Ramon Arias | May 3, 2014
Have you ever questioned why people, especially some “Christians,” are so obstinate in pointing out that politics and politicians are dirty? Why do some believe it is better not to get involved in politics? Even though millions, knowingly or unknowingly, think they are apolitical, I ask you, is there such a thing? Many questions like these swarm the minds of people. Is it right to leave politics alone and live and let live or is there something in this mindset that we should examine?
Briefly, let us start with the last question: Is there such a thing as an apolitical person? Technically, yes, there are millions of people who are not interested or concerned about politics. However, in all truthfulness, just because people are not interested in politics or concerned, this does not exempt them from participating in the political process of their society. Here is why, the Greek word for city is polis, and politikos means the affairs of the city. Those who say they are apolitical may affirm their rejection to any involvement with a political party and the process of electing individuals to public office, but they are far from being immune to the effects of politics in their lives. We are all affected by what goes on in our community, city, county, state or nation, and even what goes on in the world. By not participating in the political process people already are involved. There isn’t such a thing, as “I do not vote.” By not voting they are voting in favor of what the majority vote for, therefore, accepting the outcome of the decisions of others. There’s no immunity here for anyone regardless of personal beliefs.
The truth is, no one can escape from participating in politics every single day. Life’s issues are constantly before us, not just during the political seasons. If someone denies that all issues are political they do not understand the nature, sources, or the lasting consequences of those issues. George Orwell wrote: “All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia.” [1]
Orwell was correct in assessing the politics of his time classifying them as lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. Not much has changed since then, has it? It really is a gloomy scenario for national and worldwide condition of humanity if this is the only perspective there is in politics. If this is the only option, then there are valid reasons to lose hope in politics and politicians. Orwell gives the right assessment, however, a question we should pose clearly to his assessment is, what alternative is there for fixing politics? Or, are we doomed to be under such worldview for the rest of history? We will get to the answers in a moment.
So, are people wrong in their assessment of politics? No. In reality such a position does not exist, the very nature of human existence will not allow it. There is no such thing as moral neutrality. The universal law of action and reaction, which by the way does not just apply to physics (Newton’s law of motion), but to all areas of life which includes politics whether we understand it or not. It doesn’t matters if we accept or reject it. This should also answer the second question: Why do some believe it is better not to get involved in politics?
The first question is, why are politics and politicians dirty? This question has a simple answer and yet for most it can be a difficult one to figure out.
Can we separate the politician from his politics? An intelligent answer would be no. A politician is a person with personal beliefs that cause him or her to act according to those concepts. It is not uncommon to hear politicians, especially those who have more exposure in the national platform, to constantly change their position on social issues, which is another way of saying morality. Those who at one time where against the killing of babies in the mother’s womb, after seeing the poll numbers, change their position because more people want to continue killing the babies. This is when we hear politicians flip-flop and say they have changed their position from being against to being in favor of a critical issue. Clearly winning an election is all that matters to them.
The same thing happens in other areas. Let us mention just a handful and then you figure it out by doing some homework. The list is disturbing, such as ignoring and trashing the Constitution, government control of education, attempts for total control of freedom of expression, same-sex marriage, all levels of government spending, constant increase of taxes and debt, health care, determining interest rates, misuse of Executive powers, moral political scandals, mismanagement of energy resources, reviving the race card, illegal immigration, foreign policy, open violation of the Second Amendment to take peoples guns, and much more. It can be overwhelming to keep track of all that is going on in politics; all the laws they continue to invent in order to exercise greater control of society.
Most politicians who had a clear understanding on all these issues and how damaging they are, when the pressure is on, we hear them speak of a change of mind and join those who want to perpetuate the damage upon society. Of course, apparently, everything is done for the good of all making them the gods of the nation. They will not accept any challenge, that is, until people wake up and accept their responsibility for the nation’s condition. Corruption breeds corruption—that is its nature and we cannot expect a different outcome, that is, unless the person has a change of mind to do what is historically right and tested by time.
If politics are dirty, corrupted and are the outcome of politicians ideas and decisions, then what needs to change? You know the answer to this one, right? Good, I am glad it is obvious to you.
King Solomon is known to have been the wisest person before Jesus, and yet, when he died he left a nation overloaded with a tax burden and in shambles because he departed from obeying God’s ethics and the wisdom He provided for him. Nevertheless, he wrote about moral absolutes even though he didn’t follow his own understanding of them:
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people…. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan,” (Proverbs 14:34, 29:2).
Here we have the answer to the question of why politics and politicians are dirty. Simple and to the point, no “ifs, ands, or buts” about it, sin in people’s lives produces wickedness and everything in life and social institutions goes amuck.
Evil does not just appear in society, people either embrace and live by God’s ethics or they embrace evil ethics producing the fruit according to that choice. It is one or the other. Both have been at war in human history for over six thousand years.
If you’re one of those who believe that there is a separation between the sinner and the sin, then you have a lot of explaining to do because that’s not the way the God of the Bible sees it and He explains it from Genesis to Revelation. From God’s ethical perspective the sinner must repent of his sins and turn away from his wicked ways, otherwise there are consequences to face in the present and future of their personal, family, community and national life.
Do we want the United States of America to have a better future and regain its freedom and not continue down the slippery slope of corruption? Then Christians in America must understand what the Forefathers and Founding Fathers understood about sinful human nature. We must be cognizant when electing politicians what to look for when it comes to morality and character:
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” – Samuel Adams (1781)
Long before the American Revolution Samuel Adams in 1748 said: “It is a very great mistake to imagine that the object of loyalty is the authority and interest of one individual man, however dignified by the applause or enriched by the success of popular actions.” – Samuel Adams, Loyalty and Sedition, essay in The Advertiser, 1748
Historically, man pleasers, in the end, destroy everything they craved. Man pleasers are very unstable in all their ways; it is foolish to trust in them. I agree 100% with Samuel Adams, the Father of the American Revolution; we are accountable to God and to the country for the social outcome.
On the other hand, when individuals want to do the will of the God of the Bible they understand that righteousness is the outcome of applying God’s ethical standards in all areas of life. The outcome is always of great benefit for everyone, including those who reject God’s existence.
This is the very reason another Founding Father was clear about who should be elected to public office: “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” – John Jay President of Congress; Diplomat; original Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and Governor of New York.
Yes, politics are dirty, and need total cleaning. What are you willing to do? Do not despair in thinking everything is hopeless. Join the millions of Americans who are waking up and want to restore this nation under God.
What do you say America, the Founding Fathers did it, do you think it can be done again? Let us not lose sight of God’s instructions to Joshua for success of undertaking any task, regardless of how monumental the odds are (Joshua 1:5-9).
I highly recommend you become familiar with and make known to as many people as you can the concepts written in a timely manner by Joel McDurmon’s, Restoring America: One County at a Time. It is an inspiring and practical vision of America based upon the Bible, covering ten major areas of life: Education, welfare, local government, state government, taxation, money and banking, free markets, courts, war and the military and executive power. You may acquire this book on our website or to download it in PDF version go here.