Hi ER,

I do no think it is an either/or. There are some cautions given, but since both Jesus and John the baptist spoke out about civilian affairs I do not think that it is at all forbidden. Even Paul made appeals to secular law in a way that demanded his rights as a citizen be upheld.

But, we are admonished not to get entangled in civilian affairs. And, when the Scripture says so, it does not preclude being involved in them, for some of the NT saints were themselves politcos. Ephesians gives us a priority. We are to come into the unity of the Faith which has to be the first of our loves, by doing that we are then equipped to stand no matter the turn of the political winds. Just like marriage, engagements distract from the work that God has given the church, but it they do not undo them, necessarily. It does not mean however that we are not to marry, nor does it mean that we cannot engage in civil discourse or governing. The Lord asks that we sacrifice our lives for his sake, and if in that sacrifice we can remain faithful to Him while being involved in life then we have achieved the balance required to be in the world but not of it.