We ought to vote. We ought to be good citizens in every way. And we should cast our votes conscientiously and with discernment. But if your hope for the future of our society rests in the democratic process, or if you think the fortunes of the church rise or fall according to which party is in power, you need to look again at how the people of God have historically made their influence felt in society. You’ll discover that those times when the church has grown the most and when revival has spread furthest are times when believers have been most concerned about personal holiness and evangelism. The church’s real influence comes from the power of the gospel and the testimony of changed lives.

On the other hand, when influential Christians have tried to steer the church into the political process, their testimony has failed, and they have actually lost influence.

It’s no wonder. In Matthew 20:25–28 Jesus says, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

If the church is going to influence a hostile secular society like the one in which we live, political clout is not what we need. All the power, politics, and public policies in the world will never force unbelievers to yield their hearts to Christ as Lord.

Phil Johnson, "Let Your Light So Shine"
in Fool’s Gold, (Crossway, 2005; John MacArthur, general editor), p. 147.

Of course, there is really no need to "look again at how the people of God have historically made their influence felt in society" to make this point. (I also question the relevance and application of the biblical passage cited.) The Bible teaches as much, and that’s what matters. If the Bible does not say it, history cannot prove or confirm it.

There is no need to withdraw from the "democratic process," or to unnecessarily surrender political influence to the enemies of God; nevertheless, all the political power in the world can only produce superficial and temporary changes.

A real and lasting change in society is effected only when more and more individuals are regenerated by God’s sovereign grace, and the preaching of the gospel is the means by which God regenerates his elect. Therefore, the gospel is the power of God for salvation, and for real and lasting change in society.

Thus if we want to impact the world, we cannot do it through politics, (secular) education, science, or various social programs. Rather, we can do it only by following Paul’s command to "preach the word," patiently and persistently.

Recommended:

Vincent Cheung, Presuppositional Confrontations (ch. 2)

Vincent Cheung, Preach the Word

Gordon Clark, A Christian View of Men and Things

Gordon Clark, Christian Philosophy

Gordon Clark, A Christian Philosophy of Education

Gordon Clark, Essays on Ethics and Politics

John MacArthur, Why Government Can’t Save You

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