From time to time, I hear folks say, “I don’t talk about politics or religion.” Interestingly, both subjects influence a great part of our lives and it certainly is prudent for us to seek to be right in both areas. Germans made a mistake in the last century and we had a man who should have never got past being a small man with delusions of grandeur become a dictator that plunged the world in war and murdered six millions Jews. Being wrong in politics can make your life seem like Hell on earth, but being wrong about religion can damn your soul to the real Hell forever. It is a good thing to talk about and analyze your views on both issues frequently.
Many think that the Bible teaches a sort of political neutrality since Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world and Paul said we should obey and pray for the higher powers. Jesus even said of tax money to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. So that means we aren’t be really involved in government or politics, right? Hardly.
God sets up and tears down kingdoms and he led the righteous kings of Israel and judged the wicked ones. He also took issue with the pagan kingdoms. Nehemiah was given the wealth and resources of a pagan king to rebuild the temple. God allowed Esther, Daniel and Joseph to be very influential in pagan kingdoms. Paul won some that were in Caesar’s house. I would suspect that they had a different influence in the government and upon Caesar after their conversion.
It is true that Jesus’ primary mission was to save that which was lost and not set up or even directly interfere with the established government. He had principalities and powers much higher than Rome and Herod to defeat and conquer. No matter how self-aggrandized Caesar and Herod might have been they were just small fry in the eternal scheme of things. The power of the Gospel and the love of God would overcome the hearts of men and changing society as He changed them. Satan and his henchmen were the ones that had to be taken down by His Cross. His love could work after that.
It is only in the very recent centuries that common men had any real influence in the government of a country. Kings often had sole and absolute rule and like Esther, Daniel and Joseph you had to influence the rulers in indirect ways or effect change by marriage, death, war or all three. The Magna Carta was actually the first chance that I can remember where the ruled affected a major influence on the ruler unless you consider the ten tribes leaving when Rehoboam took over and gave in to peer pressure.
In Hebrews 11:33, we are told that people of faith subdued kingdoms and while that primarily means by war there is no reason why we cannot now subdue kingdoms via spiritual warfare. We are in the world but not of it but yet we must use this world without abuse. If the world allows us to have influence on our government via the ballot box then we can use it but not abuse it nor see it as the primary method of influencing the government or the nation. Regeneration of the individual is the only way to bring about salvation to the nation and we have been falling down on that job.
1 Pet 2:13-14
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (KJV)
Some would use this passage to say that we should just obey whatever the government comes up with and not worry about it. That is not the intent of this passage at all.
Acts 5:28-29
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (KJV)
The Sanhedrin had the delegated right to “silence” people. The Romans allowed them to institute some rules and ordinances. However, the Apostles would not submit to rules that violated the commandments of God.
There was an ancient culture that required every woman to commit at least one act of prostitution in their life after they were married. Would you submit to this as good Christians or find a way to change it or disobey it? What about Shadrach and the boys not bowing to the image? According to some Christians’ viewpoint of government interaction and submitting to every ordinance they would have bowed and said nothing.
Well, the right to vote is actually an ordinance. It is provided for us by our Constitution. In essence, the government says to do it. It does not violate biblical principles and in essence gives us the opportunity to institute biblical principles within our society so it is fitting that we do so. We are Ambassadors of the Kingdom that is to come. For all intents and purposes we present a message of unconditional surrender. One day the King will rule in righteousness in this land. We can get ready by being saved individually and nationally by instituting the laws of the kingdom. We are to be salt and light and I do not see where we are limited to only salting and enlightening certain areas of this world or certain aspects of life. Thus, it is a mandate that we influence our world and that includes the government and the culture.
We must however be careful of who or what we support. Our primary issues when we vote must be moral ones. Godly principles must dictate our vote. Christians should not support individuals or groups that do not support and even openly oppose those principles no matter what other benefits they may provide for us in worldly matters.
Isa 10:1-6
1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (KJV)
Matthew 10:40-42 teaches that we can receive the reward of a prophet by our support of that prophet. Conversely, if we support those that declare unrighteous decrees we will be counted as one of them whether our support is active or passive. (Obadiah 1:11) After we have turned a blind eye to something there comes a time when we will actively support what we “ignored” or did not care about because we are desensitized and deceived.
Abortion is an unrighteous decree. God’s decrees are ordained to life. Man’s decree in this is ordained unto the murder of innocent lives. There are several warnings in the Word about shedding innocent blood in the land. Christians who vote for those who support these decrees are aligning themselves with evil and unrighteousness. They are voting to bring judgment and loss of blessing to themselves. Are we surprised that the nation is under attack by pagans? God used Assyrians to punish his people.
I had several coworkers say that they did not care anything about abortions long as they could get cheaper gas. Two of them would claim to be Baptists. One is a COGIC preacher and that one hurt me the most. He is more accountable than the others who are not active in church and are most possibly not saved at all. I had a denomination tag once but was lost and I am fearful that there are multitudes in that situation.
I have preached in many Black churches and enjoy it greatly. I have been puzzled though by the politics of my fellow preachers. Many of them will preach a hot Hell and biblical standards and then vote against their convictions and encourage their people to do the same. I am afraid that many of my White and Hispanic brothers do the same. Careful, Preachers! Look through the proper glasses. I don’t want to stand before God and say that I voted to support unrighteous decrees because those who wrote them promised me some carnal benefit. I have enough to answer for I don’t need the added load of that.
Isa 5:20-21
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (KJV)
Whether he knows it or not a Christian who votes or supports unrighteous decrees is calling evil good. God says that if a man will not work neither shall he eat so if I vote for someone that supports a program that allows folks to never work but have all the privileges of a working person I have called God’s decree evil and man’s good. When I support a pro-death (abortion) candidate I have said that God’s decree is evil especially when I fight for the life of a murderer while supporting the murder of an innocent child. That person is wise in his own eyes but the eyes of God are upon that person and He sees their folly.
Isa 55:6-9
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV)
If there was ever a time that those who name the name of Christ need to seek the Lord and His thought it is today. The country is mostly pagan and is becoming more secularized every day. Had our forefathers seen this day they might have chosen to stay under King George. Christians better get on their knees and into their Bibles and then on their feet to win souls or the next time they get on their knees in intense prayer it may be as prisoners.
If God is to bless America she will need to repent and that won’t happen if we continue the current trends. We have a great opportunity to salt the nation and turn it around. If we choose creature comforts or personal vendettas instead of God’s decrees we shall perish as a nation. No person or party will save us, but they can destroy us unless we are in godly obedience in our choices. Be careful!!!
