DO POLITICS AND RELIGION MIX?
Romans 13:1-7
“What a person believes really should not matter because religion and politics don’t mix.” (Commentator) How often we have heard that, until many Christians believe it without questioning?
1. Why Have Christians Dropped Out of The Political Process? They say
a. Politics is dirty. Many politicians are dirty, but politics is the art of government ordained by God (Romans 13:1ff).
b. Given up – hunker down mentality
c. See involvement as the “Social Gospel” – “We cannot substitute culture for Calvary.”
d. Intimidated – The ACLU try to make Christians think we have no right to speak up. The ACLU is the “Lawyers Anti-Christ Union.”
e. Afraid of the IRS
f. Lukewarm and too lazy to care.
g. Totally ignorant of what’s happening to our nation.
h. Lacking the courage of their convictions. Illus. Bill, I believe like you but I cant preach them at First Baptist Church.
i. My vote won’t count
j. It’ll hurt my business
2. Religion And Politics Have The Same Source. Romans 13:1 says, “Obey the government, for God is the One who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God.” (NLT).
a. Because God is the source of political governments, Christians are commanded to treat government and its leaders with respect and obedience. “Submit yourself (why) for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men, whether to the king…to governors, who are sent by God to punish those wrong and to commend those who do right.” (1 Peter 2:13-14).
b. Government authorities to be obeyed not because they are always right, but because “God appointed them.” (Romans 13:4)
c. And not only are the authorities to be obeyed, they are to be prayed for (1 Timothy 2:1-3- this is good and pleases God our Savior.
d. Not only prayed for but to be shown special honor (1 Peter 2:17).
e. Obeying the authorities was to obey God’s will (Titus 3:1).
3. Human Responsibilities of Government.
a. To restrain evil (Romans 13:3-4)
b. To reward good (Romans 13:3b)
c. To safeguard religious freedom. “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” (1st Amendment of the US Constitution).
d. To use the sword if required (Capital Punishment – Romans 13:4)
4. Summary of Duties for Every Christian Citizen. Note 5 “P’s”
a. Pay for the government (Romans 13:6-7; Matthew 13:4)
b. Pray for the government (1 Peter 2:17)
c. Preach to the government – John the Baptist preached to Herod, Moses to Pharaoh, Amos to King Ahab, Jesus to Pontius Pilate, Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar, Paul to King Agrippa, Bill Bennett to Bill Clinton.
Note: Billy Graham to the American Public. “The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren, and this great nation is crucial. As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last. I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who based their views on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this Nov. 6th, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God.”
d. Praise the government – (1 Peter 2:17)
e. Participate in our government – Be a Minister of God in the government (Romans 13:4) – if called as Representative Chris Millis.
5. The Organizers of Our Government Believed That Religion Had A Place in Politics:
a. George Washington – “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this (the colonies’ victories in the American War for Independence), that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”[1]
b. Listen to Patrick Henry for a minute: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! In his own memoirs”
c. John Jay, 1st Supreme Court Justice, wrote these words, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.[2] Abraham Lincoln – Proclamation of National Thanksgiving, 1864.
d. Franklin Roosevelt – Famous prayer when Allied Forces landed in France in 1944.
e. Ronald Reagan – “If America ceases to be a nation under God, she will be a nation gone under.”
“Separation of Church and State.” I will give anyone a new Mercedes if you can find in our Constitution the phrase, “Separation of Church and State.”
6. God Embedded in Our Founding Document and National Conscience:
a. “In God We Trust” is on our currency
b. The Pledge of Allegiance contains the phrase, “One Nation Under God.”
c. The Declaration of Independence speaks of the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.” And “we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.”
7. THE STATE IS NOT THE MASTER OF THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH IS NTO THE MASTER OF THE STATE. THE CHURCH IS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE STATE AND THE STATE IS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH TO SO BE.
8. THE ULTIMATE QUESTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN AS WE FACE THE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2012: What Would Jesus Do
a. Jesus would vote. It was He who commanded “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21).
b. Jesus would vote values – not the views of man.
c. Jesus would vote Principles, not a Political Party. And if we would follow Jesus we would be the same.
9. Do you think God is a Republican or a Democrat? Neither. He is bigger than any political party. Do you believe that? Then don’t let some reporter, charlatan politician, movie star, Hollywood actor, friend or family member sway you in your vote. You see, if Jesus is Lord of all and He is, doesn’t that mean He should be Lord when we pull the lever in a voting booth on Nov. 6, 2012?
Questions and Answers:
1. Who served the shortest term as President?
2. If one does not vote, is he “Rendering to Caesar” what is Caesar’s? (Matt. 22:21).
3. Is it conceivable that God would institute government and then have His people stay out of it?
4. If Christians stay out of government, whom does that leave running the country?
5. If 180 million Christians in America took voting seriously, how long would it take them to turn our nation back to God?
6. God has instituted 4 authorities on earth:
a. Parents over children
b. Government over citizens
c. The church over all believers
d. The Employer over all employees
If Christians were dominant in all four, what would be the results?
If Christians abandon responsibilities in all 4, where does that leave us?
7. Is the Christian’s relationship to the government directed by God as are His directions to the home and the church?
8. Exactly what did Jesus mean when He commanded, “RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS WHICH ARE CAESAR’S, AND RENDER UNTO GOD THE THINGS WHICH ARE GODS? (Matthew 22:21). ). Caesar’s image (The Roman Emperor) was stamped on the coin; God’s image is stamped on every person (Genes 1:26-27). The Christian must render obedience in Caesar’s realm (the government) (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17) but “the things that are God’s do not belong to Caesar and should be given only to God. Thus Jesus acknowledges Caesar’s right to asses and collect taxes, and He makes it the duty of Christians to pay them. But He does not suggest that Caesar has sole authority in the social or political realms. Ultimately all things are God’s (Romans 11:36; 2 Cor. 5:18; Rev. 4;11).
9. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus speaks of the “City on a Hill” which cannot be hidden. To what was He referring:
a. The government or
b. The church?
10. And for the church to be “The City on the Hill,” it must be “The salt of the earth,” and the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-16. Would this not mean that Christians must not isolate themselves from the government, even if it is wicked, but to seek to cleanse it for the glory of God?
11. What are the results when the Church is not “the salt of the earth” and the “light of the world?
12. “Washington is broken.” Did Christians help break it?
13. Is it ever lawful to oppose the actions of government? Yes. Daniel and the Hebrew Children defied the orders of the King (Daniel 1:8; 3:18). The mid-wives in Egypt spared the boys though ordered to kill them. Peter and John kept on preaching when forbidden by law (Acts 4:19; 5:29).
14. In a democracy what is our recourse against bad laws?
a. Revolution and riot
b. Voting
c. Prayer
d. Petition
15. Would there ever be a time when a Christian should not vote?
16. Why are we Americans so fortunate in our form of government? Our Constitution reflects Judeo-Christian values. Ex.: Our founders believed that mankind is basically sinfully and self-serving. They, therefore, formed a Constitution which put limits on what one branch could do in office and if
they exceeded their power under the Constitution, another branch of the government would call them into question. Ex.: The Congress is now calling on the Executive Branch to explain why our Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, was assaulted, killing our ambassador and three others.
17. Could we have avoided our Civil War which I call our “UNCIVIL WAR”?
18. Will the time ever come when Christian Citizens may have to revolt against the government to redress grievances they could not address in the voting booth?
19. Do you believe the President of the USA should be elected by popular vote rather than through the Electoral College?
20. If so, how would it come to pass?
21. Was it unbiblical for the colonies to rebel against Great Britain in 1776?