“Throw the bumps out!”
“Good citizenship means political involvement.”
“Not on my watch!”
These are some of the phrases I am already hearing as we get set to make a public statement in November of 2010 regarding the elections. The Tea Parties are already out in force and in some States have flexed their political muscle to the surprise of many. They are a force to be reckoned with.
There is little doubt, our nation, our foreign policies, and above all, our economy are all in the tank since the take over of the Obama Administration. Say what you want to say about Bush, but the last eight years under Bush has never been this bad under the two years under Obama.
Scores of people who voted for Obama are asking themselves, “What have I done?” If it makes you feel any better, remember this: Even if you did NOT vote for Obama, it would not have mattered, because Obama was going to get into office anyway because that was the will of God. Obama was foreordained to be our president. This was all part of God’s eschatological scheme.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not implying that voting is a waste of time. On the contrary, it is our duty. But don’t you ever think for one moment that you or anyone else will thwart the purposes of God by your vote. Your vote will fulfill God’s intentions and your vote will also play a role in seeing the plan of God materialize. Stick with me on this series and I will explain all this with Scriptures as I go along.
Since the church is heading for November 2010 elections, what ought to be our involvement? How should we as Christians respond to the political crisis that we are facing?
Here in Hawaii, we are waiting anxiously for our governor to make a decision on HB-444, the Civil Union Bill. I have heard Christian leaders say that if this Bill passes, we are doomed! Traditional marriages will be lost forever. We can no longer preach against the sin of homosexuality for fear of being put in prison or be faced with stiff fines.
I don’t like any of those things too, but if that’s the kind of environment that God wants His church to serve under in order to be more of an effective witness, who are we to say otherwise? The last time I checked, God is on the throne ruling righteously the universe (Ps. 115:3). And I also remember Jesus saying that “He will build the church” (Matt. 16:18).
I am going to be flat out honest and upfront. My end time’s belief – Premillennialism tells me that until Christ returns, there isn’t anyone or anything that can fix this crumbling world system.
So what are we to do? I want to share FIVE Principles to help guide us in the political process. I will share one principle per blog so as not to make each blog very long.
1. Remember Why We Exist
Never ever forget why God has the church here in the first place. We have not been commissioned to bring down governments or install better ones. We have not been commissioned with a social gospel. We have been given the Great Commission which is “To go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). Our work on earth is concerned with saving souls more so than to gain votes.
I was shocked when I attended a Pastor’s Dinner a couple weeks ago and I heard a pastor stand up and declare: “Not on my watch!” He was referring to the passage of HB-444, the Civil Union Bill. He was saying in an emotional manner, that under no circumstances will those who are in favor of the Bill get what they want. I am going to do all that I can to make sure that does not happen. And then he went on to say how much time he spent at the State Capital reading and going over some of the bills.
I was thinking, “My gosh, I love your energy and drive, but save it for winning the lost. This is where we need to focused on. We (the church) are all about the fulfillment and implementation of the gospel in saving the lost.”
We must be sure of this. The Great Commission is not a call to effect policy change, but a very specific and direct command by Jesus Himself to “go and make disciples of all nations.” If we are not convinced of this, we risk being sidetrack in doing all sorts of political and social schemes.
Rather than being so consumed on political issues, the church ought to focused and be consumed with their responsibility as Christ’s ambassadors. When we allow ourselves to be wishy-washy on the Great Commission, then we also open up ourselves to be confused over what our mission actually is.
You know what term we do not hear anymore with reference to the church? It is the term “evangelical.” This term comes from the Greek word which means, “gospel” or “good news.” It is a term used to define a group of people who are associated with the gospel of grace. However, now days, evangelicals are often associated with partisan politics. Thrown in with the term “evangelical” is also the term “conservatives.” You have to be asleep not to see how this word has political connotations. The world has lambasted anyone associated as a conservative. There is one set of standards for conservatives and another for liberals.
Yet the church should not be swallowed up in all this. We are called to “evangelize,” from the same Greek word for “evangelical.” American churches and Christians have spent billions of dollars and millions of man hours fighting to legislate morality. But this is a battle we cannot win, since it has to do with changing the human heart through outward means. Moreover, it is a battle we are not called to fight.
“Not on my watch!” These are fighting words. But why are we directing such passion toward legislation? Why not sound the battle cry, “Not on my watch will truth be trampled under foot and people go to hell without having the opportunity to hear the gospel.”
Only the gospel has the power of God to effect real change in society (Rom. 1:16). There are no such things as Christian countries, Christian societies, Christian nations or Christian islands, only Christian individuals. Therefore, we are to reach people with the saving gospel of Christ, not legislate policy change. If we focus on the latter, we do so at the expense of becoming seriously sidetrack and neglectful of the gospel.
Take for example HB 444, Hawaii’s Civil Union Bill. If the church is not careful, we can view those who support the Bill as “enemies,” whereas the Bible sees them as part of the world that “God so loved” (John 3:16). We also will begin to see those who reject the Bill as partners with us, even though their view of God and the bible radically differs. Having such a view of others is not healthy at all for the church. We cannot worry about maintaining the party line even when views that others have goes contrary to Holy Writ.
We got to heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24: “No man can serve two masters.” Jesus had money in mind when He said this, but the broader application still stands. We cannot mix biblical Christianity with political activism. We cannot on the one hand, seek to legislate morality and policy change, and on the other, fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples.
The Church has to choose. November 2010 is coming soon. By all means, we need to all register and vote, this is our civil duty. But in the mean time, how much money are we willing to spend on missions? How much time are we willing to give in making disciples?
We ought to be declaring: "Not on my watch will I see the Great Commission not being fulfilled."
More to come.
