False Religion Indicted

Although millions in Christendom regularly use the Lord's Prayer, in which they pray for God's Kingdom to come, they have assiduously supported every form of political expression, to the exclusion of that theocratic rule.  Centuries ago "princes" of the Catholic Church, such as Cardinals, Richelieu, Mazarin, and Wolsey acted also as  secular statesmen, ministers of government.

More than 50 years ago, in the booklet entitled Religion Reaps the Whirlwind, Jehovah's Witnesses exposed Christendom's involvement with politics.  What was said then applies with equal force today:  "Honest investigation of the conduct of the religious clergy of all denominations will reveal that the religious leaders of all 'Christendom' are participating with keen interest in the politics of 'this present evil world' and are dabbling in its mundane affairs."  Back then the Witnesses castigated Pope Pius XII for his concordats with Nazi Hitler (1933) and Fascist Franco (1941) , as well as for the pope's exchange of diplomatic representative's with the aggressor nation Japan in March 1942, just a few months after the infamous Pearl Harbor attack.  The pope failed to heed James' warning:  "Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself as a enemy of God." -James 4:4


What is the situation today? The papacy is still involved in politics, both through its clergy and through its laity representatives.  Recent popes have put their stamp of approval on the United Nations by addressing that man-made counterfeit for World peace. A recent issue of L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, announced that seven new diplomats,  "ambassadors to the Holy See," presented their credentials to the "Holy Father."  Could we imagine Jesus and Peter being involved in such diplomatic exchanges?  Jesus refused to be made king by the Jews and said that his Kingdom was not of this world. -John 6:15; 18:36.

Are Protestant leaders any better than their Catholic counterparts?  In the United States, many conservative Protestant religions, and Mormons as well, are identified with  a certain political orientation.  the Christian Coalition is deeply involved in U.S. politics.  Other protestant clergy clearly identify with a different political stance.  It is sometimes forgotten that in the United States, political spokesmen such as Pat Robertson and Jesse Jackson are or were also "Reverends," as  is British member of Parliament Ian Paisley of Norther Ireland.  How do they justify their positions? -Acts 10:34, 35; Galatians 2:6.

As Religion Reaps the Whirlwind asked in 1944, so do we now:  "Can any organization that enters into treaties with worldly powers and actively wiggle itself  into the political affairs  of this world seeking advantage in and protection from this world . . . be God's church or represent Christ Jesus on earth? . . .Manifestly all religionist who make common cause with the kingdoms of this world cannot represent the kingdom of God by Jesus Christ."

Next time: False Religion's Spirit of Cain

The Watchtower, 1996