High-ranking representatives of the Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran churches are jointly calling for Christians to actively participate in political affairs. They argue that one must contribute one’s own values and thus strengthen democracy. A call that is diametrically opposed to God’s command.
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Call: “Christians should run for political office”
Not just political participation, but even active participation in politics, is the vision of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich-Freising, and Bishop Christian Kopp of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. In a joint appeal, they encourage people to nominate themselves as candidates for the 2026 local elections in Bavaria. In addition to calling on ordinary citizens to contribute to democracy, Marx and Kopp particularly emphasize the commitment of Christians. They should thereby bring their “convictions and values into local politics.”
The Roman Catholic Church and the Bavarian Regional Church stand on the side of those who want to strengthen democracy through their candidacy. The two representatives of their respective churches believe they recognize evidence of a biblical testimony calling for political activity by Christians in Jeremiah 29:7, quoting: “Seek the best for the city!” (Quelle)
Jeremiah 29:7 in detail & context
It’s easy to check the Bible verse used here. The full text is Jeremiah 29:7 (Schlachter 2000, German):
“And seek the peace of the city to which I have brought you captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.“
The wording in the ecumenically designed Luther 2017:
“Seek the welfare of the city to which I have sent you captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for if it prospers, you will prosper.“
The “Good News Bible 2018” writes:
“Be concerned about the welfare of the cities to which I have exiled you, and pray for them! For if they prosper, you will prosper too.“
The English Bible King James (1611) on this:
“And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.“
The following statement can be found in the original Hebrew text of the Masoretic Text:
“וְדִרְשׁ֞וּ אֶת־שְׁל֣וֹם הָעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִגְלֵ֤יתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ שָׁ֔מָּה וְהִתְפַּֽלְל֥וּ בַעֲדָ֖הּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֣י בִשְׁלוֹמָ֔הּ יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם שָׁלֽוֹם׃
(And seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to GOD in its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper.)”
Therefore, the statement “the peace of the city” or “the well-being of the city” fits best.
The context of this statement
The call to care for the well-being of the city applies to no other city than Babel in Babylon. The people of Judah were taken into exile after the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The people taken to this city were to pray for peace there so that the people could also find peace there. Nevertheless, they were prisoners in an environment of paganism practiced in the form of polytheism and idolatry.
The warning follows promptly if one simply reads beyond the verse, Jeremiah 29:8-9:
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.“
The exile of the people to Babylon was (actually) no surprise, as it had already been foretold. It was a consequence of the people’s constant apostasy from the Word of God and the practice of the very paganism that originated in Babylon. This even went so far that Levitical priests worshipped the sun with their backs to God’s temple, facing east. Furthermore, the period of exile was explicitly limited by God to 70 years. The prophet Daniel experienced the end of this period (Daniel 9:2):
“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.“
Political engagement is unlikely
Nowhere is God’s call to engage in politics, let alone in the traditions of Babylon. Instead, there was no rebellion, no underground action, no “civil disobedience.” The abducted people were to maintain peace by submitting to the authorities (see also Romans 13:1-2).
Thus, the verse used jointly by Marx and Popp is a prime example of how biblical statements can be misused by quoting fragmentary excerpts to support a particular narrative. However, this can only succeed if one does not actively investigate such statements.
To what extent was Jesus Christ involved in the politics of his time? Contrary to some claims, such as the Babylonian Talmud, Jesus Christ was by no means involved in the politics of the dominant Romans. His “political statements” were limited to a single admonition, Matthew 22:21:
“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
This was Jesus Christ’s response after the Pharisees present had set a rhetorical trap for Him by asking Him whether the Judeans should pay taxes to the Romans. Had Jesus specifically agreed to this, He would have been assured of the Judeans’ displeasure. Had He specifically opposed it, this response would have been a perfect opportunity for the Pharisees to report Jesus to the Romans as a rebel.
Further “political contacts” of Jesus Christ were limited to an involuntary meeting with the governor Pontius Pilate and the Roman puppet Herod Antipas for the purpose of interrogation. That was it.
Mother and daughters want to rule
It’s obvious. The churches, especially the mother church of Rome, are striving, together with their returning daughters (Info), to regain control of the scepter of political omnipotence. The unfortunate fusion of church and state, which, for many centuries in the Middle Ages, brought humanity the greatest evil it had ever experienced.
A forbidden relationship between a whore (the fallen church) and a beast (a government institution), as described in Revelation 17. A miserable, upside-down copy of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Bride (God’s people). An evil that ancient Israel itself provoked. For after the conquest of the land, after entering the promised land of Canaan, a period of judges prevailed. There was no king, and this was not even planned by God. For there is only one legitimate King over the people, and that is Jesus Christ.
Completely unqualified
Instead of setting themselves apart from the pagan nations as God’s chosen people, who were to serve as role models for bringing light into this world, they looked enviously at the surrounding monarchies and wanted to emulate them. God permitted this, and with Saul, the first king of Israel was crowned, ending the era of the judges. Saul was not one of the exemplary kings. He himself distanced himself from God to the greatest extent possible, practiced pagan traditions, became involved with spiritualism, and met a miserable end by falling on his own sword. The majority of the people were “inspired” by the apostasy of their first king. A complete disaster.
Now, one might object that in the Old Testament, members of God’s people did hold high political offices, even in thoroughly pagan lands. Prime examples are Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon. Both were even heads of government, just one step below the pharaoh or king, respectively. The “subtle difference” lies in the fact that, in contrast to today’s representatives of their respective major churches, Joseph and Daniel were proven to be truly faithful to God. Before taking up their positions, they had demonstrated their obedience to God’s law, and they remained so until the end of their lives.
Better get out of Babylon
Such characteristics can be observed neither in the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church nor in the churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). Quite the opposite is true. As beasts (from the sea) and part of the false prophet, these ecclesiastical institutions represent modern, prophetic Babylon itself (Info).
Revelation 17 reveals that the “10 (pseudo-)kings,” who clearly represent political institutions, will hand over their power to the scarlet beast, which the harlot carries. Thus, the power that itself, as a political institution, also maintains a church (Info) will also rule. However, only for one hour (prophetically for 15 days).
With their appeal to “Christians,” the two representatives of their churches even call for them to join this system of modern Babylon. God’s final call, however, leads in the exact opposite direction:
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Revelation 18:2
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Revelation 18:4-5
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
