One of these books is a neat little cultural commentary from the early 90s called Power Religion: The Selling Out of the Evangelical Church. It has selections from Sproul, Carson, Packer, Nettles, etc. One chapter I read was written by Chuck Colson on the relationship between the church and politics. It was originally written in the late 80s but Colson updated it a bit for the book. I find this absolutely fascinating.
For those of you who aren’t history nerds, you’ll need to know who Chuck Colson was. He was a powerful political person in the Nixon administration. But he ended up doing time because of his involvement in the Watergate Scandal. Colson, while in prison, came to Christ. He became a vocal minister of the gospel and started Prison Fellowship, a great ministry for prisoners and their families. Colson also continued using his gifts in writing on cultural issues impacting the church.
Keep in mind that this was written prior to Bill Clinton being in office and at the tail end of the Reagan administration. In this chapter Colson speaks of the dangers of utopian activism. He says, “Christians should not unwarily plunge into the political marshlands, thinking they will drain the swamp. There are traps. I know; I used to set them” (34). Colson goes on to tell stories of how during the Nixon administration they would strategically use people of faith to further their political agendas. After telling these stories Colson gives three pitfalls to politicalization
1. The church will become just another special-interest group.
2. Christian leaders who are courted by political forces may soon begin to overestimate their own importance. Colson notes,
A side effect of this delusion is that rather than lose their access to political influence, some church leaders have surrendered their independence…Although such rationalizing is understandable the result is exactly the opposite; they keep their place but lose their voice and thus any possibility of holding government to account. (36)
3. The gospel becomes hostage to the political fortunes of a particular movement. Here he notes the hand-wringing which takes place from Christians on both sides of the political aisle. As if the church of Jesus Christ will collapse if a political party doesn’t win the day.
“Only the church free of any outside domination can be the conscience of society…”
I’ll refrain from commenting here. I think the words of Chuck Colson given as a warning in the early 90’s should speak loud enough.
—
Photo source: here
