“THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE”

How concerned or involved should Christians in America be with national affairs? A reasonable and timely question, especially now, as the Left is making headway here following the same playbook used since the Bolshevik takeover of Russia to overthrow governments and convert nations into socialist/communist totalitarian states minus as much Christian presence and influence as possible.

Some contend that any concern or involvement in anything political is unbecoming of Christians, that, after all, we are citizens of another kingdom, God is on His throne and in control, and Jesus is coming soon, etc. But does it, should it, reflect negatively on the spirituality and testimony of Christians if they manifest any concern with national affairs? I don’t think so.

C.R. Curtman – FYI is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribed

Christians holding the “no-involvement” position often reference 2 Tim 2:4: “No man that warmth entangleth himself in the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him as a soldier.” The key word here is “entangleth.” Christians can become overly-occupied, even obsessed with any number of the “affairs of this life” which are good and needful.

Secular entanglement happens when the spiritual “affairs of this life” are subordinated to secular affairs which are allowed to militate against a Christian’s duty to “Grow in grace,and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18) andbe a good soldier and servant to Jesus (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 7:22; 2 Tim. 2:4).

Believers can become so entangled in the secular “affairs of this life” whether they involve their vocations, occupations, hobbies or even with friends and family, etc. that they become diverted, distracted, and drawn away from their first priority which

is, “Seek ye first,” our Lord said, “the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt.6:33). Matthew Henry’s comments on 2 Tim. 2:4 are helpful:

“If we have given up ourselves to be Christ’s soldiers, we must sit loose to this world; and though there is no remedy, but we must employ ourselves in the affairs of this life while we are here (we have something to do here), we must not entangle ourselves with those affairs, so as by them to be diverted and drawn aside from our duty to God and the great concerns of ourChristianity.”

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus admonished; “these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” This admonition can and should be applied by Christians to “the affairs of this life.” There are things that “ought to be done” by them relative to politics and national affairs; but not at the expense of minimizing, marginalizing, or leaving“undone” their duties relative to spiritual affairs.

Christians need to prioritize “the affairs of this life” according to a spiritual perspective that will not allow them to become out-of-balance or “brought under the power“ (1 Cor. 6:12) of anything involved in the “affairs of this life.”

Here’s a concluding thought: American Christians share the blessings of this unique land and liberty that has made possible an unprecedented and unparalleled propagation of the Gospel. They have at least as much responsibility for national affairs as any other American. A careful and honest reading of the principles of Romans 13:1-7 makes this clear.

C.R. Curtman – FYI is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribed