Session 2 - The Christian Reaction

In the last post we discovered that any particular political structure is not an evil entity, and by and large the political parties and even the politicians are not evil. The tension between faith and politics emerges when Satan, the real enemy, uses politics to threaten our values and our ability to be obedient to God.

We said that we were going to hinge our discussion on three Scriptures:

Phill 2:3

. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Eph 4:2-5

2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Gal 3:28

. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Keeping these Scriptures in mind, in this post we are going to look at how a Christian should act and react to the political issues of the day.

Participation

Let’s talk for a few minutes about whether participation in the political or social issues of the day is something that God desires or requires of His people.

Hebrews 11;24-26

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
John 18:33-38
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Some people use these verses to argue that Christians shouldn’t be involved in political issues. Others take it a step further and argue that it allow for civil disobedience.

What do you think? Are we excused from civil obedience?
Are we prohibited from participation in political or social affairs?

Let’s look at some examples.

Luke 2:1-5

21In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

This was a trip for Joseph and Mary of about 80 miles – one way. Joseph was obedient to the cival law.

Acts 9:1-2

91Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Saul got permission in writing to pursue Christians.

Mark 12:13-17

13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn't we?"
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
17Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.

Jesus showed civil obedience by paying taxes.

We see the same idea in Romans.

Romans 13:7

. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Clearly God calls us to be civilly obedient.

But is that all he calls us to?

Matthew 5:13-16

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

What does that verse say to you?
We are to be more than just merely obedient.

We are to be influential!

Ok, so what is the goal of our influence?

Psalm 69:30
30I will praise God's name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Romans 15:5-7

5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:16

. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

So we are obedient to the political and social structures and are called to be influential – and it’s all about bringing Glory to God.

Christians have had a strong social influence throughout history. They have been responsible for:

• The majority of orphanages.
• Homeless shelters.
• Rehab centers.
• All of the addiction (AA, etc.) use the 12 step program which talks about giving yourself over, and praying to God.
• Family centered organizations like “Focus on the Family,” “Promise Keepers.”
• Locally, Christa Ministries are making a difference for the members of the human race.

But notice that it is the homeless, the hurting, broken families, shattered lives, those that need healing that are the primary target of Christian Influence, Tuck that idea into the corner of your mind, we’ll come back to it.

1 Peter 2:11-17

11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

What stands out to you in this verse?

• Live good lives.
• They can’t discredit you.
• Pagans glorify God.
• Submit to authority.
• Live as free.
• Don’t use your freedom as a cover for evil.
• Show respect and honor.

Romans 13:1-7

131Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

This then, says what about government?

We should submit to authority because they are in authority by the establishment of God.

Read verses 1 & 2 again. Not only did He establish them, if we rebel against them God will bring His judgment against us.

Who established Barak Obama as President? God!

So these two Scriptures, 1 Peter 2 & Romans 13 will serve as our example of how to react to the political issues. Do you notice why we are to react like this? To bring Glory to God!

One other thing I see in 1 Peter 2 is that we are Aliens.
What does that mean?

John 18:37

37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Is Jesus a King? Yes.

Where is His Kingdom? In Heaven.

There are some Christian groups that use this verse to say that Christians should not be involved in politics, government or social issues.

Are they right?

What is dual citizenship?

Do you know anyone that has dual citizenship? What does it mean?

It really means that you have obligations to two sets of authority. I have a friend that has Italian and American citizenship. If war breaks out between the two countries he has to pick who he fights for.

We are kind of like that as well. We are subject to both the American political system and to the will of God.

Eph 2:12-13

12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Eph 2:19-20

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

John 17:13-19

13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus left knowing that His Disciples, including us, would be in the world, and He prayed that we could keep from being of the world.

Living as Dual Citizens as we do is bound to increase that tension that exists between Faith and Politics.

To recap so far:

• We are living under obedience to two authorities, the human authorities that God has established, and the authority of God.
• We are to be salt and light to the world, to have an influence.
• We are to do this with respect and with a good reputation.
• The goal of it all is to bring glory to God.

But then what do with the conflicts like the Bible saying not to kill, and the government legalizing abortion?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Perhaps we should stop looking to government to solve all our problems.

Let’s return for a moment to the notion of this tension between faith and politics.

What is at the center of that tension?

Galatians 5:19-21
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The tension is because of sin. We are uncomfortable when the authority of man allows behaviors that God says are sinful. We are trying to defeat sin.
But that, is our main stumbling block.

John 1:29

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Hebrews 9:26

Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

It’s not our job to defeat sin.

It’s Jesus job to defeat sin. If we concentrate on trying to get people to keep from sinning we will end up with a wide gate overflowing with well behaved sinners.

Matthew 7:21-23

21"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Then what is our job? The end of that last verse tells us. Jesus says, “I knew you not.”

Matthew 28:19-20
. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inA the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The greatest glory we can pay to God is to introduce the lost to His son.

Think about this: There may be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner that truly comes to know Jesus than there is over an outlaw of gay marriage.

I don’t believe that we can stop sin, or that the government legislating behavior will bring about God’s will.

Should we participate? Absolutely!
Should we influence? Absolutely!

There are plenty of Scriptures that show us how to correctly combat the sin that creeps into the world. We need to show obedience to the law, and respect and honor our leaders.


However we must keep the big picture in mind. If we, in our fight against sinful practices, turn the sinner away from God, then we have done a dis-service to God. Introducing people to Jesus is our goal.

Before we conclude today we are going to play a little game called “Appropriate or inappropriate.” I’ll go through some examples of people reacting to issues of the day and you decide if it’s appropriate or inappropriate.

1. Being upset about abortion, a man shoots an abortion doctor.

2. In disagreement with the financial bailout measure you write your congressmen telling them what a lousy job they are doing representing you.

3. In an effort to combat the current government you join a “tea party” and protest at the Capitol building in Olympia.

4. In an effort to combat homosexuality you urgently and with a passionate heart approach a co-worker who is gay and explain to him that he is going to hell and needs to divorce his domestic partner immediately.

5. Someone mails you an article about President Obama being a secret Al Qaida sleeper agent so you email it to all the folks you know to be of “like mind” with you so you all have a chance to read it.

6. You see a funny bumper sticker of George Bush wearing a USA t-shirt and holding a sign that says “will work for China” so you buy it and put it on your car, right next to the Jesus fish.

7. You’re not much into politics but you dislike the direction the country is going so you’re diligent to vote.

8. You’re not much into politics but you dislike the direction the country is going so you’re diligent to vote. Not knowing anything about the candidates, you vote for candidates from a particular party only and when there is more than one you pick the candidate with the most vowels in their name thinking, God is in control.

9. You dislike paying taxes so you look for every loophole you can find so that you pay as little as possible.

10. Assisted suicide is legal in your state but you believe it to be immoral so you physically intervene when a terminally ill loved one wants to end their own life