Letters to the Editor (June 2025)
I was concerned to read the “Letter to the Editor,” written by an unnamed author, on the topic of “Political Involvement” (Volume 88, Number 5, May 2025).
Read Time: 2 minutes
I do believe that we are on dangerous ground when Christadelphians spend large amounts of time on social media, and especially when they are engaged in public debate on political issues. This holds true, especially for those who are in high esteem. I am deeply disturbed that the American democracy is under threat right now, and I can draw parallels to the late 1920s and early 1930s in Germany as to what is going on now in the US. My wife and family talk about this, but we limit our discussions. We are more interested in how these fit into God’s plan.
I think that this issue may be used to focus our minds on the positive. That is how presently we do have citizenship, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. We are awaiting that Kingdom becoming reality here on earth, which is the vision of the Kingdom of God that aligns us all. Nonetheless, we are citizens prospectively of that Kingdom today.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) says:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
One question we must ask ourselves is, are we “children of this world [cosmos],” or are we the “children of light?” I believe that we all (that is, those who have put on Christ) would identify with the “children of light.” So, we need to behave accordingly. That is easier to do when things are going along smoothly. But in the political climate of the United States, which is now highly polarized, things are not going smoothly around us. Our human reaction is to put our defenses up and be prepared for battle against these external influences. But the real question is what should the children of light do when these things happen? It is hard when we see God’s principles violated. One administration openly supported lifestyles contrary to God’s commandments. A new administration appears to be destroying Constitutional rights that residents of the United States are supposed to have. But what should the household of faith do? If these are truly the end times, we should follow the admonition of Isaiah 26:20-21 and enter into our chambers until the indignation be over past. If that is the direction to take, we should be inwardly focused on the household of faith.
We cannot escape this time of trouble for the United States. We see it everywhere, in newscasts, political commentaries, and protests that are located in many places. Often, people experience fear, anger, and other intense emotions.
In the BASF, Doctrines to Be Rejected, it says:
- We reject the doctrine—that we are at liberty to take part in politics, or recover debts by legal coercion.
Most in our community believe that to “take part in politics” at least means we should refrain from voting. Personally, in the spirit of Christ, it means much more. We need to explore more fully what it means.
We are all literally at the mercy of our government to enjoy our Constitutional freedoms. When those are taken away, I can relate better to what it was like to those who were oppressed in this country.
But it is a suitable time to take stock of what we should do.
James E. Land,
Los Angeles Ecclesia, CA