The World Council of Churches, based in Europe, became involved in politics in another way. Since 1970, the Council has donated a reported $3 million (U.S.) to various political revolutionary movements.

Again, some ordained ministers seek elective office in government. However, a recent newspaper headline exemplified what is perhaps the ultimate in political involvement: “Philippine priests leave parishes, join rebellion.” The article told of four Catholic priests who joined a Communist guerrilla movement. Such active involvement in radical movements is widespread, but a heavy price has been paid. In Latin America it has led to the killing, abduction or exile of an estimated 850 priests, nuns and lay persons during the past decade.

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◻ In 1095 Pope Urban II launched an appeal for Western armies to “go to the aid of their brothers in the Christian East” against the Turks. The result was the first Crusade and the Crusading movement, which for two centuries resulted in great bloodshed.

◻ In the 12th century Pope Adrian IV officially granted the land of Ireland to the English king, Henry II, thus validating (in the eyes of the faithful) the English takeover of that country.

◻ In 1524 the peasants in Germany​—partly in response to the teachings of Martin Luther—​revolted. Although initially favorable to their movement, in 1525 Luther recommended that the princes of Germany crush the “Rapacious, Murderous Hordes of Peasants.” The princes followed his advice with great cruelty.

◻ In 1618 the efforts of the king-designate of Bohemia to force Catholicism on a largely Protestant population helped to spark the Thirty Years’ War.

◻ In 1918 churches of Christendom used their influence to support the League of Nations. But that did not make it succeed. After only two decades the world was plunged into the most horrible war in all human history. Now Christendom’s churches have endorsed the United Nations, but the nations are more heavily armed and disunited than ever before.

Religious leaders get involved in politics because they want to set a “moral tone” or to warn when governments take the “wrong path.” What, though, when they take the wrong path themselves? Recently, for example, in the cause of Serbian nationalism, a Serbian priest bombed the home of a Yugoslav consul in the United States. Surely, such an act of terrorism is wrong, especially when committed by a priest! Regardless of what his motivations are, the priest claims to represent God. Yet God’s Word plainly cautions all who believe in Him: “Do not avenge yourselves, . . . for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’” (Romans 12:19) Acts like that of the priest weaken the moral lead that some religions are trying to give.

Moreover, even in the Catholic Church, many have serious doubts about the priests and the nuns who get involved in revolutions. A Colombian Jesuit said: “The first people to suffer in an armed rebellion would be the poor themselves, not the clergy or the bishops. How can we support such a position?” The pope himself has tried to curtail certain political activism, saying that it is the duty of a priest or a nun to minister to the spiritual needs of the flock, rather than organize them for rebellion.

The contributions of the World Council of Churches to revolutionary groups similarly gave rise to controversy, particularly when it appeared that some of the groups receiving donations had a record of persecuting missionaries! The Salvation Army suspended its membership in the Council over the issue.

Even the Protestant pressure groups in the United States have been criticized. A magazine editor observed: “In the activities of the Christian right, all that remains of Jesus is his name.” Evidently the editor felt that by getting involved in politics, such persons were acting more like unscrupulous politicians than like ministers of religion. This reminds us of the admonition of the Bible writer James, that a true Christian should keep himself “without spot from the world.”​—James 1:27.

Hence, religious activism raises difficult questions in the minds of thinking persons. But what if religious leaders limit themselves to giving “discreet” advice on specific government policies? Even this causes problems, since these leaders give contradictory advice. It does nothing to relieve tensions.

In the United States, for example, some religionists encourage disarmament. Others, however, want to see their country have the “strongest military since Creation.” The Moral Majority works for the “survival of America,” along with its capitalist system. However, an official of the World Council of Churches wrote: “A world revolution is needed to deliver mankind from destruction, waste, exploitation and oppression, which the capitalistic system has generated.” He went on to praise the Cuban version of this “world revolution.”