycle - that I want to explore, but not as a political discussion.

To me, Christian belief should be practical, of value and use in this present world, since we do exist in the moment. A faith that does not exercise the privilege of voting for the best rulers available on the slate, is impractical, useless in this present world for ought but unending debates. As James said, “Faith without works is dead…”; it is hollow, a corpse of no present benefit.

The claim is that a Christian can do nothing of value and use unless that Christian participates in secular politics by voting. Anything other than voting is impractical and expresses a hollow, dead faith of no present benefit.

The issue is many Christians abstained from secular politics because, for a variety of reasons, such is a violation of their conscience.

But many of these who abstain are very active in the work of the Kingdom. They do things like:

1. Preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ.
2. Planting churches.
3. Prision ministries.
4. Reaching out to the gay community.
5. Ministering to women seeking abortions.
6. Operating pro-life alternatives to women.
7. Operating homeless shelters.
8. Working to evangelize today's youth.
9. Caring for widows and orphans.
10. Operating shelters for victims of abuse.
11. Reaching out to those caught in addiction.
12. Ministering to the poor.
13. Running kitchens to feed the hungry.
14. Providing disaster aid to families.
15. Ministering through child care programs.

These are just a few things that Christians do that many "believers" consider "impractical", expressing a faith that is "hollow, a corpse of no present benefit".

What does it mean to do work in the Kingdom?

Is voting a "Christian work", or is it supporting others to work? If it is a Christian work, is it the only thing a Chriatian can do to have a faith that is not "hollow, a corpse of no present"? benefit.

What other works are churches involved in (if voting is not the only way to salvation)?

 

[DaveXR650]

I am fully in agreement with your premise that voting is not the only thing a Christian should do. And I see how a Christian can decide to not vote, ever, or in a particular circumstance.

I disagree with you in two areas. One. It is not necessarily true, nor do you find in practice that non-voting Christians are carrying the weight of things like in the above list. In fact, I tend to think the opposite is true and the active servants are also voting.

Two. Just like it is wrong to pronounce that Christians who don't vote are in some way failing to do a Christian duty or failing to do God's will, it is also wrong to declare a what it means for a Christian to vote should they decide to do so. What you do is make declarations of what it means when a Christian votes for a certain party - that they are supporting this or that or participating in an evil world system and so on.

The fact is, in less than a week, one of the two candidates is going to win the right to hold the highest office in our country and with it comes a whole lot of implications. A Christian has every right to cast a vote based upon their view of which way would be best, or even which way would cause least decline. And just as no one has a right to judge you for abstaining, you have no right to make declarations about what their vote could or does mean.

 

[JonC]

I am fully in agreement with your premise that voting is not the only thing a Christian should do. And I see how a Christian can decide to not vote, ever, or in a particular circumstance.

I disagree with you in two areas. One. It is not necessarily true, nor do you find in practice that non-voting Christians are carrying the weight of things like in the above list. In fact, I tend to think the opposite is true and the active servants are also voting.

Two. Just like it is wrong to pronounce that Christians who don't vote are in some way failing to do a Christian duty or failing to do God's will, it is also wrong to declare a what it means for a Christian to vote should they decide to do so. What you do is make declarations of what it means when a Christian votes for a certain party - that they are supporting this or that or participating in an evil world system and so on.

The fact is, in less than a week, one of the two candidates is going to win the right to hold the highest office in our country and with it comes a whole lot of implications. A Christian has every right to cast a vote based upon their view of which way would be best, or even which way would cause least decline. And just as no one has a right to judge you for abstaining, you have no right to make declarations about what their vote could or does mean.

I never claimed that either voting or non-voting Christians are carrying the weight. It probably depends on each area (the make up of congregations, what issues, etc.). I am saying that those things are kingdom work.

I am saying that a person who supports a candidate for an office is supporting that candidate to be elected to that office, with the expectation that that person will at least try to do what he or she says they will do if elected.

For example, if I am running for President with the promise of free ice cream and mandatory lime bean sprinkles and you support me because you want free ice cream then you are also giving me support to make lima bean sprinkles mandatory.

We can't get around that part. I dobt mean everybody wants an entire platform, but it is supporting that platform to try and get the candidate elected.

With supporting a secular political party trying to dominate a world power....well, I do see this as supporting a political party trying to dominate a world power.


We all have the right to say what a vote, or not voting, means.

By abstaining from voting I am not voting for a political party that opposes another political party. That is true.

By voting one is supporting an entire platform with that vote. That is also true.

If Harris wins by 1 vote from SC then my abstance would have been the difference. That is true.

If you support a secular political power then you are involving yourself in secular politics, a power of this world, and compromising your witness (to people with political differences and by the credit any good policies will be attributed). That is true.


To vote or abstain should be a prayerful following of one's convictions. This does not mean we can't point out the cons of both positions.