ARE POLITICS AND CHRISTIANITY A GOOD MIXTURE?
FACT: History proves that when the state is ruled by the so called “church”, true biblical Christianity is always corrupted and persecution is always the result.
Judaism, the precursor of Christianity:
God regarded it as an evil thing when the Israelites demanded a king like the heathen nations because their desire was to be like the world and therefore a rejection of Him (1 Samuel 8, 12/17). The elders demanded a king for political motives, but an earthly sovereign was a rejection of God’s sovereignty. Samuel the prophet was told to solemnly warn the Israelites about the consequences of self-government. Many accounts of the monarchs of Israel frequently begin with the damning phrase:
"He did evil in the sight of the Lord." This was because of Israelites engaged in
“the detestable practices of the nations” i.e. Baal worship/idolatry (e.g. Judges 2/11-13, 19; 3/7; 8/33; 10/6). God repeatedly warned the Israelites against idolatry (Deuteronomy 4/15; 5/7-10; 12/2-3). Invariably judgement followed and the Israelites became the captives of their enemies (Judges 3/8, 14). This is also a picture of many churches today that follow worldly programmes and open themselves up to ecumenism without considering the clear prohibition of the Lord. The warning not to worship
“other gods” or
“the gods of the nations” was repeated many times to the Israelites. This warning is also applicable to modern day Christianity, though you would not know it looking at the syncretism going on within the church today.
Christianity was formalized as the religion of the state at the Council of Nicaea around 300AD due to the Emperor Constantine’s fake conversion in the fourth century. Constantine fused Christianity with Mithraism (sun worship) and united his kingdom through syncretism. He had many obliging bishops who disregarded the teachings of Jesus Christ and willingly collaborated with Constantine for the sake of ambition and power. Augustine of Hippo, the so called founding father of Roman Catholicism, perverted the scriptures to fit in with Constantine’s political agenda. Examples of Augustine’s doctrinal errors can be found in
The Visible and Invisible Church. His teaching includes denial of free will, necromancy (praying to the dead), infant damnation, transmission of sin, infant baptism, baptismal regeneration, anti-Semitism, replacement theology (the church replaces Israel) and celibacy/sexual suppression. According to Augustine, the church was justified in using violence to convert unbelievers. He legally coerced and persecuted believers who disagreed with him and had Christians thrown to the lions when they did not agree with the official creed!
Calvin’s police state in Geneva was not pretty either:
"Given his (Calvin’s) policy of murdering people who disagreed with him in the Islamic Taliban style police state he set up in Geneva (that was imitated by John Knox and the Presbyterians in Scotland and by the Puritans in England – who ironically slaughtered each other in the name of Christ in a Calvinistic jihad, just as the Muslims do), some people question if John Calvin was ever born again. Unlike other Reformers, he never once writes or testifies of a personal regeneration or testimony." http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/uncategorized/reformed-theology-covenant-theology-and-dispensationalism
Much more could be said on this subject, but is not within the scope of this article to go further.
Jesus Christ: My kingdom is not of this world. (John 18/36).
Politics is undoubtedly about THIS WORLD.
Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4/4).
The position I take is called the
TWO KINGDOM CONCEPT i.e. the kingdom of heaven or of Christ (the Church) is different and distinct from the kingdoms of this world. Civil government is secular in nature while Christianity is spiritual. Believers are described as
sojourners and exiles (1 Peter 2/11) being in the world but not of it (John 15/19), and therefore separate from it. Jesus Christ put the emphasis on preaching the gospel so that men will be born again and changed from the inside out.
The issue is the sinfulness of the human heart.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2/15)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12/2)
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ….. (Philippians 3/20)
The problem is that when Christians become involved in politics they innevitably rely on
the arm of the flesh i.e. human mechanisms and motivations which are evil in God’s sight.
Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17/5)
"Believers throughout the ages have lived, and even flourished, under antagonistic, repressive, pagan governments. This was especially true of the first-century believers who, under merciless political regimes, sustained their faith under immense cultural stress. They understood that it was they, not their governments, who were the light of the world and the salt of the earth. They adhered to Paul’s teaching to obey their governing authorities, even to honor, respect, and pray for them (Romans 13:1-8). More importantly, they understood that, as believers, their hope resided in the protection that only God supplies. The same holds true for us today. When we follow the teachings of the Scriptures, we become the light of the world as God has intended for us to be (Matthew 5:16).
Political entities are not the savior of the world. The salvation for all mankind has been manifested in Jesus Christ. God knew that our world needed saving long before any national government was ever founded. He demonstrated to the world that redemption could not be accomplished through the power of man, his economic strength, his military might, or his politics. Peace of mind, contentment, hope and joy—and the salvation of mankind—is accomplished only through His work of faith, love, and grace." http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-politics.html
D L Moody:
“You can never reform anything by unequally yoking yourself to ungodly men.”
A hot subject is that the ultimate combination of political and religious power are identified as the two ingredients present in end time Antichrist/Beast system in the Book of Revelation! Many believe that the present ecumenical movement is the precursor of this end time beast system which will involve the merging of all religions. Adam Simmonds describes himself as a
“Christian” but his
“religious” agenda is overtly ecumenical! Simmonds unholy alliances with pagan religions appear to be of his own instigation, but according to the Apostle Paul, the gods of other religions are demons (1 Corinthians 10/20) - this is where I have a huge problem with Adam Simmonds. Simmonds is Director and Trustee of Trinity Life Church in Leicester which is an Assemblies of God Pentecostal denomination. TLC is
supposedly fundamental in its biblical beliefs and yet there is a HUGE contradiction, both with the actions of their pastor David Hind, and the actions of Adam Simmonds in his political role as PCC. Both men are committing spiritual adultery by colluding with
"other gods” through their ecumenism/interfaith connections in defiance of the clear biblical prohibition.
TLC’s statement: “WE LOVE GOD - He comes first, His Word is central and we aim for Jesus to be the centre of all we do”
TLC’s Vision: “To keep the foundations. We are a Jesus centered, Word and Spirit Church made up of men and women, young and old, rich and poor from every nation. We keep His commission and message central. We believe nothing is impossible for God. We are led by Godly, accountable, senior leaders, elders and staff.”
http://trinitylifechurch.org.uk/who-we-are/
What exactly are these foundations? The Word of God says:
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3/11). If TLC is a
Jesus centred Word and Spirit Church as they claim, then why are their two foremost alleged
“godly, accountable senior leaders” i.e. David Hind and Adam Simmonds involved with ecumenism?
Simmonds: “ I am a Christian with strong working relationships with other faith groups…..”
Is Simmonds involvement with
“faith groups” a move to "
keep Jesus' commission and message central" i.e.to
share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples to Christianity of all nations (Matthew 28/19)? Simmonds does not even mention the gospel! His stated reason:
“To pursue the aim of making Northamptonshire the safest place in England.”
Northampton Free School Trust
Simmonds claims to be independent of the Northampton Free School Trust, and yet there is information that Simmonds himself created the Trust! The initial concept of the school originated with Simmonds, and two members of his staff, namely Luke HARKIN and Kathryn BUCKLE have been actively involved in its promotion!!!
http://www.justintelligence.net/opcc---school.html
Furthermore, Simmonds has not denied that he knows the trustees personally and he has not denied that he encouraged their efforts to set up a trust!!!
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/school-is-preferred-option-to-replace-northampton-s-police-headquarters-1-5920206
Current Trustees of the school are:
Andrew Sortwell (Chairman), Brian Binley MP & Paul Clarke.
Additional members of core working group: Suresh Patel & Christine Emmett.
Two of the trustees of the proposed Northampton Free School are declared
Freemasons, one of whom is Brian Binley MP. How is it possible that
“committed Christian” Adam Simmonds
"associates” include two
Freemasons? It was reported some time ago in the Northampton Chronicle that Simmonds
denied being a Freemason himself -
Really?? Anyone who is
anyone in politics
is a Freemason and Simmonds
"cronyism" is very well documented. Whatever Simmonds is in reality is a
matter of conjecture, but I do have great difficulty with his
self-description as a
“Christian” in light of the Bible’s clear mandate:
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has
righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with
darkness? (2 Corinthians 6/14).
Albert Pike, Sovereign Grand Commander of the
Scottish Rite's Southern Jurisdiction for thirty two years, made it perfectly clear in his 861 page volume
Morals and Dogma that
Freemasonry is Luciferian!!!
Albert Pike:
“Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and pure philosophic religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal to Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil.” (Adonai = Lord - used in Judaism as a spoken substitute for the ineffable name of God.)
http://www.angelfire.com/oh/jude3and4homepage/alpikecritique.html
Though there are few details, the nature of this
“free school” is very New Age sounding:
"If successful, it is hoped the school will provide space for around 1,400 pupils aged four to 18-years-old with a focus on ‘citizenship, community and service’." http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Police-headquarters-Northampton-converted-school-2016/story-21676966-detail/story.html
“The Northamptonshire Police Force and Fire Services are keen to explore co-operation with faith group leaders across the County in order to pursue the aim of making Northamptonshire the safest place in England. Recognising the fact that faith-based organisations are already taking the lead in Community Involvement throughout the Country, Adam Simmonds, the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner, has set up THE OFFICE OF FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES in order to be able to help the Police to better engage with faith groups. The OFBCI is now looking to open discussions with those with leadership roles in faith groups and faith motivated initiatives throughout the County. They have already been in consultation with Churches Together Groups, Denominational leaders of the Christian Churches, leaders of the other Major Faith Groups and senior personnel of Street Pastors, Crime2Christ and other similar organisations, and they now wish to invite leaders of all faith groups…..” http://www.churches-together-northampton.org.uk/NovwebLOGOS.pdf
PCC addresses faith-based conference in Westminster:
Simmonds:
“In January 2014 I created an Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) within the Police and Crime Commission.” http://www.northants.police.uk/#!/News/24682
"OFBCI was established by President George W. Bush through an executive order[2] on January 29, 2001, representing one of the key domestic policies of Bush's campaign promise of "compassionate conservatism." The initiative sought to strengthen faith-based and community organizations and expand their capacity to provide federally funded social services, with the idea having been that these groups were well-situated to meet the needs of local individuals. As Texas governor, Bush had used the "Charitable Choice" provisions of the 1996 welfare reform (which allowed "faith-based" entities to compete for government contracts to deliver social services) to support the work of faith-based groups in Texas..
Critics of the OFBCI claimed that millions in government grants went to ministries operated by political supporters of the Bush administration, or were given to minority pastors who had recently committed their support to it." http://godandpoliticsuk.org/2013/04/22/david-kuo-is-dead-what-we-can-learn-from-his-life/
How does
love for God and keeping his word possibly square with Adam Simmonds creation of the OFBCI, involvment with Churches Together in Northampton, Interfaith Festival of Color Basti Ram and the Woolf Institute which specialises in the study of relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims from a multidisciplinary perspective.
http://www.togetherinservice.net/latest/category/news/
Trinity Life Church received their thirty pieces of silver from Big Lottery last year. With Simmonds as TLC's Director, I wonder if
The Open Hands Trust will benefit from more ungodly funding in the future?
http://www.togetherinservice.net/event/fast-track-to-funding-leicester/
http://www.faithaction.net/events/faith-too-significant-to-ignore/report/
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11/23)
Those who claim to be followers of Christ but who will not turn from disobedience to the Word of God do not love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2/10). Those who cannot tolerate the truth have no part of Christ.
Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. (Matthew 15/14)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Peter 2/1-3)
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4/3-4)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3/1-5)
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading. (Lamentations 2/14)
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.....” Revelation 18/4)
