Religion and Politics

Politics, Politics. Some of us despise it, some of us enjoy it. Some of us are passionate, and some of us are apathetic. Like it or not, the 2016 election is coming upon us. There are many systems of government; we have a democratic representative republic. We do have the right, and as good citizens, the responsibility to vote. So, I am assuming you are going to vote. Sixty million evangelical voters did not vote in the last election, don’t be like them, vote. I am not going to endorse a candidate, but I do think there is an understanding of biblical principles regarding government and conscience that we must consider.

Order rather than chaos. The bible teaches that this is one of the purposes of government. Anarchy, the absence of government, is defined this way according to Merriam-Webster: a situation of confusion and wild behavior in which the people in a country, group, organization, etc., not controlled by rules or laws; a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority; absence or denial of any authority or established order. God is a God of order. Therefore, just as in the home, just as in the church, He has established an authority structure; to rebel against government is to rebel against God, and bring judgment on yourself, Romans 13:2. Just like the home, just like the church, God, as the author of order, is its head, Romans 13:1. All authority is given by give him. Jesus told Pilate that he would have “no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above,” in John 19:10-11. So the purpose that we draw from scripture is that government exists to give order. As you vote, consider this: is your candidate going to help bring about order in our nation?

Good rather than bad. The bible also teaches that one of the purposes of government is to ensure welfare of people. The main way this is carried out is by rewarding of good behavior and the punishing of bad behavior. Romans 13:3-4, and also in 1 Peter 2:14, we are told that the government is to recognize (and help society recognize) what is good. It is given the power to execute punishment (God’s wrath) on criminals, even capital punishment. Therefore, as we vote, ask the question: does the candidate I vote for understand right from wrong, good from bad? Even from a non-religious standpoint, any leader must have this basic understanding to govern well. 

An observation rather than a purpose. God uses government to accomplish His purposes. He uses leaders whether they are good or bad, to ensure that His will is done. He used Pilate, Darius, Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, the kings of all the nations displaced by Israel in the conquest, and Pharaoh, whom God specifically told, “for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth,” in Exodus 9:16. God used evil rulers to shape world events, as well as the biblical meta-narrative of salvation, for His glory. Therefore, this is an instance like Phil 2:12-13, John 1:12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Col 1:29, and Matt 10:18-20, where we labor and do all that we can to affect a situation, and God uses that to bring about His plan. So, consider that regardless of the outcome of this election, our vote does count in electing God’s choice to lead our country.

We get caught up in rhetoric, debates, and personalities, but we must attempt to maintain a biblical mindset. Issues are important (some are deal-breakers), policies are important, and agendas are important, but think about government, not just politics. Even though at family get togethers we are not supposed to bring up religion or politics, for the believer, one should not separate a biblical worldview, as it relates to government, from thoughtful consideration prior to and at the polling place.

Pondering God with My Girls

The other night as Mackenzie and Kaitlann and I were reading the bible, as is our regular routine, there was a reference to Moses on the mountain with God in Exodus 33:20. This reference gave me a chance to remind them of the story of Moses being hidden in the cleft of the rock and God passing by because Moses asked to see His glory.  And, of course, as with most nights, then came the questions from a 7 & 9 year old.  They pondered who big the hand of God might be as he covered Moses.  They wondered what exactly was the "back of God" (hinder parts for you who memorized KJV), and what it looked like.  We didn't really talk about the glory of God and proclaiming his Name before Moses. They didn't ask, and I needed to get them to go to sleep sometime, so I didn't drop it in.  But then they asked about how no man can see the face of God and live.  They thought that was fine, then Mackenzie asked about Jesus. Could Jesus see the face of God (I think the passage we were reading mentioned this too, 2 Peter or 1 John maybe)?  My answer was that Jesus WAS God. She paused for a minute; it was dark (reading by the light of Kindle and iPhone), so I couldn't see her face, but she was thinking.  She asked about the passage we were reading, about God sending His Son or Jesus returning at God's command (again, can't remember, its been several days), and was implying that there was a necessary separation because of the text. "But I thought..."  "But this says..."

We have talked about the trinity before.  And I have done my best to explain it before.  Kaitlann had been lost in the discussion, but Mackenzie was again pondering it. And I didn't, and don't have the answers. Doctrines and thoughts about God like these, remind us that we cannot "explain" God. There are thoughts about God that as the Psalmist said, are too high for us, Psalm 139:6. Paul says it in Romans 11:33. It is good to plum the depths of the person of God. We don't do it enough.  Our thoughts are consumed with earthly things. Our patterns of thinking affect our desires as well. If our "awe" of God was higher, our desire for Him would be higher, and our satisfaction in Him would be fuller, and He would be glorified!

So I guess this is my exhortation to you today, think deep thoughts about Him. Get past the basics. No training required--no seminary degree, no church office, no denominational training, no years of teaching a bible study, just a brain. Fill that thing with scripture, and use it. If fact, the best way to do it is probably in groups of two or three. Search out the One True God in all His beauties and excellences and complexities, and you will be blessed.

Biblical Observations

This morning I was reading in Luke 4. And I noted twice in that chapter, Luke points out that Jesus is filled by/under the control of the Holy Spirit, vv. 1 & 14. Then Jesus notes it about Himself as he reads from Isaiah in the synagogue, v. 18.

Just a couple of thoughts with that in mind. Jesus did a lot of preaching under the power of the Spirit (in fact, he said that he was sent to do the work of preaching). When He preached He proclaimed the "good news" of His coming (freedom to the captives, sight to the blind, healing to the broken, gospel to the poor, justice for the oppressed), He wasn't afraid to give hope with grand statements about the power of God in their lives. And at the same time, He made people angry as he said hard things; so much so that they wanted to kill Him. People were repeatedly astonished at His teaching and the authority by which He taught. Under the power of the Spirit He also slapped the demons around and healed the sick. Again, astonishing people with the power of God through the Spirit. All of this in Luke 4.

So I was just reminded of the necessity of the Spirit's ministry in our lives. I wonder sometimes if we really desire and plead for the filling of the Spirit. Do you dwell in the presence, filling, and power of the Holy Spirit of God?

They Shall Know that I am the LORD

I was reading this morning in Exodus and I was reminded of a recurring theme that I encountered in Ezekiel over and over:

Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD." -Exodus 14:4

That phrase, or variations of it occurred 60 times in Ezekiel referring to Israel and many other nations. It was pounded into my brain as I read Ezekiel some time back. This morning I realized that God was concerned, not only about Israel knowing that He was the One True God, but also the Egyptians who He was in the process of humbling and destroying. A couple of thoughts occurred to me:

1. We are constantly in need of reminding that God is really God, the sovereign Lord over all the earth, all circumstances, all situations, all people, all things at all times
2. God will go to great lengths, even the deaths of hundreds or thousands, to ensure that His Name is made great in the sight of many. And this is for the good of the many.
3. God has a great concern for your/my enemies and their eternal destiny, thus so should we. And therefore, we must remember how we handle opposition is extremely important.
4. I think it is valid to evaluate each situation in our lives with the question: how is God using this to make me (and others) know that He is the Lord?

Open our eyes to Your greatness, and make us realize Your sufficiency and centrality, as You work all things after the counsel of Your will!

Link Between Obedience and Feelings

Deuteronomy 28:28 says, "The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart."

I was reading this verse this morning in my devotional time. By the way, just want to praise the Lord for how good He has been to me in my devotional time in the mornings lately. The context of the verse is the covenant faithfulness of God to the His people. And the promise of blessings that will flow from obedience to the covenant in every aspect of life, as well as the promise of curses that will follow those who choose to ignore or forsake God's commandments and covenant. Remember that these promises are made to His people, not the the world at large. And I noticed a link that was interesting to me.

God says that if they are disobedience, covenant breakers, adulterous in their heart toward Him, this is one of the curses they will experience. God says first in this list that He will cause them to be insane. This puts a new perspective on mental illness (this is not to say that all mental illness is caused by disobedience, just that it is a possibility). And this is so scary, because barring the intervention of God again on behalf of this person, they may never have the mental capacity (not to mention spiritual capacity) to repent and be obedient again. Verse 45 says "Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you." Makes you want to warn those that slip down this road to diligent to obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments (v. 1), so that they might retain their sanity.

God also says that if they don't follow Him in obedience, He will cause them to be blind. This was a word that is used to indicate spiritual or religious blindness. So not only will they struggle with their own natural bent toward sin, but God will cause them to be blinder (how do you like that word). Again this is a scary judgment. And also a reminder of how much the restraining hand of God actually prevents us from sinning daily, rather than our own diligence or determination. "O to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be/Let that grace now like a fetter by my wandering heart to Thee." We can claim no credit in our fight to see the glory of Christ, although we are responsible to seek. And also a reminder of how God is determinative in whether or not we see the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Finally, God says that if they don't walk with Him in covenant keeping obedience and love, He will cause them to be confused in their heart. This was the part that was so interesting to me. Here is another link between feelings and obedience. Basically God says that if you are disobedient, you will feel confused in your heart. Your feelings will be messed up due to your lack of obedience and covenant faithfulness. Take a relationship for example: if a spouse is disobedient to keep their covenant to love, cherish, care for, etc. the other until death do they part, is it any wonder that they spend much of the reconciliation period confused about what they want or about how they feel? This is why we must not totally rely on our feelings, but trust God to tell us what to do, and do it whether we feel like it or not. We do this not only to be right with God, but to feel right toward other things in life. Again another scary promise, and reminder of God's sovereignty even over our feelings. O God, grant us right feelings toward You, and toward others, and toward things! One of my constant prayers is that God will change my heart, and give me proper desires for Him.

And this verse is only one of 53 in the chapter that deal with the curses that will follow disobedience and breach of covenant with God. And yes, we are under the new covenant, but a covenant it still is. So let this be a reminder to us to not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them. (v. 14) Ultimately disobedience, as this verse reminds us, is idolatry, 1 Sam 15:23 says, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD..." O, Lord, rip the idols from our hearts that cause us to stray from You! And help us to walk in obedience that we may experience the fullness of the blessings of Your covenant, and avoid the outpouring of Your chastisement!

Thank You, Lord, for the richness of Your word, and the depth and breadth of your covenant! Thank You for your mercy, grace, and faithfulness to me and to Your bride!