Politics? No, Churches!

Sept.9, 2024

Sometimes I wonder what politics is. Or rather, what it is to me. Most commentaries on politics I do not like, even if it favors what I favor. Writers say too little or too much (many might say that about me, also—and they might be correct.) But in wondering what is politics, I have adopted the habit of saying that politics is nothing more than “messing with the policy!” 

To mess with policy is to delve into a practice already in place having a belief that to change it to “my way” is going to improve it! Subsequently, my suggestions are seldom picked and grandly be made into national policy. Like most pundits, that doesn’t deter me from having opinions which I affirm to any and all who will stop and listen to me talk about them. Continually doing that from as far back as the day John Kennedy was assassinated until now—61 years later— has not garnered me a large audience and rarely has there been very many who were begging me to run for office. Yet, I continue.

On that fateful day, I worked in an open office setting with about 45 other people. The man next to me, a mentor on certain life things, was a 50 year old man who was a staunch patriot, leaning Republican but enjoying Kennedy’s administration (as would all Republicans today) and he sadly told several of us about hearing it on the news. The office manager, a strictly Republican of mind bent remarked, “Somebody finally got the old bird, eh?” ….and the room became eerily quiet. It was the beginning of a long mourning period, longer than any I had seen except when my brother Don was killed. Partisan politics right then escaped out of my feeble young mind and has never since won a place back in. If you talk with me, you might think me a Republican, but I can assure you I am farther to the right than 99% of Republicans. But, I might very well follow and support an old-thought Democrat. During the first part of Kennedy’s administration there was a bumper sticker that said, “I MISS IKE” —which soon fostered another one which said, “I MISS IKE, HELL! I EVEN MISS HARRY”—a reference to conservative governing by Eisenhower and before him by Truman. In those days Hell being on a bumper sticker was tantamount to cursing out one’s wife on the street!

I liked that second one because I grew into being a reader of the newspaper when Truman was president (My age 8-10.) Before Ike’s first term was up, I was in the Jr. High years and had a wonderful teacher who didn’t allow us to ignore the American political world. Mr. Cecil Utterback was a tremendously well read man and one of my favorite teachers, though at the time I’m sure I didn’t tell him.  About 15 years after my two year stint of being taught by him, I saw him on a trip back to Trafalgar. I went to his table in the local restaurant and expressed to him my appreciation for his teaching. He was stoically glad to see me and very stoically thanked me. (I didn’t impress him, but then, I couldn’t.)

Shortly after age 31, I began to study the bible with a renewed spiritual interest. I had placed my trust in Christ for eternal life at age 22. But now, at age 31, I began to see what I didn’t know! (A great revelation to anyone at any age, but after 30 it strikes one as being more vital to their purpose —that’s a biblical thought. Check out the requirements for the O.T. priesthood and their service to the Lord.)  

I was living in Oxford, AL and began attending a bible study in Anniston, AL, just a couple miles away. By seeing new things which had been written so long ago yet not within my knowledge, I saw yet another way to measure politics—through the eyes of God’s Holy Word. What a perspective! I never saw any denominations in Scripture, but I did see the activity of politics inside every denomination! Politics and Religions then, were producing the same things: some new ways to mess with the policy! Yet, taking the bible as God’s word on the subjects at hand, there is never a chance to “mess” with what God has said—it’s his word!  Surely nobody would mess with God’s word, right?

The continuation of that once per week bible study caused my wife and I to see the misapplication of bible doctrines inside our church, but not just our church; it seemed to be in many or all churches. Thoughts of concern for even my own father’s church, as well as the one I was currently a member of, and those of several acquaintances around me caused me to set a course of study using the support material for many denominations—27, in fact. As I read each denominations’ materials it occurred to me that it was as if i was reading propaganda designed to make me want to become one of them! Every one of them had something in their doctrinal message which did not agree with the principal of studying by “rightly dividing the word of truth.”—2 Tim.2:15.

Naturally, I resented that and soon we dropped our membership of the denomination we had chosen and remain unaffiliated….to this day. There is NO Biblical reason to belong to a denomination. Many (or most) saved people today have no concern whatever with propagating a denomination, rather we who are saved and know it are more concerned with showing people “…how that Christ died for our sins,..was buried and was raised from the dead the 3rd day…” and swiftly to the point “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” When one (perhaps you if this fits you) places his trust in Christ and His finished work of Calvary, and believing Christ was raised from the dead in order for us to be justified with God (seeRom.4:24,25, 5:1) that one is eternally saved. What good would a church membership do him?

Well, may I step into a position you might not have seen coming? I DO believe some good comes from being a part of a congregation! No, I don’t advocate “belonging” to a church—you belong to the Lord and no one else! (A brief story about this thought: When I began to see the differences in the Scripture and coming to the conclusion to leave denominations behind, my pastor paid me a visit to get some re-assurance he could “count on us.” So, the following short dialogue took place: 

I said, “Paul, do you believe a person has to be baptized to be saved?” He said, “No, Jerry, you know I don’t believe that!” “Right,” I said.

“Do you believe I would have to be baptized to witness for the Lord to the next person I met?” He again replied, “No, of course not.”

I said, “Paul, do I have to be baptized to be a member of your church?” He said, “Yes.”

I said, “Why?” He said, “Cause we’re Baptists.” 

I waited, but he either didn’t get it or didn’t want to get it. He got up and said he had found what came to see…and that was the last time we talked.

Did you see politics? Or do you think that his point was a pure truth from God’s word? I hope you saw church membership for what it is; a political ruse, a ploy, a machination for political gain! I know some are purer though

Oh, wait. I said there was some value to being in a congregation, correct? Yes, I did. It is a biblical principle to be in “fellowship” with like-minded people. the Psalmist praised the group setting in 3 passages: Ps.22:22; Ps.122:8; and 133:1. The writer of Hebrews also in ch.10:25 —so, Old testament and New Testament admonishes believers to dwell together in harmony.

In fact, our Apostle Paul (neither OT or NT) wrote several verses concerning this for us, the church, which is His Body. 1 Cor.1:10 quickly comes to mind because of the multiple verbs used to describe the state in which we should collectively abide:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (emphasis mine.)

The verse plainly shows it is written to a group of people. Paul’s attention to “the church…” is 5 times in the book of Acts and 34 times in his Epistles. Church congregations are VERY important to those who are seeking to know the Lord, and those who newly know the Lord, and for them to rely on the experiences of those who have known the Lord for longer periods of time. These bible churches have zero (0) denomination factoring. We should gather together! And we do have many congregations totally free of the binding ties of “we are _______!” Personally, I can put anyone who asks in touch with one of these kinds of congregation, probably near to your home, no matter where you live.

My friends, flee the political world, Stand up for Jesus! and let the otherwise folk do whatever they want to do. 

I thank you for reading, the Elder.