Counsel #5 — Political Legislation Toward Religious Goals

Picture: Counsel #5 — Political Legislation Toward Religious GoalsCSI 48.1

The Christian’s commission is to evangelize the world with the gospel of Jesus, not to work toward legislation to declare their country officially a Christian nation, a Muslim nation, or any other religion. Neither is the Christian’s goal to try to fill the courts with judges of their political persuasion. After all, Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).^{[85]https://adventistreview.org/magazine-article/2101-46/}CSI 48.2

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19, 20CSI 48.3

“[Multitudes] desire to make our Lord the ruler of the kingdoms of this world, the ruler in its courts and camps, its legislative halls, its palaces and market places. They expect Him to rule through legal enactments, enforced by human authority…. Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit.” Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p. 509CSI 48.4

Reflect: With honest self-examination, in what ways might you be in danger of emphasizing political goals more than fulfilling Christ’s commission? CSI 48.5