should Christians engage in politics? - Christian Medical Fellowship

should Christians engage in politics?Mark Bowers says ‘Yes!’It is somewhat surprising that the RoyalSociety for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)rarely gets onto the six o’clock news. Itscampaigns on behalf of endangered albatrossesand the protection of Devon’s wild wetland areleft largely unreported by mainstream media.I say ‘surprising’ because the RSPB has a largermembership than that of all the main politicalparties combined! 1 Yes it’s true: political partymembership is at rock bottom; scepticism rulesthe day, and ‘politics’ is very much a dirty word.Despite this, politics continues to dominatethe national imagination. Recently, itsrelationship with religion has come underattack. Some commentators have warned ofthe supposed lethality of mixing religion andpolitics. 2 They accuse Christian forays intothe world of politics of being endeavoursto suppress plurality and curtail freedoms.And surely, we murmur quietly in our pews,they have a point.As Christians we are told not to become ‘sowell-adjusted to our culture that we fit into itwithout even thinking’ 3 so before we score outpolitics from our possible career list, we firstmust ask ourselves what God has to say on thematter. Is there any foundation for Christianpolitical engagement in the Bible? And if so,what does it look like?When we study the Bible, we see manyinstances where things get political. At thetime of the Old Testament, ancient Israel wasa theocracy. Its society, economy and culturewere largely shaped by divine guidance in theform of the Torah (the Jewish name for the firstfive books of the Bible). The Psalmist statedthat ‘The Lord is King!’ And for ancient Israel,he really was!By Jesus’time the politicalset up had changedsignificantly – but thepolitics was still there.In his early childhood,Jesus had a close shavewith Herod the puppetruler of the Roman Empire. 4During his adult years, hisdisciples thought he wasa revolutionary. 5 He maderadical claims about thedestruction of the Templein Jerusalem, asignificant seat ofpolitical power in theold theocracy. 6Pharisees, Sadduceesand Zealots (allpolitical movementswith differing visions forthe nation) come intocontact with the strange,new Rabbi from Nazarethat one time or another. 7, 8Indeed, Jesus’ talk of the‘Kingdom of God’ must havebeen very controversialin a land under foreignoccupation. 9 Of course,the KingdomJesus spokeof was fargreater inscopeand18SPRING 2012

Mark Bowers is an intercalatingmedical student in Leedssignificance than hisaudience could imagine(Nicodemus found outthat to enter it one mustexperience thephenomena of rebirth), 10but his claim of kingshipover everyone — includingPilate, Caesar, presidentsand prime-ministers — iscentral to the Christianmessage. 11 No, Jesus didn’tact like a wannabee mayoror a military revolutionary,but he engaged many of thepublic issues of his day anddidn’t hold back when he feltthe need to criticise thenational leaders.In considering issues likepoverty, social justice andoppression, the sheer volumeand tone of the Bible’s ‘political’nature becomes apparent. Forexample, God’s warning to thepoliticians of the prophetIsaiah’s day: ‘Woe to thosewho make unjust laws, tothose who issue oppressivedecrees, to deprive the poorof their rights and withholdjustice from theoppressed ofmy people,makingwidowstheirprey and robbing the fatherless.’ 12And in case the ancient Israelites were notsure what the consequence was for ignoringthe poor, Ezekiel enlightened his listeners witha disconcerting spin on the famous story ofSodom’s destruction: ‘Now this was the sin ofyour sister Sodom: she and her daughters werearrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they didnot help the poor and needy.’ 13If politics is about leadership and authority,the ultimate reality of Jesus’ spiritual kingshipurges Christians to engage with politics. And ifpolitics is about how we relate to each otherin society, then God’s passion for the poor andoppressed should urge Christians to engagewith politics, even if it is only to give a voiceto those who have none.the call for Christian engagement inpolitics is clear, then. But what aboutmedics like us? Is there really a politicalrole for us in the careers God has ledus into?For you, the challenge may be to askprayerfully ‘What am I really passionate about?’William Wilberforce is best known as a Christianpolitician who significantly contributed to theending of the transatlantic slave trade. But didyou know he was also a founder of the Societyfor the Protection of Animals (later RSPCA)?And in his spare time he ran a major campaignfor the restoration of politeness in England?Here was a man who had many passions andfound himself able to use politics to achieveincredible goals.One natural area of passion for the Christianmedic is resource allocation. At the moment,the UK healthcare system is largely free at theSPRING 201219

should Christians engage in politics?point of use – but is this sustainable? Are thereany real alternatives and how would they affectthe poorest in our nation? Besides financialissues, there are myriad concerns about NHSorganisation, strategy and morale which allrequire godly wisdom and good leadership.If anyone should be passionately concernedabout the issues that affect the health andwelfare of millions, it should be Christianmedics.Then there are the ethical issues that arisein our field. God created each of us, both thosewho believe in Christ and those who do not. 14We who have come to know and believe in hislove for us 15 must trust that his commands aregiven with good intent and for our ultimatebenefit. To be silent about the gift of his law,then, is not loving! Rather, to be truly faithfulto the Great Commission 16 and to genuinelylove those around us, we must declare tosociety everything that our Lord taught us. 17When appropriate, this must include God’seternal principles about the value of life,the structure of the family, and the imageof God in man.how can we respond to the callfor engagement in politics?National organisations like Care for the Family(careforthefamily.org.uk) and Christian Concern(christianconcern.com) send out newslettersand run events justfor students. There’salso the fantastic CMFSummer School in Junewhere you can get schooled inethics, missions and writing. 18I know I appreciated the ideasI got there about introducingmy faith into my conversation,my medical school, and societyin general.But even before you get that far,CMF has a fantastic collection ofmaterial that will help you find outfor yourself what you believe aboutsome of the big, difficult issuesin medicine. For a greatintroduction, check out MattLillicrap’s article: Working outa biblical ethic. 19 Or for amore in-depth look, check outthe CMF classic Matters of Lifeand Death. 20 It is just possiblethat knowing what you believeabout these issues may be thestart of your journey into theworld of politics. ■REFERENCES1. RSPB. More people than ever saving nature, 2010.2. Harris S. The end of faith: religion, terror, and the future of reason.London: Free Press, 20063. Romans 12:2 (MSG)4. Matthew 2:16-185. Acts 1:66. Matthew 24:1-27. Matthew 16:68. Luke 6:159. Mark 9:110. John 3:311. 1 Corinthians 15:2412. Isaiah 10:1,213. Ezekiel 16:4914. Acts 17:2815. 1 John 4:16 (ESV)16. Matthew 28:1917. Matthew 28:2018. www.cmf.org.uk/students/events/summer-school-201219. Lillicrap M. Working out a biblical ethic. Nucleus 2011; Summer:14-1920. Wyatt J. Matters of Life and Death. Nottingham: IVP, 2009Available from www.cmf.org.uk/bookstore20SPRING 2012