CHURCH AND STATE

Introduction

Okay, buckle up. It’s about to get wild in here, y’all. My goal for tonight is to provide some clarity about a topic that’s probably a bit controversial to some. It’s even been said that what I’m about to say shouldn’t be said in churches. Some would even mistakenly tell you that what I’m about to do violates one of the principles upon which this nation was founded. They’d go so far as to tell me that people have lost their lives to preserve something, and I’m about to spit in its face.

“The church should stay out of politics,” they’d say. I’m going to respond tonight with the Word of God and prove that the Church should be doing the opposite of staying out of politics. Here’s a spoiler alert for you: tonight, my goal is to not only convince you that the Church should be politically active, but to remind you that you are the Church. Shaping policy, voting, and even running for public office are the responsibility of every generation in the Church, and that means you. We have no right to complain about the state of the country when we neglected to participate in its elections. There are politicians in this country who are actively seeking to implement legislation that carries the very spirit of antichrist, and it is the duty of the Church of Jesus Christ to step into its rightful place and stop the advancement of this satanic agenda in our government.

Unfortunately, the passage I’m about to read is often used to promote the opposite agenda in churches. We need to clarify just what submission to authority does and does NOT cover. Let’s hit it.

Romans 13:1–7 NLT

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Who’s the Boss?

Romans 13:1-2 tells us that we are to submit to governing authorities, and it tells us that the authority for those positions comes from God. If that authority is put in place by God, though, does that mean we are to submit to leaders whose policies and laws contradict His Word?

Not so much.

Submission isn't blind obedience here. Ultimately, our submission must first be to God and His Word. God has ordained governments to act as authority and law in our lives. He established those things for our safety and protection. One chapter ago, Paul talked about not taking revenge for evil works. It is not our job to repay those who do evil. It’s actually the job of the government, and it’s for the protection of those who don’t break the law.

There are consequences for activities that break both God’s laws and man’s laws, but God established governments at local, state, and federal levels to enforce those laws and punish criminals. In doing this, those who don’t break the laws are safer.

Is this command to submit to authority a blanket statement that applies to even those laws that defy God’s design and His authority? Absolutely not.

In Acts 5, Peter and the apostles were arrested and brought before the high priest for preaching about Jesus. The governing authority at the time ordered them to stop preaching about Jesus. Peter’s response here is a good template for us in these situations.

Acts 5:29 NLT

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

If you keep reading, you see how infuriated the authorities became. They wanted to kill them. A wise man among them advised against it, and God spared their lives that day. His words to those human authorities are relevant to us today.

Acts 5:38–39 NLT

38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

We must ultimately submit to God’s authority. There are times when the leaders in authority over us aim to implement laws and policies that contradict God’s Word. In that case, we are to choose obedience to Him over any man.

Proverbs 29:2 NLT

2 When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

We honor God by respecting the structures of government, regardless of who its leaders are, but that doesn’t mean we are to adapt to wicked policies.

Pray to Play

What do we do when those in government leadership are lost and ungodly? It starts with prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 NLT

1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

It is our responsibility as Christians who’ve been given the authority of the name of Jesus to pray bold and powerful prayers. The National Day of Prayer is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and we always make it a point to pray for government leaders. It shouldn’t be just an annual exercise, though.

We have to pray for them to be changed by an encounter with God. We have to pray for them to submit their own lives to the King of Kings. We have to pray that the Holy Spirit would guide them in leading and governing.

Paul tells Timothy in this passage that the result of pray for them in this way is a more quiet and peaceful existence for us. When local, state, and federal officials lose their chill, it affects the constituents they represent. We have to make it a priority to intercede on their behalf. If you’re not praying for them, you have no right to complain about them.

Get in the Game

Prayer is just the first step, though. There has never been a more important time for the body of Christ to get out of the bleachers and get into the game. Our voices must be heard. If you’re not voting, you’re allowing others to decide your future for you. We have to know the issues we’re facing at every level and elect leaders who will stand for righteousness in public office. If you don’t want to vote, there are countries where you can sacrifice your freedom and your voice for a few extra hours of sleep. I believe that God didn’t make a mistake when he made you a citizen of this republic, and your voice should matter and your vote should count. Don’t throw away a vote; choose to support Godly leaders who have answered the call to lead the way in the public arena. Find out who they are. Support them. Pray for them. Engage with them. Let your voice be heard.

There are currently roughly 120 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 35 who will be eligible to vote in this year’s November elections. You can sit back and watch it happen or you can vote by faith and with purpose.

We are in the midst of an awakening in young adults, but it is incomplete and ineffective if it doesn’t translate to change in governing bodies at every level all across this nation. This revival of the Bible and outpouring of the Spirit of God must transcend churches and invade courts, congresses, and executive branches. That only happens when this generation rises up and decides to live by faith in every sphere of influence.

Anointing for Appointing

I believe that God is calling this generation to a higher standard and greater influence in the world. It’s time to stop delaying our involvement in the leading of this nation. It’s time to quit passing the buck and blaming our elders for our nation’s state of disarray. We must take the torch and run with it.

Maybe you don’t want to run for public office. You still have a part to play. Even if you just intend to be a homeowner, your voice should be heard in your local government. Do you want to have a family? You should be adamant about attending your local school board’s meetings and standing for righteousness in educating our children.

Do you want to own a business? You should be passionate about who represents you in making laws that determine your taxes and the regulations your business will have to observe.

Are you called to ministry? More than ever before in our country’s history, it is of vital importance who sits in the White House and on Capitol Hill.

You have no right to complain from the sidelines anymore. You can’t criticize the quarterback when you didn’t even try out for the team.

We live in a culture of convenient criticism. It’s easier to say what’s wrong than to attempt to be a part of the change.

I’m here to tell you tonight that your time is now. You may not be ready to run for office yet. You may not be ready for ministry yet. You may not be ready for a family yet. You may not even be ready for a date yet. That doesn’t mean that you can’t begin preparing for what God has for you and your place in the society to which He’s called. you.

Invitation to Response

David was anointed king years before he was appointed. Tonight, I want to pray for you and anoint you for the promotion that God is bringing to you. Your influence is growing. For your family and for our culture. We are meant to set the tone and create the culture in our country, not to fall in line with what the world is doing. I want to invite you to receive that anointing here tonight, and I believe that God is going to impart something to you to set you on the course for the place to which He’s called you as an influencer in this nation.

Patriots in Faith

I want to invite Laura Pritchett to share with you about Patriots and Faith and how you can get involved right here tonight.