Pastor's Update
Some Christians say “I Quit”
By Rev. Dallas E. Henry
Aug 29, 2008 - 10:00:00 AM

Deuteronomy 17:14-20, James 1:21-27

All pastors should embrace the fact that Christians are supposed to get involved with politics, especially when God’s values are at stake. Pastors should encourage good Christian citizenship; however pastors are not called to preach politics nor encourage the election or the defeat of specific political candidates. In this update I want to focus on the voters - and especially those who claim to be Christians.

Ultimately, politics offers little change. We know that genuine change comes through changed hearts, which only occurs when people respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Bibles tell us that God has ordained the system of civil government to protect the innocent, and to maintain proper order. For our part, the Christian life carries a prophetic voice that calls us to shine light into dark places.

Jesus’ call for His people to be salt and light to a dying world covers every aspect of life (Matthew 5:13-14,) including how we vote and relate to our government.

There are some Christian basics that we need to remember:
- Christians are to be peaceful, law abiding citizens, (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15.)
- Christians are to pray for and honor our government leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3,)
- Christians should faithfully pay our taxes (Matthew 22:21,)
- Christians must work for the highest good of all people (Proverbs 3:27; Galatians 6:10.) This includes working to promote Godly principles in politics and government. (Proverbs 29:2.)

How do we do this? Below are five characteristics of a Christian voter:

I. The Christian voter recognizes that God ordains leadership. 
Romans 13:1-7 – “…For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God…”

As Christians we live in a theocracy - we follow one God, through one faith, and one baptism.
As Americans, we live in a representative republic - where the will of people drive policy.
As Christians, we need to be a vital part in changing what it means to be American.
But as Americans, we have no authority to change the basics of Christianity.

It is God who ordains. Paul goes as far as to call political leaders ministers of God. Even though there are times when our leaders fall short of their Biblically mandated call, God still calls them to lead. 

God has a calling on pubic political leaders.  They are called to:
Speak out for the innocent (Proverbs 31:8),
Confront sin and moral decay (Proverbs 14:34)
Defend the poor and oppressed (Isaiah 10:1-2, Psalm 10:2)
Work toward the peace and justice that only comes from God. (Psalm 122:6, Genesis 12:3; 27-29)

It shouldn’t surprise us then, that in Deuteronomy, we hear Moses tell the people that the leaders should be in God’s Holy Word daily.

We, as Christians, are called to be good Americans, to follow and obey our government as long as what we are asked to do does not violate the laws and commandments of God (Acts 4:19).  God ordains our political leadership.

2. The Christian voter gets involved.
James 1:21-22;  “ . . . but be doers of the word, and not hearers only. . .”  Many don’t want to get involved, but we have plenty of Biblical characters that were involved in changing the political environments of their day.  Just taking a casual glance at the Old Testament alone, we have people like Joseph (Genesis 41:39-41) whom the Pharaoh gave political control of all Egypt.  Then there is Moses (Exodus 5:2-4) who faced Pharaoh as a messenger of God and won freedom for God’s family. Deborah (Judges 5:1-7) a prophetess and judge who helped destroy the Lord’s enemies. Gideon (Judges 6:11-14) who became the mighty warrior for God’s cause.  Samuel (I Samuel 3:1-19) a prophet and judge who choose Saul as Israel’s king.  David, (I Samuel 16:1-13) from his fight against Goliath to leading the nation of Israel.  Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-11) stood firm for the rebuilding of the temple. Esther (Esther 1-10) who for such a time as this saved the whole Jewish nation. Daniel (Daniel 1:4-6; 18-21) who served the king, while obeying God.

And, of course, in the New Testament, we have a man named Jesus from Nazareth, who was one of the most political characters of His day, among many others.  A Christian voter does get involved in politics.

3. The Christian voter votes.
Exodus 18:21-22 gives us a good model to follow.  These passages show us that civil leaders are to be "...able men who fear God - men of truth, hating covetousness (greed)".

The Bible describes leadership as being a sacred trust, and placing a person in such a position is a very serious thing.  For example, in 1 Timothy 5:22, Paul instructs the young Pastor Timothy to "Lay hands suddenly on no man (to ordain him into the ministry,) neither be partaker of other men’s sins".  In other words, if we hastily put a person into leadership who is not worthy of it, we risk bearing the guilt of that person’s sin.

In this case, we "ordain" our leaders by our votes, support, and influence.  If we support politicians who support ungodly causes, or promote immoral behavior, God holds us responsible for that.  To bid a person "God speed" in their sin, it says in 2 John 11 is "to become a partaker of that same sin.” Our votes do matter.

And if we choose not to vote, then we are choosing to be silent.  And if we choose to be silent, then we should remain that way when things are not going well in the political arena.  There are those who have an opinion on everything, but stand up for nothing.  Christian voters need to cast their vote.

4. The Christian voter understands true freedom.
John 8:31-32 – Jesus said “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  We must guard against falling into the trap of substituting political involvement for the Gospel message but the reverse is true; politics can never be an instrument of salvation.

While we can and should work for positive change, at their best, those who lead can only offer Band-Aid solutions without turning to God and His Word for the answers.  The root of our nation’s problems has always been spiritual in nature.  When it comes to eternal issues, winning people to our political causes is not enough.  People can even embrace all of the "Christianized" cultural influences in the world, but without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they will still be totally lost.  Our true freedom comes from Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.

5. The Christian voter keeps the real goal in focus.
Matthew 28:19 - Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”  We can never forget that we are Christians first and Americans second.  Since, our ultimate goal is to bring people to saving knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ, we pray.

We all know that prayer is the best thing we can do for politics and politicians. We can pray for the will of God to be acknowledged, we can pray for attention to the needs of the people, we can pray that the plagues that infect us be removed.

And whichever way this election goes, we are called to not deny our prayers for the victors.  We will lift up the president and the congress, the mayor and the council, all of our elected officials.  And when (not if, but when), they mess up (because they will), and when they get too high-and-mighty, when they forget where they came from, when they forget who it is they are supposed to serve, then we need to pray some more.

If our civilization falls, part of the blame will fall on the people of God who did not listen to God’s word when it said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  We need to pray for the world’s salvation and everyone in it.  The Christian voter keeps the real goal in focus.

As this political season begins to heat up, and the name-calling and back-biting gets worse and worse, remember who you are, and most importantly, Whose you are.

A Christian voter:
Recognizes that God ordains leadership.
Recognizes that they too must get involved.
Recognizes that their vote means something.
Recognizes that true freedom comes through Christ alone, and
Recognizes that the real goal is bringing people the freedom-giving message of Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we carry a prophetic voice that calls us to shine light into dark places.

Don’t be silent!!!  Please don’t be silent!!!

May our thoughts be God’s thoughts.
May our words be God’s words.
May our actions be God’s actions.
For it is in our thinking, our speaking, and in our doing that the God in us is recognized by others.