Voting Guide: Think - #1 in 3 sermon series -- Think/Pray/Act INTRODUCTION b. Understand that biblical discussions of government

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Oscar Young
5 years ago
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1 INTRODUCTION Our nation exists in a never-ending political maelstrom. With either party in power, the other party proclaims the collapse of democracy. When the other party gains power, the opposition uses similar language to attack them. The cycle of winning and losing power does not change, nor will it. Cynicism is easy to fall into in spite of what you say, I know what you are thinking. That cynicism may lead to opting out of the political process. When Christians lose perspective, when we lose heart, our passivity means that our voice is not heard, our prophetic role in society goes missing. On the simplest level, Christians must engage by voting in elections, from local to national. Strong exhortations to vote have been pronounced by Christian pastors for many decades. The perspectives of those many exhortations are widely different. Some Christian leaders insist that Christian believers must vote in order to restore the nation to its Christian, or biblical, roots. Other leaders insist that voting should be focused on restoring justice towards the poor, the oppressed, on fulfilling the forecasts of the Old Testament prophets. Why should Christians who live in a democracy participate? Are there biblical guidelines for this, or is all the fuss around campaign time just partisan panic? Most all will agree that there are at least three responsibilities for Christian citizens. Let s take them one at a time I. The first step in preparing to vote is to Think. a. To Vote or Not To Vote? i. Some Christians believe that Christ-followers should not participate in any governmental functions, arguing that Jesus taught separation from the world and the state. 1. Shouldn t belong to the military or to law enforcement agencies. 2. Shouldn t be part of a political party. 3. Shouldn t vote in elections on any level. ii. Others believe that Christians should fully participate, interpreting that in the world but not of the world justifies our participation in the above. How can we sort out that large question? b. Understand that biblical discussions of government see God as Ruler of all. i. Lord of Creation based on Genesis 1, 2. ii. Lord of humanity based on divine creation of humanity. iii. Lord of all whom He grants authority under His rule. iv. Both in their establishment Romans 13:1. v. And in overseeing their function. God takes a personal interest in politicians because He both cares about individuals and He cares about the future He intends for us all. Prov. 21:1 The king s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. He turns it wherever He wishes. vi. Lord of both kings and their citizens. 1. He is concerned about kings or state/city leaders, because they make decisions that impact justice, that provide for human flourishing (or defy it), and that express His sovereign desires for the future. 2. He is concerned about citizens (non-political officers) because He is manifesting His plan to maximize His glory through demonstrating His love for all the little people that His Son came to die for. vii. The political design of eternity future describes the Sovereign God, and does NOT picture an electoral process!

2 We can infer that Application: The divine model for political rule is sovereign kingship. Since Israel proclaimed Saul king of the nation, virtually all human sovereigns have proven disappointing. Even the divinely-chosen David was deeply flawed and did not rule justly. By way of illustration, look to Joab s confrontation of David after his response to Absalom s death 2 Sam. 19:5-6 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then 2you would be pleased. The hope for a better king is focused only on King Jesus. All others will fall short of our need. Thus, the many references to the son of David as the new and greater king. Matt. 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, Hosanna to the Son of David, they became indignant Matt. 22:42 What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He? They said to Him, The son of David. Is. 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. We recognize democracy as did Winston Churchill: Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. He also described in ways cogent to our subject At the Bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper no amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possible diminish the overwhelming importance of that point. House of Commons, 31 October accessed 24 August Democracy has its limits, but it is the system in place in our country and should be respected for what it is. It will apparently have to serve us until Jesus returns to establish His visible rule in the Kingdom which He alone can rule. c. Realize that biblical content was written before democracy flourished. i. As early as the 6th and 5th centuries BC, Athens offered a type of democracy.

3 ii. Few other examples surface before the 1215 Magna Carta, when the English king was held to account by lesser rulers of the land, the barons. No rights were declared for the common folk, certainly not rights to vote. The only voting that mattered were the opinions of the barons as they attempted to hold the king s power in check. When Parliament was formed, it, too, was a balance to the king, not an elected representation of the needs or rights of the king s common subjects. iii. Even as late as the nineteenth century, freedom to vote in the West was limited to those who owned land. Open access to voting by citizens, male and female, is about one hundred years old. iv. Thus, it s not hard to understand why the right to vote has been so treasured! d. We must understand that God has established governing authorities. i. Human government is His idea. 1. God intends that human authorities establish justice for all. Romans 13:1 HCSB Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. Titus 3:1 HCSB Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work 2. Those authorities should protect those who obey the law. 3. Those authorities should discipline those who do not; which might endanger their neighbor. 1 Peter 2:13 14 HCSB Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ii. Thus, Paul and Peter both tell us that we are to obey those authorities unless they demand that we disobey Him. iii. Jesus emphatically states that we are to have impact on the society we indwell. Matthew 5:13 16 HCSB You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. iv. In a democracy, which allows, solicits, and requires public participation, voting is one way that we can express our commitment to public integrity and justice thus, being salt and light. 1. We must not overstate this! Especially in light of what we have said earlier Steven J. Cole: The Bible does not address voting directly because democracy was not practiced then. Some Christians argue that we are citizens of heaven and thus should not get involved at all in politics. But we are also citizens of this earth. Since we are given a say in who rules over us, not to vote is to allow the ungodly to win. christ-lord-our-politics-rom and-other-scriptures, accessed 16 August 2018.

4 From the passages in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 we can infer that Christians should recognize divinely-appointed human authorities, and also obey them. A third inference is that divine affirmation of secular authorities requires us to carefully screen them, in a democracy to seek leaders of good character, who will pursue what Paul and Peter state serve the good citizens and correct the disobedient. A fourth inference is that, having basic requirements and standards of secular authorities specified by Paul and Peter, Christian citizens should apply those standards to candidates for office. Taken together, voting for such leaders will be an act of obedience for Christians. Wayne A Grudem, p.63 Moreover, Christian influence led to the abolition of evils such as abortion, infanticide, gladiatorial contests, human sacrifice, polygamy, the burning alive of widows, and slavery, as well as the granting of property rights, voting rights, and other protections to women. Politics - According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture. Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Wayne Grudem, p.62 To be able to vote is to have a share of ruling power. Therefore all citizens who are old enough to vote have a responsibility before God to know what God expects of civil government and what kind of moral and legal standards he wants government to follow. Having determined that believers should participate in democracy by voting, how does one choose which candidate to support? e. We choose candidates to support very carefully. i. Character must be the first identifier Paul and Peter are quite clear about what qualifies a person to fill the divinely-designed role of authorities. 1. The candidate should be those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil a. Able to discern good from evil morally astute. b. Willing to name the evil courageous. 2. The candidate should be willing to praise those who do what is good. 3. A viable candidate will not remain silent when a citizen acts righteously. 4. The candidate must be ready to celebrate good behavior, rather than to perceive it as threatening or competitive. ii. A second identifier may be the support of other biblical values. 1. Celebrate life generally. 2. Promoting freedom to obey God. 3. Finally, to support particular issues that are lower on the political scale of priorities. Alert: virtually every issue of debate has some interface with biblical issues. iii. Caveat: it is important that Christians interact with those who disagree with them politically, especially politically-engaged Christians who are on the opposite end of the political spectrum 1. Reading and interacting only with those who agree politically perpetuates our blindness. 2. Engaging with our political opponents offers us a chance to step outside our experience and see issues with greater objectivity. That may prove revelatory in choosing viable candidates.

5 Conclusion, sermon one: Though we live in a democratic society, we must recognize that God Himself is sovereign over all nations and all peoples. Therefore, as we participate in that democracy, we prayerfully follow biblical guidelines that God has given us to recognize true leaders. People will disappoint us, they will not keep their word to us! However, in a democratic society, we have freedom to demand that they keep their word and that they follow through on their commitments to justice.

Think/Pray/Act, One Sermon Version INTRODUCTION it has been said The first step in preparing to vote is to Think. a. To Vote or Not To Vote?

Think/Pray/Act, One Sermon Version INTRODUCTION it has been said The first step in preparing to vote is to Think. a. To Vote or Not To Vote? INTRODUCTION Why should Christians who live in a democracy participate? Are there biblical guidelines for this, or is all the fuss around campaign time just partisan panic? Most all will agree that there