Coach's Corner

How Should Christians Relate to Their Government

Politics, politics, politics -- mostly everything that has been in the media these days has surrounded around the topic of politics. North America has walked through both a Canadian and an American election. It amazes me how many Canadians have been more enthralled with the American election than our own Canadian election. The main contributor to this reality is the vast media attention as well as the length of the American campaign. A two year campaign on the American side was the length of a Canadian political term by the Harper government. We have been exposed to endless speeches, debates, commercials, and newspaper articles. Now that both Canadian and American governments are in place -- the waters are expected to quiet. In the campaign quietness the Christian needs to reflect and evaluate on how we are to relate to our governments.

My feeling is that many times we as Christians tend to want to Christianize our government leaders. By Christianize I mean pushing our Christian values onto our government leaders. There is no doubt I believe it is important to stand up for godliness, however, I wonder if at times we have forgotten about the human being behind the political platform. Whether its Harper or Obama we need to always remember that God created them in their mother's womb with a plan and purpose for each of their lives. They are both husbands and fathers with family challenges and dynamics like the rest of us. Sure their lifestyles may be drastically different than our own, but they are still made of the same "stuff" as we are. I am challenged by the Words of the Apostle Paul when he says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). I think many times around the water cooler or around the kitchen table we can be quick to criticize but let us remember this important principle of considering others better than ourselves -- including our political leaders. After all, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).

Posted November 01, 2008