God is not a Republican
By Ken Eckerty
For most of you who are reading this article, the title
“God is not a Republican” will bring a response like, “No duh!” In fact,
this is the very response I received when recently posting an excerpt of this
article in the religious section of a political bulletin board. “Of
course, God is not a Republican,” they said. However, I contend (and will
show in this article) that according to the way most Christians in America live
(both in word and deed), we very much support the Republican party, and in
fact, chide other Christians who either choose not to vote or vote instead for
a Democrat.
I’ve been a Christian for almost 25 years and for 21 of
those years I was a registered Republican. I don’t know what the statistics
are, but I would venture to say that the majority of evangelical Christians are
also either registered Republicans or vote primarily with the Conservative
Right. This is not to say that there aren’t “Christian Democrats,” and
there are many who would say that they are neither Republican nor Democratic,
but simply vote for the best candidate. However, what is the heart of God
concerning a Christian’s role in politics? Almost every pulpit in America
preaches political involvement. While most do not promote a specific
candidate (lest they lose their church’s tax exempt status), most pastors will
tell us that it is not only a privilege and a right to vote, but it also our
Christian responsibility, and therefore (they tell us), we should be actively involved
in the politics of our community and nation lest we be guilty of not doing the
will of God. I do not deny that it is a right, privilege, and a
responsibility of an American citizen to involve himself politically,
however, does God really expect the Christian to be involved in effecting
change through means of the political process? As believers, are we to
consider ourselves American citizens? Church leadership will say that
Christians are American citizens too, and therefore, it is their “God-given”
right to vote. While I would agree that the American Constitution gives
this right to all Americans, I disagree that it is “God-given.”
For those familiar with my writings, you know that I put
a great emphasis on the calling of an overcomer.
I’m not talking about those who are called “saints,” but rather, those who are
chosen as “the elect.” The Bible makes a clear distinction between those
who are content in their calling (kletos) and
those who are pressing toward the high calling of Jesus Christ (ekkletos). I will not take the time in this
article to explain the difference, but you can read more about this in my
article titled “Press on to Maturity” which can be found at: http://www.savior-of-all.com/presson.html.
Every believer should strive to be an overcomer, however, the sad truth is that most Christians will die in
a state of unbelief never having overcome the world, the flesh, or the
devil. They have enough faith to believe that Jesus died for their sins
and not much more. They are not only trapped in the religious system, but
see it as God’s best. They involve themselves in all the activities and
programs advocated by the religious system including heavy political involvement
which includes voting, supporting candidates, writing local congressman and
senators, boycotting companies, and marching in anti-abortion rallies.
While these things may be considered noble and may even bring about some
change, my contention is that this is not how God wants the overcomer
to spend his or her time.
The Kingdom Within
The kingdom
of God cometh not with
observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo
there! for behold, the Kingdom of God
is within you. (Luke 17:20b-21)
Those who spend their time trying to change their nation
through external means simply do not understand what Jesus is saying in Luke
17. It is clear throughout the New Testament that real change can only
come about through the changing of the heart. True and lasting change
always starts from within and then spreads outward, not the other way
around. Jesus condemned the Pharisees by calling them “white-washed tombs
full of dead men’s bones.” (Mt. 23:25-27) Cleaning up the nation through
external means (voting, legislation, etc.) is like taking a scrub brush to the
outside of a coffee cup but leaving the inside filthy and to rot.
Nowhere in the New Testament is there any exhortation or
commandment to change the government through external means. The only
exhortations we find are to obey those in authority (Rom. 13:1-2), and to pray for them
in these positions (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Paul exhorts us not to entangle
ourselves in the affairs of this life. (2 Tim. 2:4) Men concern
themselves with laws and rights; however, this idea should be totally foreign
to those who are pursuing the high calling of Christ. Nowhere does Jesus
encourage political involvement. Nowhere!! Instead He commands us to preach the gospel
to all creatures. What kind of gospel is He talking about? A social gospel? A gospel of
political legislation? No! He is talking about the power of
the Cross and Resurrection of the Christ. This is the power that will
change men’s hearts, and then in turn, change the way they live.
Legislation, no matter how good and right, is only temporary. What the
Republican Party does today will be reversed with the next election. The
104th Congress will be contradicted by the 105th
Congress, etc. Certainly God has a purpose for authority and uses
government to keep evil men in check and to execute His justice (Rom. 13),
however, this will never change men—only the gospel of our Lord can do this.
The best thing the Church can do to effect change in America is to
live as if we really believed that Jesus Christ is Lord. Romans 6:4 tells us that we are “raised to walk in newness
of life.” Newness of life means walking in the power of the resurrection
wrought through the work of the cross in our life. This work slays any
desire to do things man’s way, and instead, seeks to proclaim the gospel of the
kingdom WITHIN. It does not include protesting or boycotting. It
does not include voting or political demonstrations. These are the
methods of men, not God, and they are a cheap substitute for the true gospel.
“My Rights”
A common phrase I hear from Christians in relation to
politics is it is “my right” to have security, or it is “my right” to have low
cost health care, or it is “my right” to have lower taxes, or it is “my right”
to have religious freedom, etc. etc. It is not our right at all! As
Christians, we have no rights. The apostle Paul uses different words as
it relates to the so-called “freedom” of the Christian. In 1 Cor. 4:1, Paul uses the Greek word “huperetes”
to describe our calling. This word was used to describe a 2nd
or 3rd level galley slave who had no rights. If you’ve ever
seen the movie Ben Hur you will understand
that a lower level rower was treated as worthless and had absolutely no rights
whatsoever. In Eph. 3:7, Paul uses the word “diakonos”
which means a lowly table waiter. A waiter is at the beckon command of
those to whom he serves. In Rom. 1:1, Paul calls himself a “doulos” of Jesus Christ. This was one who was in the
total service of another. This same idea is spoken of in Exodus 21 when a
servant had his ear pierced in order to forever bind himself to his
master. As Christians, we are totally at the command of our Master, the
Lord Jesus Christ. The days of us having personal rights are gone
forever.
As a result of this “I’ve got rights” mentality, we get
offended when profanity and nudity make it onto our television
screen. We cry out that it is our right to have “family friendly
television” and so we boycott those companies that support the things we find
distasteful. There are even Christian organizations whose main purpose is
to review Hollywood movies and encourage mass
boycotting of the companies that sponsor them. First off, why do we get
so offended when wicked men produce wicked fruit? How else do we expect
unredeemed men to act? Secondly, do we somehow think that boycotting is
going to change the hearts of those men whose only desire is to fill their
pockets with the money they make from these ungodly things? If we are
that concerned about having that type of material in our home, why not just get
rid of the television? Certainly if there are enough people who complain,
things might improve for a short while. But how long will these changes
last? Will they last only as long as it takes those Christians who complained
in the first place to slip back into complacency, or until these men no longer
care what Christians think? Don’t get me wrong—I do believe that God
wants us to be good stewards with our money, however,
I don’t believe we are to spend our time organizing Christians in some massive
protest in order to change Hollywood
or the companies that support them. This type of methodology simply does
not work in bringing about long-term change.
When so-called “religious rights” are taken away from us,
we are shocked to think that this could happen in America. Fueled by such radio
programs as “Focus on the Family,” we write our Congressman and Senators and
cry that our rights have been violated. Dear Christian, we have no
rights! Oh, you may say that we have rights as American citizens, but
beloved, we must make a choice. Jesus said that “no man can serve both
God and money,” and while I am not talking about money here (though, perhaps I
am, since American materialism has stolen the hearts of many Christians), we
cannot serve both God and America.
Either we are strangers in this world or we are not. Either our
citizenship is in heaven or it is here in America. (Heb. 11:13, 16; 1 Pet.
2:11) We are not Americans first, then Christians
second. We are not even Christians first, and Americans second. We
are Christians, period! The “red, white, and blue” is not our
home. America
is not our provider and we should not expect the government to grant us
rights—that privilege belongs to God alone. If we are blessed, let us
thank God. If we are in a period of tribulation, let us seek God and
submit to the chastening work He has brought our way. When disaster
struck Job, he understood who was the Source of all things.
He responded by saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) If God blesses us through America, then
let us praise Him. However, if He chooses to discipline us through
America (by taking away personal freedoms), let us not cry “foul” but instead,
look to God for the explanation as to why these freedoms and privileges have
been taken away.
God is not a Republican
In the fall of 2000, I was a campaign worker for the
George W. Bush campaign. At that particular time in my life, my heart was
far from the Lord and I needed something to fill the void. I can remember
making phone calls and telling people that Governor Bush was the answer to America’s
problems. I told them that Bush would restore integrity back to the White
House and would work hard to lower our taxes and restore confidence back to our
military. Four years later, I realized that my so-called “noble” desire
for lower taxes, less government, and a more powerful military was nothing more
than my own selfish desire to pad my own pocket, keep the government out of my
business, and help me feel safe each and every day. In other words, my
goal was to satisfy my own flesh, and I trusted more in the provision of the
government than my own God. I, like many other Christians, had fallen for
the lie that Christianity and Republicanism (or Conservatism if you like) were
compatible—and even ideologically equal.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. We have been deceived into thinking that God
is going to somehow use the Republican party to bring
in His Kingdom. Is it really God’s
policy for the Christian to support the lowering of taxes so “Americans can
keep their own money?” Does God really want Christians to pursue the idea
that we should have lesser government in order to “give more power to the
people?” Is it God’s purpose for the Church to be in support of a
stronger military and promote the spending of millions of dollars on weapons
programs when there are people all over the world who are homeless and
starving? Are these the things we should be concerning ourselves
with? Are these Christian principles? Well, they certainly are the
principles of the Republican Party, but I see nowhere in scripture where God
wants us to pursue these things. God wants us to pursue those things that
are “lovely, pure, and of good report.” (Phil. 4:8) He wants us to be
consumed with living the gospel of Christ, not the external reformation of a
culture.
You might argue that by supporting George Bush, we are
supporting a pro-life and anti-gay rights agenda, and by doing so, we are
making our children’s lives better. I cannot argue that there are some
good things that President Bush has done. My argument has never been that
there are not good men in politics who are trying to do some very good
things. My point is, however, that for the most part, these men are
unbelievers who are involving themselves in an earthly system seeking to
change things in order to make men’s lives better. (It must be noted, of course, that more often than not, politicians care
nothing for others and simply want to pursue their own desire for power and
riches.) Additionally, who is it that we trust more to bless us, Bush
or Christ? Is Bush the answer to the world’s problems? Is the
Republican or Democratic Party the “savior of the world?”
Another point to consider is whether George W. Bush
deserves the support of a Christian despite the fact that he has, through the
use of the strong arm of the military, killed thousands of innocent men, women,
and children in Iraq.
In other words, can we honestly support someone who has done good things, but
also done evil things as well? (I am not speaking of Bush’s motives, but his the result of his decisions). Those of you who
support the war in Iraq (or
the military action in Afghanistan)
will no doubt remind me that Bush was only defending America from an enemy, and that
Saddam Hussein was an evil man who needed to be removed. I, like most
Christians, believe it is probable that God is using America
to judge the nation of Iraq
for the sins of the evil Hussein regime. This is why I am not out
protesting the war or speaking out against George Bush. He is the man
that God has chosen for this time in history. However, this still does
not negate the fact that thousands of innocent people have died at the hands of
George Bush, and because of this, I cannot support a man who has been so
destructive (regardless of the fact that this indeed may have been God’s
judgment against Iraq).
Let me ask you a question. Do you think George
Bush’s reaction to the 9/11 incident was the way a Christian should respond to
an enemy? When another person commits a sin against us, should we be
quick to point at and judge them or should we instead look to ourselves and see
where we might be falling short? Doesn’t the Bible tell us to “consider
ourselves lest we fall?” Doesn’t it also say that “before we look at the
speck in our brother’s eye, we should first look at the log in our own?”
So instead of calling for a time of reflection and repentance for America’s own
sins, Bush instead lashed out against his enemies and vowed to take vengeance
against those who viciously attacked us. Instead of looking inwardly at
why this may have been allowed to happen, Bush chose, instead, to praise America’s
virtues and vow retaliation against the enemy.
As Christians, should we not seek to turn the other
cheek, forgive our enemy, and repent of our own sins? Why should a nation
be exempt from this? You may interject here and point out that God has a
different purpose for the nations than He does for individuals, and that what
is unacceptable behavior for individual Christians is perfectly within the plan
of God for the nations of the world. I won’t deny that there is some
truth to this, however, it is for this very reason that I believe it is impossible for a Christian who is called to love and
forgive his enemies to involve himself in the affairs of a government that does
the exact opposite of a Christian’s calling. It doesn’t matter
whether God is using the evil actions of a nation to execute His
justice—believers are to promote love and forgiveness—and they should
leave the judgment to God. If He uses America to do this, then so be
it. However, let God be responsible for the judgment; let us be
responsible to walk in the humility of Christ. George Bush has done
things that an individual Christian should never condone in their own
life, and therefore, our attitude and response should NOT be to support George
Bush (or any other candidate), but to submit to and pray for our leaders (as
commanded in God’s Word). Our concern should be with the affairs of the kingdom of God rather than the affairs of
men. Let the nations take care of carnal affairs, and Christians take
care of spiritual ones.
I’ve often heard it said that if we don’t vote for a
“good” man, even though he may have some “bad” policies, we are only allowing a
more evil man to come into power. In fact, I was told that very thing
this past election. Supposedly, my non-vote was going to help elect
Senator John Kerry (as if God somehow had no say-so over who He had already
chosen as America’s
next president). Why should I compromise my convictions in order to vote
for someone who has done things that Christians should be against? Why
should I vote for someone who has a priority to be successful in politics or to
make a name for himself? Do you really think
that it is good to vote for a man who is the “lesser of two evils?” Does
God want us to compromise our principles in order to elect a man who is good or
“mostly” moral? Didn’t Jesus say, “there was
only one good, and that was God?” Do you really think it is possible that
there could ever be a man in a position of governmental authority who would be
allowed to uncompromisingly preach and live the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ? I’m sure there are many Christians who would love to see this,
unfortunately, the political climate just doesn’t allow for such a
thing. It is true that President Bush has spoken of His faith in
Christ; however, it has usually been done either privately or at a
predominantly Christian event (such as Christian Coalition rallies or the
National Day of Prayer Breakfast). In a speech of national importance,
though, where all Americans have interest, have you ever heard George Bush
speak of either repentance or putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
No—and you will not hear him do so because he does not want to offend Muslims
and peoples of other religious faiths. With a country as large and
diverse as America,
you can’t preach Jesus Christ without offending many, many people. To my
knowledge, President Bush has never asked the nation to pray and weep for the
sin of abortion and pornography in this nation. Perhaps he has done so
privately, but he has never done so publicly. Do you really think someone
who has political aspirations would ever speak in such a way? Of course not—if he did, he would never get
elected! Additionally, President Bush has promoted the re-election
campaign of men who support abortion rights? Do you think it’s OK to be
against abortion yet support men who believe it’s acceptable to kill an unborn
baby? Why does President Bush do this? Very simple—he is
promoting his political party. Make no bones about it, President Bush is
a Republican. He may be a moral man, and he may indeed be a Christian,
but he is also a politician who wants to be re-elected and see his party
maintain control of Congress. Again, you may say that it is not a
president’s job to preach the gospel or cry out against the nation’s sin, and
you are right. This is but another reason why Christians should not be
involved in the support of political candidates. Let the president take
care of presidential affairs, and let the Christian take care of Christian affairs.
My point is this: If a man is going to compromise his
convictions (no matter how small) in order to please men or to aspire to a
position of power, is he worthy to be supported? Please do not
misunderstand me. I am not against George W. Bush. I am sure he is
a fine, upstanding, and sincere man. However, let me be equally clear
that I am neither for him. I am for Christ! God wants us to follow
Him, not men. All of us fall short, and we should only look to Christ for
our hope and salvation. God wants us to trust Him, not the American
government. Let God be responsible for choosing who should the lead the
nations of the world, and let us choose rather to pursue the good things of the
kingdom within. There will always be “good” men who will pursue
the things of the kingdom without. There will always be those men
(Christians and non-Christians alike) who will seek to make change through the
political process. Let the world (including political Christianity) take
care of the affairs of the world, and let the overcomer
take care of the affairs of God. George Bush will be held accountable for
the things that he has done as president, as will all those who are in
positions of authority. Ours is not to support or be against “God’s
anointed,” but to obey those God has raised up in
these high positions, and to do the will of the Father by ministering to the
orphans and the widows.
Finally, I must add that God is not a Democrat
either. He is neither a Libertarian, a
Constitutionalist, nor a member of the Green Party. No, God is not
pleased with the fact that millions of innocent children have been murdered by
those who seek convenience in their life. But instead of taking up arms
side by side with unbelievers who are against abortion—trying to change the
laws of the land—let us instead concern ourselves with the ministry of
reconciliation that we have been called unto. (2 Cor.
5: 18-20) Instead of being political, let us spend our time sharing the
truth of God’s love with those who are lost and hurting—for this is our true
calling in Christ.
God is not an
American
Not only is God not a member of a political party, He is
also not an American. “God is no respecter of persons,” and yet while we
are bombing and killing Iraqi citizens, Christians have no problem promoting
the slogan “God bless America” while hanging American flags from their houses
and cars, and at the same time telling others that we must “pray for our
troops.” What about God blessing Iraq? Has God forgotten
them? What about praying for the poor in this world? What about
weeping for the sins of America?
Is God concerned that Iraqi men (women and children) are dying or is it only
“our troops” that concern Him?
God loves Americans, but He also loves
Iraqis, Palestinians, Russians, and Chinese. I am aware
that most Christians understand this, however, I’m not
sure we are living this principle. We are too comfortable here in America.
Yes, we should pray that God blesses America, but instead of praying that He
would bless her by winning a war, perhaps we should pray that He grants her
eyes to see her own sin and gives her the gift of repentance. (Acts 3:26)
We should also pray that He brings life through the gospel of Christ to those
poor Iraqi’s (and the other nations of the world) who are
suffering hardship created by the governments of the world (including the United States).
We must stop this promotion of America. It is not America, but
Jesus Christ we should be promoting. He is the source of our life and the
focus of our vision! (Heb. 12:2a)
Our Founding
Fathers
Most Christians believe that America was founded on biblical
principles and therefore feel that we must do all we can to protect our godly
heritage. I am not going to question the integrity or the faith of any of
America’s
founders. According to what I have read, the founding fathers were very
religious and very outspoken concerning their faith. Some were
Christians, others were Deists, and others simply believed in a “higher
power.” However, I believe that the primary reason for rebelling against England was
unscriptural. According to our history books, the Boston
tea party was the beginning of the rebellion of the colonies against the unfair
tax practices of England.
The colonists were upset that they were being taxed without having
representation. While this may certainly seem like a noble cause, it is
not a biblical one. Paul tells us,
Let every soul be subject unto the higher power.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall
receive to themselves judgment. (Rom. 13:1-2)
Certainly England
was oppressive to the colonists, and I’m sure it was a difficult time for them,
but so was Rome
during the time of Paul, yet Paul told the Christian to submit. Even
Peter tells “servants to be subject to their masters, not only to the good and
gentle, but also to those who are wicked.” (1 Pet. 2:18) Yes, there may
come a time when we must refuse to obey (as individuals) if we are commanded to
do something against the law of God (but we must also be prepared to suffer the
consequence of our action). However, an oppressive (even evil) government
using the taxpayer’s money for it’s own lusts is NOT a
legitimate reason for rebellion. I cannot find one reason as listed in
the Declaration of Independence that gave the colonists a scriptural
reason for the rebellion, (in fact, the Bible goes so far to say that
“rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft”--1 Sam. 15:23), and so if this be the
case, then why are we so supportive of what the colonists did? Just
because someone speaks of God and the Bible doesn’t necessarily mean they are
living an obedient Christian life—for to do so means we must submit to those
authorities that God has placed over us—be they good or evil. Jesus knew
full well that Rome was an evil government who used the people’s money for
their own selfish ambitions; however, He also knew that it was a government
raised up by God to use for His own purposes. Jesus did not advocate the
refusal to pay taxes or to rebel against the government. Instead He told
us, “We are to render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and to God,
the things that belong to Him.” There are many evil things that our tax
money funds, but no where in scripture can we find any exhortation that we
should refuse to pay our taxes or rebel against an ungodly government.
Those of you who are skeptical might say, “If America was not
founded on biblical principles, then why should we obey anything she says—for
it is an illegitimate government.” This argument ignores the fact that
God raises up both godly and ungodly nations for His own purposes, and it
doesn’t matter if a nation is good or evil—God tells us to submit to
both. He raised up Pharaoh to do His bidding,
and certainly raised up Babylon and Assyria to
bring both Judah and Israel into
judgment. America, like it or not, has been established by God, and it is
only by the grace of God that He has blessed America as He has, as well as
showing her mercy by delaying the judgment she deserves. Some might
respond by saying that America’s
prosperity and religiosity proves that God’s hand has been on this
country. However, Jesus said that God sends rain on the just and on the unjust
(Mt. 5:45). While I’m not saying that America is unjust, I am saying that
a nation’s wealth and prosperity does not necessarily prove the
it is being blessed by God. Additionally, being religious doesn’t
necessarily mean favor with God either. The Pharisees were extremely
religious yet were condemned by our Lord. The American colonists’ actions
may have been noble according to human standards, but I do not believe they
were scriptural, and so to say that “what they did was sanctioned by God” is forcing God’s Word to conform to history in order to
justify the false idea that the Bible promotes “Christian patriotism.”
Some of you might think that I am anti-American.
This isn’t the case at all. I am glad that I live in a country that has
the freedoms that we have. I pay my taxes and am glad that there are
policemen to help keep my family and I safe. I
appreciate the fact that I can go where I please, and speak my mind on any
issue I choose. It was here in America that I was introduced to
the gospel message, which I will be forever grateful. However, I thank
God (not America)
for blessing me with the truth. I don’t thank America for my blessings, nor do I
look to her for my security or freedom. America is here because God wants
her to be here. He has used her for both good and evil and when her time
is through, she will be brought to nothing just as all flesh will be.
Some trust in horses, and some in
chariots, but I will trust in the name of the Lord my God. (Ps. 20:7)
In no way am I saying that the colonists were insincere
or immoral men, and I fully understand that in the sovereignty of God, He
allowed those men to sin thus bringing forth the United States of
America. What I’m saying is that we should not look to those men as
heroes who should praised, honored, and followed. They may be courageous
men who defied the odds by forming a new nation, but they were not (and are
not) heroes in the Biblical sense. They were wrong in their rebellion and
it is high time we get our eyes off of them and back onto the Author of all
things.
No, we should not seek to protect our “godly heritage,”
but we should thank God for all the blessings we have while they are still
ours, and pray that America repent for the evil that she is doing. If God
should continue to allow me to live in a free society, then I will praise
Him. If He should choose to take all my freedoms away, I will still
praise Him no matter what harm may befall my family or me. No
one can take away my freedom in Christ—which can only be found within!
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by
my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.
Undoubtedly, this is the most oft quoted passage by
Christians when speaking of America’s
sin. First of all, “my people” applies to God’s
“called.” Under the Old Covenant, it was Israel. Under the New, it is
the Church. This passage is NOT referring to any of the heathen nations
of the world. This is one of the many verses that the Church has
misapplied at the expense of repentance in their own lives. Instead of
looking at its own shortcomings, the Church instead is pointing its finger at
others. Another well-known verse that is also taken out of context is
found in Rev. 3:20 where Jesus tells the Church at Laodicea, “Behold,
I stand at the door and knock….” Millions of evangelicals apply this
verse to “the poor sinner who doesn’t know the gospel, and if they would only
heed the gentle, persistent knocking of our Lord, He would come into them and
sup with them.” Instead of Jesus being outside of the sinner’s heart, the
context shows us that Jesus is outside of His own Church knocking. It is
the Church who needs to heed the knock of the Lord and let Him in, not the
world! It is the Church, first and foremost, who needs to “humble
themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways.” It
is the Church that has left her first love and followed after other
pursuits—and in my own life, it was Jesus Christ who was not preeminent causing
me to pursue politics to help fill the void that only He could fill.
Secondly, even though the passage was clearly speaking of Israel (and now
the Church), I do believe its general principles can be applied to other
nations as well. It should be clear to any discerning Christian that America is full
of evil and corruption. However, the key to this verse is that it is through
prayer and repentance that a people will be spiritually healed—not by being
pounded on the head by Christian activists who are bent on changing America through
legislation. Yes, of course Christians should be concerned about the
spiritual welfare of the nation in which they live. However, it is
through prayer and a recognition that the battle being
waged is not in the realm of the visible, but in the invisible realm of the
spirit. Instead of church leadership supporting the American government
in the pursuit of Muslim extremists (and believe me, they certainly do), and
self-righteously judging the world (which they also do quite well), they need
to first examine their own hearts to see if they have fallen short, and then
pray for revival in their own life, and in the lives of “their flock.”
Before the gospel can be powerful for others, it must first be operating in the
lives of those who proclaim it, and thus we come to the real problem in America—it is
the Church itself. If the Church were not so arrogant and presumptuous
concerning its own righteousness, perhaps the world might be moved to repent of
its own wickedness. The Church, while preaching Christ, rejects His
Lordship in their own lives, and so if the people of God are not broken, how can
we expect the world to follow suit?
“Judgment begins in the house of God.” This is where
it must start. We must tend to the affairs of our own house before we
start pointing out the flaws in others. Let us not live as “Christian
patriots” who want to change the morality of this country, but rather as broken
servants of Jesus Christ who desire to live the gospel of love in order that
men may be moved to repentance by our example.
In
Conclusion
There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends
thereof are the ways of death. (Prov. 16:35)
There will be many who will vehemently disagree with what
I have written. It may seem good and right to try to change the culture
through the political process, however, as I tried to point out, there is no
such exhortation or command in the New Testament that even hints that we should
try to change our society through external means. Jesus and all of the
apostles tell us to submit even to those who are evil. Common sense tells
us that it is a good thing to try to change America through the means that she
herself has established (democracy). However, God’s ways go against the
common sense of men, and those who truly are walking in the Spirit understand
that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
powers, and the rulers of darkness.” (2 Cor. 10:3-5;
Eph. 6:12)
If you are satisfied with involving yourself in the
temporal affairs of men making short-lived change in government, then continue
to pursue “Christian politics.” This is “the good.” However, if you
are concerned with the kingdom within
then concern yourself with promoting the Lordship of Christ by exalting His
cross and resurrection—this is the calling that God has entrusted to us as His
stewards and ambassadors. This is “the greater.”
It has been said that “the good” often prevents us from
doing “the greater.” This is the difference between the “called” and the
“elect.” The “called” do good things and make some change, but it is the
“elect” who will be used by God mightily to make lasting and eternal
changes. God is not looking for “Christian patriots,” or “Christian
activists,” but men and women who’ve had their “ear pierced” for their Master
and are committed to doing the things that please Him.
