God's Will For Government
By Rev. Dallas Henry
Sep 7, 2006, 08:58
Many of us still remember David Barton’s wonderful visit to Maine last year, when he shared with us his vast knowledge of our nation’s Christian heritage.
I wanted to pass on this article, “God’s Will for Government” by David, for you to use just before the election if you find it helpful.
Today many Christians are confused when it comes to politics. For too long, the evangelical church has distanced itself from politics, regarding it as “the unclean thing” that the church should not touch. Some pastors feel that their congregations hold many political views, and they are fearful of alienating anyone. This mindset, however, does not match up with the vision and philosophy of the Founding Fathers. It doesn’t match up with the Word of God either. In a republic, Government is “of the people, by the people and for the people.” That means that politics will always be in the hands of those who take time to get involved. The state of affairs we see today – homosexual rights, abortion, the decline of the family – results from the apathy of the Church and indifference on moral and spiritual issues.
The fact that fewer than 40% of professing Christians even vote is sinful in my opinion. I have to admit that it is easy to get discouraged. It often seems like an impossible task to elect principled and moral people. But America has the same enemy as the church does, and that is Satan. He wants us to throw up our hands and say, “Oh, what’s the use? We can never win!” But we must not give up! We know that the Bible speaks of the last days as being corrupt – but that does not let us off the hook. With that in mind, the church cannot give up the fight. How the church influences politics has a great deal to do with the very existence of the church. I am happy to say that there are some candidates who are worth voting for this election. You can find out about them by using the League’s voters guide.
As David Barton says, “If citizens became negligent in electing moral, God-fearing leaders to office, their government would become corrupt and their civil liberties would be endangered; and when civil liberties are lost, so, too, will be religious liberties.”
I encourage pastors in Maine to remind their people of the wonderful and rich Christian heritage we have as a nation, and the importance of Christians being involved in the political process. Everyone can begin by voting. Some Christians have seen the importance of running for office. Some have run for town selectmen or school boards, while others have run for county and state offices. It’s all part of witnessing our faith. Whenever Christian faith has influenced public policy, “the people rejoiced and had a better government than they did without Christian faith.” Proverbs 14:34
May God be honored by the church living up to its responsibility to be salt and light in every sector of life.
God richly bless you,
Dallas E. Henry
God’s Will for Government
From comments by David Barton
Government has always had, and always will have, a direct influence on matters of religion. It can influence religion a number of ways.
Its public policies will either:
• encourage,
• accommodate,
• tolerate,
• hinder, or
• prohibit religious expression.
The key to which policies are adopted by a government rests on the personal beliefs of the officials who make those policies. As William Penn (a Quaker minister and the founder of Pennsylvania) explained, "Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them. ... Wherefore, governments rather depend upon men than men upon governments. Let men be good and the government cannot be bad. ...
But if men be bad, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn."
Government policies always reflect the personal values of those involved in establishing them. For instance, a God-fearing leader will not enact God-hostile policies any more than a leader who is an enemy of religious expression will encourage the public acknowledgment of God. This truth was so well understood that even a century after Penn's declaration, John Francis from Mercer reminded the other delegates at the Constitutional Convention, "It is a great mistake to suppose that the paper we are to propose [the Constitution] will govern the United States. It is the men whom it will bring into the government and the interest in maintaining it that is to govern them. The paper will only mark out the mode and the form. Men are the substance and must do the business."
Understanding that public policies were a direct reflection of the beliefs of those in office, William Paterson, a signer of the Constitution and a Justice on the U. S. Supreme Court, reminded citizens of the Scriptural truth of Proverbs 29:2, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Yet the only way the righteous can rule in America is to be elected to office, and they can only be elected to office when God-fearing, moral citizens vote for them.
Quite simply, then, into the hands of citizens has been placed the stewardship of this nation and its policies.
Understanding this stewardship, citizens were taught for generations to apply biblical principles to their voting. For example, Founding Father and educator Noah Webster (a soldier in the American Revolution and the man responsible for Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution) reminded citizens, "In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide..... It is alleged by men of loose principles or defective views of the subject that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness"' (Exodus18:21).
In fact, so clear was this Scriptural directive that Webster concluded, "When a citizen gives his suffrage [vote] to a man of known immorality, he abuses his trust [civic responsibility]; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country."
The warning was clear: If citizens became negligent in electing moral, God-fearing leaders to office, their government would become corrupt and their civil liberties would be endangered; and when civil liberties are lost, so, too, will be religious liberties.
As the Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon (signer of the Declaration of Independence) wisely observed, "There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost and religious liberty preserved entire."
The freedom to exercise our religious liberties depends on the maintenance of our civil liberties, and the freedom to exercise both depends on our wise choice of leaders. In short, the quality of our government and its policies rests completely in the hands of the people.
As President James A. Garfield, a gospel minister, once reminded citizens, "Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. ... [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces."
The current condition of our government and our country is simply a reflection of inaction. Christians must again become active in the civic arena, moving beyond their self-imposed boundaries of church and home. It is time to remember the warning given by Charles Finney, a minister and leader in America's Second Great Awakening, who reminded Christians, "The Church must take right ground in regard to politics. ... [T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics. ... Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of their duty to God. ... He [God] will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics]."
The responsibilities facing God-fearing citizens every election are sobering, and the potential repercussions from inaction and complacency will cause wrong principles and policies to abound.
When it comes to sound government, the energy is seldom "the In"; it is generally citizen apathy. Consequently, voting, one of the simplest of citizen responsibilities, is also one of the most important.
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Join us at the League Banguet
Please accept my invitation to attend the Civic League's annual banquet at the Senator Inn, Augusta, Friday, Oct. 6th.
Besides a wonderful meal and warm Christian fellowship, you will be inspired and challenged by the presentations of two speakers, Rev. Sandy Williams Pastor of First Baptist Church in Freeport and coach Dave Daubenmire of "Pass The Salt" ministires. They will each make a presentation under the subject, "Is this a Christian nation? Two Perspectives"
Your church or ministry can also be a table sponsor for the event.
For more information click HERE. You will want to click on Coach Daubenmire's web site and listen to a pod cast of his radio show.
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