The Gospel and Politics

Missions Mandate links to an article about British missionaries jailed in Gambia for criticizing the government.

I don't know the whole story, but my first thought it this: Stick to the gospel and stay out of politics.

Regardless of what we think of the government, the mission of the church is to make disciples. The mission of missionaries is to make disciples and plant churches.

Now these missionaries for Jesus are appealing to the secular government on national TV for their freedom promising that they will leave the country. It's certainly not renouncing their faith, but it does seem to be leaving behind their mission, and all because they took up a message that had nothing to do with the mission Jesus gave us.

In my view, if someone is going to risk jail, do it for preaching Jesus, not criticizing the government.