The Church is not a political institution, and will never be. It is the kingdom of God and its righteousness and salvation in peoples. It works to start the Kingdom of heaven on earth. God is its ruler and owner, which is more important than any Caesar on earth. Yet, may God be obeyed above all men and let him be honest and every man a liar.
As we are celibate citizens invited to live according to the Gospel of Christ, we share the concerns of this world and work for its peace and progress without isolation. We shouldn’t be enslaved to the world, but we give what is Caesar’s to Caesar; and what is God’s is God. Christ invited us to be patriot for our homeland since it doesn’t contradict with our faith.
Therefore, the mission of the church through history has been to declare the truth, but such declaration can’t be declared without involvement of Christians in their community. Christianity has not formed a state yet, since Christ’s kingdom is not from this world. However, he ordered Christians to be honest, righteous, and do good to all. It is a message of goodness to all those who love His appearance.
I would like to refer to the difference between what is political and what is national, social, charitable and human. The second is the core concern of the church. It doesn’t call to vote for certain party or candidate, but invite the Christians to be positive and participate in accordance with their own interests, vision and free will.
Copts are not a single bloc; since they have different personality, composition, intellectual and social affiliations. We have the same faith and ecclesiastical tradition; but we are diverse without prejudice to our loyalty and love to our country, which was honored and cherished by Jesus Christ.
The fact is that there should be no work of politics inside the church. Violating this rule is destructive to the church. Again, church doesn’t work in politics, but supports citizenship. Its greatest concern is the work of God to express his voice and message through ages to come. It calls for peace and justice and forgive those who burn and loot the churches and attack its children.
It was clear that the Coptic Church forgave those who burned its building, attacked its leaders and insulted them since it follows the teaching of Jesus Christ. Moreover, clergy are not allowed to run for elections and refrain from being involved in any political dispute that is related to Caesar not God.
Those who work for the church can’t work with politics since they can’t be trusted by the people anymore to represent the church and to transfer the message of God.
Church can’t have allies with politicians and its tools that can work away from morals. It works for Christ and not for governors or politicians. It serves the nation and not certain party or regime. It has expressed the godly truth of the lofty faith as one of the oldest organizations in history.
