"I see the confusion of politics and religion as one of the greatest barriers to grace... C. S. Lewis once said that almost all crimes of Christian history have come about when religion is confused with politics.
Politics, which always runs by the rules of ungrace, allures us to trade away grace for power, a temptation the church has often been unable to resist.”
- Philip Yancey
“The earthly city glories in itself, the Heavenly City glories in the Lord.”
- Augustine
“The church has allowed itself to get so swept up in political issues that it plays by the rules of adversarial power. In no other arena is the church at greater risk of losing its calling than in the public square. Somehow the paramount command to love - even to love our enemies - gets lost. Seeing this, the watching world often finds itself repelled by outspoken followers of Jesus rather than attracted
to them.”
- Philip Yancey
“When a citizen gives his suffrage (vote) to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.”
- John Witherspoon, Minister and Founding Father of the USA
“I fear that our clumsy pronouncements, our name-calling, our hysteria about important issues - in short, our lack of grace - may in the end prove so damaging that society no longer looks to
us for the guidance it needs.”
- Philip Yancey
"My kingdom is not of this world"
- Jesus Christ
“The gospel of Jesus was not primarily a political platform. In all the talk of voting blocs and culture wars, the message of grace — the main distinctive Christians have to offer — tends to fall aside. It is
difficult, if not impossible, to communicate the message of grace from the corridors of power.”
- Philip Yancey
"But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
- Jesus Christ