SS - Government and the Christian Life, Part 11

Lesson Outline:

The Christian and Politics

• Background
• Mandates
• Considerations

Considerations for political engagement (posting, writing, speaking, campaigning)

• The Gospel
• Heavenly vs. earthly thinking
• Church unity
• Character
• Influence

Considerations for following politics:

• Do I need to know this for some direct reason related to my areas of responsibility?
• Will this make me more anxious if I do or don’t find out about it?
• How will this tempt me to unwise behavior?
• Am I being truthful and overcoming personal bias in my assessment of people’s views and opinions?
• Does this cause me to be more arrogant or unloving toward others?
• Does this feed my self-righteousness or can I use it in humility?
• What is the effect this has on aiming for heavenly vs earthly treasures?
• Will this change my actual vote? Or is my mind already made up?
• Am I using this time for politics to the neglect of actual responsibilities?
• Am I blocking out Bible consumption and prayer by spending my time on this?
• Am I imbibing the way people think about others and about God because I like their politics and listen to them?
• Does this make me think of other Christians in ways that contradict Scripture?
• Does this make me think of non-Christians in ways that contradict Scripture?

Considerations for running for political office

• Time
• Opportunities
• Skills
• Integrity