Tim,
Please convince me from the New Testament.
Politics is an area where we can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13-16 NIV).
In this area, we can 'speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute' (Prov 31:8) and it's a practical way to make a way for those who 'may have something to share with those in need
(Eph 4:28 NIV).
On average,
Australians think we invest 16% of the Federal Budget on overseas aid, and believe that we should be spending something closer to 12%. In reality, Australia spends $4.044 billion dollars on overseas aid – that’s just 0.21% of our gross national income, or 21 cents in every $100.
In comparison, the United Kingdom has enshrined a commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI in aid every year into law. We are lagging behind other wealthy countries such as Sweden, who contribute 1.1 per cent of GNI, the Netherlands at 0.65 per cent, and Germany at 0.41 per cent (
source).
Peter wrote in the God-breathed Scripture:
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor (1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV).
In Rom 13:1-7 and 1 Pet 2:13-17 we see some of the functions of govt. Nowhere do I read that Christians should not be involved in politics or government. Our current Australian Prime Minister is a Pentecostal Christian. One of our Senators for my State of Queensland,
Amanda Stoker, is an evangelical Christian.
Read one of our former deputy Prime Minister's, John Anderson's,
tribute to Ravi Zacharias.
To keep John Anderson and Amanda Stoker out of public life would have been a travesty. They are a light in the darkness of politics.
Oz