When someone tells me that laws can never change a fallen person’s heart, I ask them if they apply that philosophy to their children. Does the moral training of our children consist merely of preaching the Gospel to them? Wouldn’t we consider it unconscionable to neglect a child’s moral instruction with the excuse that laws can never change a child’s rebellious heart?
Read more of this insightful article by Greg Koukl.
Another excerpt from the same article:
What specifically does it mean to say that Christians should avoid “politicsâ€? Initially it meant that churches shouldn’t campaign for a particular candidate. “Keep religion in the domain of theology, morality, and family relationships,†we were told, “and leave politics to the pros.â€
Little by little, though, more things have been included under the broad rubric of “politics.†One by one the secularists co-opted the moral issues, called them political, and told us to get off of the playing field.
The Church was told, “Abortion is not merely a moral issue anymore. It’s political.†What about the morality of alternate sexuality like lesbianism, homosexuality, man-boy ‘love,’ and incest? “That’s ours, too.†Same-sex marriage? “A civic concern. No place for the church.†Family issues like divorce and child support, reproductive technologies, and the education of our children? “Back off.†Stewardship of the environment, the care of the poor, sex education, birth control, sexual harassment, pornography—including child porn? “All politics.â€
Notice the outcome. When Christians follow a policy of “no politics,†it’s easy to silence the moral voice of the Church. Simply label any issue “political†and followers of Christ wave the white flag.
This policy is tantamount to surrender. When we are pushed out of the public square, there’s nothing left to talk about but purely sectarian issues: manner of worship, methods of baptism, music in the sanctuary—and angels dancing on pins. We are allowed to have our parochial discussions behind the closed doors of our churches, but we can speak of nothing that—in the minds of those we are trying to reach—has anything to do with the real world. Is it any wonder our faith is called irrelevant?