Let’s Talk Politics

I am told that the fastest way out of town is to talk politics in church, be it that you are from the same party or differing parties. Yet I am choosing to talk about politics because Tuesday is coming. For quite a while, I lived in the world of politics, literally eating and breathing politics. No, none of my family were public office holders. I learned that aside from being Governor or President, there really isn’t as much power as there is behind the scenes. It’s not the ability of the puppet to entertain people, but the ability of the one pulling the strings that brings enjoyment. That is politics.

During my political life, I came to Christ. As I was learning to walk in Christ, I was taught that since the political scene had become so bad, so corrupt, that good Christians do not belong in that realm. I was cited Romans 13.1 about our role with government, that we should be in submission. They claim that it is not permissible to be involved, but to live with what happens.

The Late D. James Kennedy, former pastor of Corral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Corral Ridge, FL, was of a different opinion. He held the view that because political involvement is NOT expressly mentioned in Scripture, then the believer has the freedom to decide to, and even ventured more, stating that though all things are permissible but not beneficial, Christian involvement in politics is indeed both permissible and beneficial. He would say it was a mandate.

Political involvement is one a topic that lacks any real Scriptural support for or against. The best we can do is to infer. When the Bible was written, there were kings and emperors. There was a Senate of elected, but those who did the electing was by far a minority. You had to be a Roman citizen, which meant being born to both Roman citizens or purchasing citizenship, usually at the cost of a lifetime’s worth of wealth.
In our country, things are much different. Our President is not our president until death, thankfully. He serves 4 years, maybe 8, and then we elect a new one. Our lawmakers are the same. They serve a couple of years. If we like them, we reelect them. If not, we change. It has led me to think about this process.

It is more than just how should we vote. I can tell you how you should vote. But is it that simple? Would you, could you agree with me unilaterally? One hand we have a man who claims Christ but prefers Islam. On the other, we have a man who claims Christ, but has a different definition. For my Libertarians, we have another who claims total freedom, which means we legalize homosexual marriages and marijuana. They are for smaller government, but to legalize something creates not freedom but more oversight, more bureaucracy, bigger government. Freedom but without freedom. See? It’s messy, which is not to say anything about tax increases or other ballot issues, or even about the other candidates for the other offices.

How do we approach the topic? Yes we vote. But can a Christian do more? Absolutely. I thought about Matthew 22.21. Jesus was answering a question of paying taxes. He said, looking at a coin, having had them answer about whose image was on it, “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, but give to God what belongs to God.” Yes, we pay taxes. Then we also become involved in politics as God leads us to. Some are, and will be called into politics and do well being a witness there.

Yet let us now consider Tuesday coming. I am not sure how you each stand on who you are voting for. I thought the last election had the poorest choices. My preferred candidates for this race all dropped 1, 2, 3 in order. I will say that I am pleased that the 2012 election is taking place, unlike my initial fear. However, for some, such as residents in the wake of Sandy, will have a time of voting. Some areas will see UN Monitors seeing that our voting process is kept fair, free from bullies and corruption. Yet what will happen if your candidate doesn’t win?

All of a sudden, though the media doesn’t focus on the President’s shortcomings, they seem to be carrying a sway of the other guy will be elected. (Perhaps creating an aura of false confidence or hope?) Does that mean President Obama will lose? Will President Romney be a step in the right direction? Though our involvement in the process is essential, and we’ll keep it to the voting for this message, the results do not really matter. That’s right, they don’t mean a thing.

Am I contradicting myself? Not really. As I mentioned, the Bible is not so focused on current events. Sure, Jesus and Paul both used current events to reach the people, but the use of current events were a means to an end, spreading the word, the mission of reaching lost souls for the kingdom, the restoration of fellowship between God and man through Christ Jesus.

Our response in the wake of Tuesday will be essential, win or lose, your way or the highway. The world will look to see how we are going to react. First we need to remember from the Great Commission, Mat. 28.20, Jesus is always with us. This should give us boldness and courage, as we saw with the Apostles in the last couple of weeks. Remember, this Great Commission gives the Church her mission, that AS WE GO, we make disciples, baptizing AND THEN teaching them… The passage ends with an awesome promise. Jesus is there with us. We don’t go it alone. We don’t walk alone.

Because he is with us, we are able to live Proverbs 3.5, which tells us to trust in the Lord fully, and lean not on our own understanding. He will direct our paths. James would define this type of faith as having it motivate our actions. Show me faith without deeds and I will show you a dead faith. Even our Sunday School lesson this morning, we see Paul mentioning that new faith, repentance, was displayed by their deeds. (Acts 26.20)

Then finally, from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi (4.6), “Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving in your heart, present your requests to God.” This dovetails with Romans 8.28, the promise that “in all things, God works everything to the good of those who love him.”

But here is the interesting part, do we dare ask what that good might be? Francis Chan, in his book “Crazy Love” challenges our American way of thinking with God’s will being done in our lives. What if it is God’s will to let the country continue down the road she is?
Now I can hear some saying, “Steven, God’s will and good aren’t the same.” It may seem that I’ve jumped onto another highway, but follow me. Good is the old English word meaning godly. When we use to call something good, we were calling it godly. Of course language is always changing. Words’ definitions will morph. Suffer, a word of permitting in the beginning, now means to endure pain, hardship. Good, likewise, means pleasant. God’s Word, “Good” in our Romans verse isn’t about the health and wealth of His children here. Good is about godliness. It is about what His will for us is. It all goes back to the mission, sharing the Gospel as we travel our life.

Now you are with me, let me continue. Do we take it to our personal health and wealth? Or do we have a kingdom view and see that our good is being used to bring peace to those around us, to bring hope and encouragement? What if the Gospel isn’t as effective anymore because we are a stagnate people, because we’ve left our heritage and faith? I can draw some overlay with Acts 8 and our nation now, and will do so the next couple of weeks, but let’s consider, the Gospel wasn’t leaving Jerusalem until Christianity became illegal. Only after the first person died for Christ did people actually become His witnesses to the corners of the earth. What if this is the same good that we need to look for in the Church of America? I am not sure what will be heading toward us as a nation. I do fear that we are living in a historic time that we will see much change, regardless who wins. Our world may even become upside down and inside out.

Remember, as with Horatio, God didn’t promise to see us avoid the storms. Remember when Jesus was sleeping in the boat? The storm came, and in fear, they plead with Jesus to do something. He did. He didn’t calm the storm. He calmed the men. They were seen safely through the storm. What storms are you struggling with?

For Horatio, his storm was several fold. One might liken his life to that of a modern day Job. It was the year 1871. Chicago broke out in a fire. The fire consumed all of Horatio’s assets and investments. Normally, land is easy to reclaim, resurvey. But the fire also took out the Cook County Land Office. He would be able to recoup some of his lands, but most were gone. In the midst of that fiasco, he sent his family on their planned trip to England. He’d catch the next ship in a week or two. While his family traversed the North Atlantic, the storm would rear up again. This time, he lost his four daughters. Only his wife survived.  You can hear his prayer as he passed where his kids were likely lain to rest. “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when storms like sea billows blow, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well with my soul.”

This morning, listen to the words as we sing all the verses. Make them your resolve. With Tuesday drawing nigh, is it well with your soul? Will it be well as Wednesday dawns bright?