LET THE BIBLE SPEAK.

THE EARLY CHRISTIAN'S STAND ON POLITICAL ACTIVISM.  Benson Omole. The early Christians (from the 1st century until the early 4th century) generally maintained a distance from active political life for a combination of theological, practical, and moral reasons. To them, being a Christian meant a complete shift in identity that often made the political structures of the time incompatible with their faith.   Here are the primary reasons why they stayed away from politics: 1. The Theology of "Two Kingdoms". The early church lived with a dual-citizenship mindset. They believed they were citizens of an earthly nation, but their primary and ultimate loyalty was to the Kingdom of God.   Jesus’ Example: When Jesus was questioned by Pilate, He stated, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Early Christians took this literally. If the King they followed refused an earthly throne, they felt they should not strive for earthly power either.   Th...

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT COLLECTING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCE (EXTORTION). Extortion is using force, threats, pretence, and position of power to take money or property from someone unfairly.  The Bible condemns it repeatedly as theft or oppression. 1. It is Theft and Injustice, God calls it evil. Read, Exodus 20:15: “You shall not steal.” Extortion is stealing by tricks, force, or pretence. - Read, Lev.19:13, "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.”   Withholding a Worker's pay through threat is extortion. - Read, Micah 2:2. “They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.”  God calls out powerful people taking from the weak, by force. - Read, Isaiah 3:14-15. “The Lord will enter into judgment with the Elders and Princes of his people: ‘It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the s...

Who Is Not a Christian? Six centuries before the birth of Christ among men, the prophet Isaiah foretold that a new name would be given to the people of God. The prophet wrote, "And the nations shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory: and thou shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name" (Isa. 62:2).  The Lord was going to give his people a new name! This prophecy is not fulfilled until we come to the New Testament, to the eleventh chapter of Acts. By this time, Christ has come, has given his blood for the sins of the world, and has been resurrected from the dead. The church has now been established and the gospel is being preached among the nations. Thus, the stage is set for the giving of this new name, and in Acts 11:26 we read, "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch". The name Christian is not a term of derision. Rather, this is the new name which God gave to his people, a name to be worn with joy ...

How the Early Church Approached Politics By Tyler Boyd, and Benson Omole. In the early church there was widespread agreement that it was inappropriate for Christians to seek political power. These early Christians believed that their separation from the state was an important part of following the example of Jesus. By “early church” I mean the church prior to the year 313, the year Emperor Constantine ended the persecution of Christianity. When Christianity transitioned from a persecuted religion to a government-endorsed religion, this led to a rapid change of perspective and practice on many issues. Why Care What the Early Church Did? The early Christians were fallible human beings. They wrote uninspired words. They were just as capable of error as men in any other generation. Although the early church’s practices and teachings did correspond to the New Testament in many ways, they made errors as well. We shouldn’t just agree with everything the early church said or did. The Bible is ...

Political System Adopted By God, in Governance.   By Olufemi Omole, COC Leicester, UK. 1. The Political System: Theocracy The political system God established among Israel is best described as a theocracy. A theocracy means God Himself is the supreme ruler, and all authority flows directly from Him—not from the people or human institutions. 2. God as King of Israel From the beginning, God made it clear that He was their King: In Exodus 19:5–6, God calls Israel “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” In Judges 8:23, Gideon said: “I will not rule over you… the Lord shall rule over you.” In 1 Samuel 8:7, when Israel demanded a human king, God told Samuel: “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”  This shows clearly: God intended to be their direct ruler. 3. Structure of Governance Under God Although God was King, He governed through appointed representatives: a. Prophets (Spiritual Authority) Men like Moses and ...

THE CHRISTIAN AND POLITICS. Kunle Eniola  Introduction Beloved brethren, politics is an integral part of human society. It influences leadership, laws, and the direction of nations. As Christians living in this world, we cannot completely avoid its effects. Yet the question remains: What should be the Christian’s proper attitude toward politics? Many have gone to extremes—some completely withdrawing, others becoming so entangled that their faith is overshadowed. The Word of God provides a balanced approach that helps us live faithfully in any political environment. 1. God Is Sovereign Over All Governments The Scriptures make it clear that all authority ultimately originates from God. In Romans 13:1–2, the apostle Paul teaches that “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Likewise, Daniel 2:21 remind us that God “removes kings and raises up kings.” Even our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed this truth in John 19:11, whe...