Why the Churchâs Involvement in State Important
Not because you feel different from the others doesnât mean you have to change in order to belong. Just like the relationship of the Church to the state, the government, we must know that the Church has the very right to be involved in it. People like separists, atheists, or activists would say that they are a whole two different things, that the Church shouldnât be involved in lawmaking, and that they should just stick to teaching the Bible instead. These are all wrong. Church has to be recognized that it does have a role when it comes to politics and eventually, it plays  a prophetic ministry. Based on a research, âPropheticâ here means policy, structure, or issues in the name of God and Christ, or on behalf of a particular community. ( D. OâCallaghan, October 2015).
For the record, the reason why I am in favor of the Churchâs involvement in politics is not just because I am a grade 10 student from a Catholic school, and that theyâve taught a lot about this in all the years have passed. But as a Catholic and a concerned citizen at the same time, we should have the freedom in expressing what we believe in because it is the freedom of every citizen to express their opinions and be involved as they see fit.
The role of the government to the society is to shape us, and the same thing goes with the Church. Itâs just that when it comes to politics, it has limitations. It does not ordain morality and righteousness. Therefore, if the Church would not speak, then who would probably be the one who will shape our morality? What do you think will happen to the future well-being and to the whole society we live in? The answer is simple. Those who are marginalized, will remain as marginalized. And those who are poor voiceless people, will be poor and voiceless forever for no one would speak for them. This proves that the Church has moral obligations as the voice of the voiceless.
The Churchâs role in politics is an ethical one. It isnât just there to teach the whole society morality and righteousness. It isnât just there to gather and sing some hymns on a Sunday morning, but is there to contribute to the well-being of the future and of the whole society in which we live in. And just like what was said by common people that Church should just stick to teaching Bible instead of being involved, it is actually ironic. Why? It is precisely because of the Bible that we, Christians, speak out wherever and whenever we see injustice in the world. We should consider ethics as an expression of Godâs desire for the best of His creation.
On the 4th of July, 2017, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed a controversial executive order that would help the Churches participate in politics easier. Many Christians cheered for him, but many disliked as well. Most of what I often hear about him is all about his peopleâs negative remarks about him, and him being often compared to the former President Barack Obama. The probable reason why this happens is because of the way he runs his country and make decisions in shaping the community of United States. In this issue, people who donât fully know President Trump just like me, shouldnât base their judgments on from what theyâre simply just hearing. Despite of peopleâs negative remarks about him, it is actually a good thing that a politician makes a move in helping the Church of its involvement in politics just like his move that would help the Church a lot. However, these executive orders, bills of rights, laws, codes of conduct, constitutions â including the Bible, cannot guarantee transformation or even minimal change. There has to be a will to an act.
Now, even just as a student like me who doesnât fully know everything yet, itâs still a must that we stand in what we believe in. Church doesnât exist to only teach the Bible, and not only to teach âwho God isâ. It exists for God, and for the good of the whole community. It is an institution that speaks for a lot of people. It plays a huge and major role in politics in shaping the society as a whole. Lastly, the Church should always be involved in politics because all of us, Christians, are both citizens of God, as well of our own country. Therefore, it is just our rights to be involved in politics and help one another in shaping our moral norms for the good of our societyâs well-being.