Really? Jeff Jones, Senior Pastor God Is Worried About Our Next Election May 18/20, 2012 Romans 13:1-7, Ephesians 4:1-6, Titus 3:1-2

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1 Really? Jeff Jones, Senior Pastor God Is Worried About Our Next Election May 18/20, 2012 Romans 13:1-7, Ephesians 4:1-6, Titus 3:1-2 Hello Chase Oaks and welcome as today we close out our series, Really? Today the statement we are looking at is God is worried about the next election really? And of course God isn t. He is sovereign, and in control. But that doesn t mean the next election is not important. As we enter into this next big political season with a presidential election this fall, today we are going to look at what the Bible says about our engagement as Christ-followers with government and how it guides us as we enter into a season like we are about to experience. To get started, let me do a little polling of my own. I m just curious about some things at Chase Oaks, and these first questions aren t political. Each question has two answers, two sides that you ve got to pick. Just raise your hand. The first question: Are you a Cowboys fan or not? How many are? How many aren t? Second question: If you ordered a milkshake, would you order chocolate or either vanilla or strawberry? Another question: Are my sermons too short or too long? Too short? Too long? Ok, now the questions are getting a little more touchy, at least with me. But what if I asked, and don t answer, Are you a Democrat or a Republican? Or, Are you pro-obama or anti-obama? Now, that would get touchy. There would be a lot of tension in these rooms we are meeting in today. Politics is that way, especially as we enter into a high drama, high-stakes political season with the presidential election this fall. It s going to get crazy. As we enter into such a season, some of you are all charged up about it, either with excitement, because you love it, or with anxiety, because you don t know how it is going to turn out. Others of you are approaching it with apathy. You are just tired of the whole thing already and you just want it to go away quickly. Either way, whether you are amped up about politics, or apathetic about government and politics, we need to hear what the Bible has to say because it does have a lot to say. From the very beginning of Christianity, a Christfollower s relationship and responsibility to government and the political process has been a big issue, so God has a lot to say to guide us as Christ-followers. So, that s what we are going to do today, but before we jump into what the Bible has to say about this, a couple of disclaimers. Yes, this message comes with disclaimers. Just like you would never tear the warning labels off a mattress, please don t disregard these two disclaimers for the message. A) I will stir up more questions about many issues today than I will give answers. That s because I want us to think, so be prepared for some personal homework after this message. And if I don t share my opinion on some of those issues, please don t guess my view. Just think. And it s okay to disagree with me, too. That s allowed. 1

2 B) If you me about this message, please don t expect a response. I know that sounds mean, but with 6000 people or so in our church, there is just no way that I can read and respond to s on a topic that tends to generate massive s. That said, let s do some biblical theology about Christians and government, and today we have three main points to guide us as we enter into this political season: Slide: ) [TV] 1) Remember our primary identity and allegiance as God s people. Many nations throughout history have seen themselves as God s favorite, and America certainly does that. And it is in multiple ways a great place but it is not God s Kingdom, not our primary identity or allegiance. In the gospels, there is this great conversation between Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, and Jesus when Jesus was arrested before the crucifixion. The Jewish leaders ground to have him crucified is that Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews, that he was here to establish a new kingdom, one that rivaled Rome. So this Roman governor asks Jesus: Slide: ) John 18:33; (NIV 1984) [TV] Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king, then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, You are right in saying I am a king When Jesus came to this planet, he came as the King above all Kings, representing the kingdom of heaven, God s kingdom, not any earthly kingdom. So, when Pilate asks him the question, Pilate is right in saying that he is a king, but with a kingdom that is not of this world, a kingdom above all that. He was on this planet representing another kingdom to the kingdoms of this world, which really is a radical idea. Scholars point out that he is using language that was very politically charged in the era of the Roman empire, because he is saying, like John the Baptist said: Slide: ) Mark 1:15 (NIV) [TV] The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! They didn t want someone else proclaiming himself king of anything, and they felt like the Roman empire was already good news. It was politically-charged. If Jesus came today to the United States, he d likely change the language. He might say, I m bringing in a whole new nation, and I am the President, Supreme Court, and the Congress. It would certainly get people s attention, Jesus for President but a President of a different kind of kingdom, one that is not of this world. 2

3 And it is that kingdom that you and I who believe belong to now. We are still citizens here, but our primary citizenship and allegiance is to Christ s kingdom, to his work in this world. That s why Paul says in Philippians 3: Slide: ) Philippians 3:20 (NIV) [TV] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we are here for a short time to represent Jesus Christ, to point others to his rule, his way of life. 2 Corinthians says: Slide: ) 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) [TV] We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We are ambassadors here, sent here with a mission. 1 Peter 2:11 calls us aliens and strangers on this planet. We are immigrants and aliens and ambassadors here. We must always remember that. When George Shultz was secretary of state, he had a practice with every new ambassador from the U.S. Before they went off to their country, he asked the new ambassador to go to the globe and point out their country. Every time they would point to the country they were moving to, until Mike Mansfield, then ambassador to Japan. He was the first to point to the United States, and said, This is my country. After that, Shultz told ever new ambassador that story and reminded them of the reality that they while they are in the other country to never forget that their country is the U.S., that they represent us. The same is true for each of us as believers. We represent Christ s kingdom here, and we are made up of people from every culture, and our job is to represent the King of Kings, helping people connect to their creator and to make a difference in this world and see lives changed not through power politics or even by spreading morality but through love, good works, changed lives, and by creating a counter-cultural community of believers called church that is a model of what God s kingdom is all about. That is our primary allegiance and primary mission. Knowing that keeps us out of the Christian nation ditch that has proven to be incredibly counterproductive and counter-effective. To the extent that Christians have fallen into that ditch and played that game, Christians have been pushed to the margins of the conversation and it is their own fault. The church is here to represent a new administration, to be in a position to say: Slide: ) [TV] The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News. 3

4 Over the centuries, many have gotten this all mixed up, thinking that their earthly nation was God s favorite or somehow part of the kingdom of God as a political entity. We always want to avoid that, even in a nation like America that has some unique roots and background it is still part of the kingdoms of this world, to which we as God s people are sent as ambassadors. The church is not aligned with any one nation or any one political party within a given nation. By the 5 th century, the Roman Empire had embraced Christianity as its official religion, and Rome was sacked and the empire was crumbling. Many were convinced that this meant the world was over. But Augustine, the key church leader of his day, wrote in The City of God, an important reminder: Slide: ) [TV] All earthly cities are vulnerable. Men build them; men destroy them. At the same time, there is the city of God, that men did not build and cannot destroy. The church belongs to the city of God. That s why we do not have a flag on our stage, which is a question we sometimes get. As a church, that is theologically inappropriate from our perspective. We have no problem with individuals doing that if they want, but as a church, we are part of the city of God not any one nation on this planet. As a church, we also have a mission and a mandate, and it is not political. We believe that the ultimate solution to the problem of mankind is not political, but the Gospel and that is what we are committed to as a church. That said, the Bible does have a lot to say about what it means to be part of earthly government as Christ-followers Slide: ) [TV] 2) Be good citizens of the State. Even though our primary citizenship is in heaven, we are still to be good citizens here. That statement is probably not a big shocker to us in 2012 America, but in the first century Roman world for these new believers, coming out of Judaism and now believing in Jesus as Messiah, that was a shocker completely unexpected and confusing. The earliest Christians came out of Judaism, and in their day they had been indoctrinated in the idea that Rome was evil, and the Messiah would come one day and throw off the shackles of the evil empire. In the meantime, they resisted the Roman government in every way that they could, resented the leadership, and often formed little communes to isolate themselves from the whole political process. They wanted nothing to do with it, and they assumed that s the way godly people should think. Then Paul made it clear that, no, that s not right. In this new era between now and when Christ returns, we are to submit to government leaders, honor them, pray for them, pay our taxes, and be good citizens, that was a lot to take in especially since that same government was trying to do away with them, with Christianity. Let s read that together, starting in Romans 13:1: Slide: ) Romans 13:1-7 (NIV) [TV] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God 4

5 has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. This would have been a lot to swallow for these believers in Rome who were enduring persecution by that same government. And the key leader they were to respect was a nut job, Nero a really evil and just crazy dude. But Paul was clear. Our job is to be great citizens, to respect those who are in charge understanding that ultimately God is sovereign and he is the one who puts people where he puts them for a reason. Sometimes it is hard to do that (Astor quotes? Probably no time.) It had to be a lot to hear that people like Nero are God s servants. But they are, even when they don t realize that they are. God uses good leaders and he uses bad leaders to do his work in the world. So, when we pay taxes, Paul says it is so that we can pay the salary for God s servants so we should pay them happily put a little happy face on our check. This fall, if the person you like gets in, then respect him and pray for him. This fall, if the person you do not like gets in, then respect him and pray for him. We are not to join in the hatred toward political opponents that characterizes politics today. That s not a Christian way to go. That is the way culture is going, but not the way we can go. We treat people fairly and with respect. Paul s summary is to do whatever is expected, and to do it not grudgingly but purposefully and joyfully. The word submit used here is the same word that s used in how we are to submit to each other in relationships. We aren t to do that begrudgingly, but with our heart in it. And to do what is expected means that, especially in a democracy, we should be the best citizens. Even though our primary citizenship is in heaven, we should, as people who are also citizens here, be the best ones. That means we should be informed, we should vote, we should as 1 Timothy tells us to, regularly pray for our leaders, we should pay our taxes without cheating on them, we should be engaged in the process which brings me to our next point to guide us as we go into this fall. Slide: ) [TV] 3) Influence the common good by being a positive part of the process. When you think about politics in our country very long, it is easy to throw our hands up and just say, Forget it! This is ridiculous, and give up on it. It is easy to just not engage government and not engage the conversation and the political process. But that s not what 5

6 is expected of a citizen in a democracy, and it violates the nature of how God wants us as Christians to engage culture. The Bible talks a lot about how we are to engage culture, because it assumes that we will engage culture. What Christians sometimes tend to do is comfortable but wrong and that is to make our own little subcultures. And in Jesus day, that happened all the time. They had these little Jewish communities where people escaped from the wider culture. Jesus didn t do that. And as Christianity grew, Christians were expected to gather with each other, but to stay scattered out in the places God had them. They were to not just hole up with each other, but to be engaged with the culture in a way that represented Christ well and contributed to the common good. So, Christians are told to engage in culture in their jobs and so on in such a way: Slide: ) Titus 2:8 (NIV) [TV] so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. and Slide: ) Titus 2:10 (NIV) [TV] so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. and Slide: ) Titus 2:5 (NIV) [TV] so that no one will malign the Word of God It s assumed that we will engage, and part of that is because this is God s world, and what he is doing is restoring to this world what sin and death have taken away. So, our privilege is to be light in dark places, and to be restorers which means we have to be engaged. And we do so in a way that is like salt, that makes people thirsty for more, not wishing for less of our engagement. And because we love people, we are willing to do whatever we can for the common good. In order to do this, it means that we as Christ-followers need to be informed. We need to know what the issues are, and to think through them biblically, and then to engage the discussion in a way that is helpful and considerate. It is easier to not be informed. Adlai Stevenson was a Presidential candidate who did not win, but one of his supporters once said to him, "Mr. Stevenson, you have the vote of every thinking American." And Adlai Stevenson said, "Madam, that's not enough. I need a majority." We need to be informed if we are to be engaged, because so many of these issues are ones of great importance to God. 6

7 Let me just name a few, and as I do I m going to make a distinction in each issue about where the Bible stands, and then where there is flexibility meaning where good people disagree. Most often, that area of flexibility is about how to best approach the issue, and often those do become divided down political lines. Now, as I do this, I m treading on very precarious ground, and I realize that. But my job is not to avoid treading on precarious ground. My job is to express God s Word in a way that guides the way we live every day. My guess is I will create a good bit of tension in the room, and probably make every one of you mad at some point but it has been a while since I ve done that. So, let s go. Let s talk about some of the issues that we need to be conversant about. These are very broad and far-reaching. Slide: ) The Poor [TV] You don t have to read the Bible very much to know that it is the job of God s people to stick up for the powerless, the most vulnerable in any culture. You cannot be Christ-like and not engage poverty. You use whatever power you have to stand for the powerless, which certainly includes the poor. We need to engage the conversation and political process in a way that benefits the poor. You can t question that biblically. Yet, when it comes to figuring out just how to help the poor, then things get interesting. Some will say that we need to help the poor through bigger government and others through free enterprise, and still others through some combination of the two. There is room for disagreement about the how, which will often fall down different party lines. But the issue itself is one that all Christ-followers must think through and be engaged in. Slide: ) The Unborn [TV] Another vulnerable category in our world is the unborn, and here I believe the Bible is clear that babies in the womb are human beings that need our protection. Yet, there is diversity in how to best do this in a secular culture. Some believe that the way to go is to find common ground with people who might even disagree but who also want to significantly limit abortion and save babies that way. Others see that as compromise and confusing to the issue and that we need to hold out for constitutional change. And there are other approaches. The issue is a biblical one, but there is room for differing opinions in the body of Christ as to how to best engage. Slide: ) Immigration [TV] The Bible tells us to care for and stick up for the widow, the orphan, and the immigrant. We are to welcome the stranger and make sure that they are cared for and represented well. At the same time, we have laws that we are to be subject to. That can get tricky to figure out how to best do both of those, and good people disagree. Most who do think through the issues very long understand that, regardless of how you think, they should change. Our immigration laws are messed up, and all Christians should care for them and 7

8 make sure that they are represented. Again, just how we do that, good people have strong opinions about it that differ. Slide: ) The Environment [TV] The first thing humans were told to do is to be good stewards of the earth, which means that as Christians we should lead the way in thinking about how to care for the environment, not be laggards in that discussion. That s just biblical. But other things are not quite at the category of biblical, where good people disagree. For example, many believe that we should be deeply concerned about any potential or real human impact to global warming, and others doubt the whole global warming science or significance of human contribution. The Bible doesn t talk about global warming, so there is room for divergence there. But there is no room to not care for the environment. Slide: ) Marriage [TV] This is super hot right now, since our President just came out positively toward gay marriage. This is a big topic to brush over, but it is one we need to be aware of. I encourage you to go back and listen to or watch the podcast we did on homosexuality, but the Bible is clear that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, a union that is a covenant commitment to God, and that sex is to be enjoyed in that union. It s really hard to be a biblically literate and a biblically submissive person and see that any other way. The disagreement between Christians, often that breaks down in political lines, is how much should we expect a secular culture where marriage has become a secular institution to fall in line with a world view that they no longer hold? How should we respond to a secular culture with a different view about marriage and sex and family? Good people disagree. Slide: ) Racial Reconciliation and Justice [TV] Another hot button obviously, but the cool thing is that, in the civil rights movement in the 60 s, the church was right in the middle of that. I had an epiphany of sorts when I was touring the area of Birmingham where the church was bombed and the student protests started. They were committed to peaceful protests, but they were so mistreated and abused by the authorities. I was walking through that and feeling so ashamed of being a white guy. But then I got to this statue of a group of 6 African American pastors, on their knees because each day and each evening the group began with prayer. What could easily have been a violence-in-exchange-for-violence situation was not, because of Christians who were engaged in the middle of that issue. As I stared at the statue, I thought, Hey, my primary identity is not a white guy. My primary identity is a Christian guy. And therefore I should be proud today, proud of being a Christian as we think back about that time period. Racial reconciliation is a deep biblical concern and conviction, at the heart of the Gospel, and a conversation we always need to be on top of. Ok. I m going to stop there. I think I have stirred the pot enough, and my goal is to bother us a little bit to motivate us to think deeply about these and other issues that are important biblically and affect the common good. We should be conversant and engaged. 8

9 But the Bible emphasizes how we are to engage even more than what we are to engage about. What I mean is that our positions, which are important, are not as important as how we express those positions. And that is going to be my final challenge. As we go into this political season, let us remember where our primary identity and allegiance is, and yet let s also be committed to being good citizens here. Part of that is being engaged in the real issues our culture faces. But let s do it in a way that honors Christ. And here is what that means, that as we enter into the fall, and as we engage government and issues we face in culture, let s be committed to: Slide: ) UNITY WITHIN / CIVILITY WITHOUT [TV] Within the church, our commitment must be toward unity. Paul gives us that challenge in such a strong way in Ephesians 4: Slide: ) Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV) [TV] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. We differ in so many ways, and one of those ways is politically. But let s remember what unites us. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one mission. There is room here for political diversity, in fact that is healthy. Just look at Jesus disciples. One of his disciples was a zealot, a very anti-roman government political group. Another of his disciples was a tax collector, a government agent. That would have made for interesting dinner conversations, but Jesus chose them both. And the thing that makes the unity of the church amazing is our diversity, not just that we tolerate but that we appreciate. We want to be a church with that kind of diversity and unity. As we ve talked about, we all care about various issues, and will have differing views about how to approach those that will divide us along political lines. And that s okay, in fact, that diversity makes us richer. I remember a conversation I overheard just before the 2008 election. I was up in the Northwest at a gathering of Christian leaders, and a group was talking with each other casually about the election, and they said, I just can t imagine how anyone who is a conscientious believer could vote anything but democrat. Of course that was fascinating, living in North Dallas where many groups would say the exact opposite. There is room for diversity in the body of Christ, and we have to be committed to unity within as we go through the political process. When we do, it enriches our own views because we aren t just talking to people who think just like we do. We also need to be committed to: Slide: ) CIVILITY WITHOUT [TV] 9

10 Titus 3, gives us another important challenge, that is so important for us to hear and follow as we do engage with government and engage in dialogue with those outside the church: Slide: ) Titus 3:1-2 (NIV) [TV] Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. That kind of dialogue politically is not just rare, it might be extinct. Things have gotten so nasty. But let s take a second look on how we are to engage. We are to be submissive to our leaders, to honor them, and to be committed to the common good, and in our engagement to avoid slander. Slander is spreading things about people that are not true or that we don t know are true. Slander is what fills news programs these days when talking about people we don t agree with. And we are to be peaceable, considerate, and always gentle. A believing friend of mine for decades has been involved in helping to run political campaigns, including Presidential ones. He told me that after the last election, this was the last one. He grieved as he said it, but he said, Jeff, real dialogue and discourse is dead. Every conversation is nuanced. I just can t do it any more. A few weeks ago I was in Washington, where I heard a person interview one of the leading evangelical Christian voices that comes from a left-tilt politically with another leading evangelical Christian voice that comes from a right-tilt politically. The point of the discussion was how important it was to avoid the posturing that is happening these days that prevents real dialogue, where you listen as well as speak. And guess what they were each doing the whole time they were talking about not posturing? They were totally posturing! It was so obvious the crowd started laughing, and the people on the stage didn t even know why. Many predict that this next election cycle might be the nastiest ever. Let s rise above that. Let s be engaged, but one way to be light in a political environment like this is to be committed to civility in that dialogue. Unity within and civility without. When you leave today, the ushers will hand you (if you want one) a little card that on one side has Unity Within, with Ephesians 4 written below, and on the other side, Civility Without, with Titus 3 written below it. Especially if you are the amped up type, don t only take it with you but keep it in your purse or wallet, and when you are about to engage in conversation about someone or with someone, just take a quick reminder look and then engage. So, have I gotten in enough trouble for one day? Probably, so let s end this talk the best way possible by talking to God. And here s what we are going to do. If you are physically able to do this, I want us all to get on our knees before God, as individuals and as a church and as people who belong to the same nation. And I want us all to unite in 10

11 prayer together, as we come before the sovereign Lord of the universe, to whom we all belong. Let s pray. For church. For nation. For our engagement. 11