Christians Influence on Government

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Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

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INTRODUCTION:

Review:

Gospel & Government (Rom. 13): “for the authorities are ministers of God”

Christians Should Influence Government: How can you balance promoting your Christian beliefs while also protecting the freedom of religion and speech for those of other faiths or no faith?

WHY?…

4 Questions from Wayne Grudem:

*Should churches exert any influence in politics?

*Should pastors preach about political questions?

*Is there only one “Christian” position on political issues?

*Does the Bible teach anything about how people should vote?

TODAY: Christian Influence on Government (Part 2)

Historical Overview from Wayne Grudem:

Politics according to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture (D. Historical Examples of Christian Influence on Secular Governments, p. 62)

We must readily admit that the church made some mistakes, sometimes very harmful ones, especially as it forgot Jesus’ teaching about the distinction between “the things that are Caesar’s” and “the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21).

Significant Christian influence can be traced in the Magna Carta, the US Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution. 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.

OPTIONAL: “Christian nation” can mean Christian nationalism like we used it last week or it can mean History of Christian Influence on a nation but overall I would discourage the use of this term because of the many nuances.

Declaration of Independence’s last line: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Opening Scripture:

1 Peter 2:13–17 “13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

The household as a microcosm of society…

Haustafel = German for Household/Domestic Code

1. Christians are to submit to the governing authorities (vv. 13–14a)

2. The role of government: punishment and commendation (v. 14b)

3. Christians must engage in appropriate behavior (vv. 15–17)

a. it is the will of God (v. 15)

b. it exposes pagan ignorance (v. 15)

c. Christian freedom must be used appropriately (v. 16a)

d. Christians are servants of God (v. 16b)

r. summarizing maxims (v. 17)

1 Peter 2:17 ESV

17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

i. honor everyone

ii. love the family of believers

iii. fear God

iv. honor the emperor

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Pray! - 1 Timothy 2:1–2 “1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

My prayer: For leaders who lead in righteousness.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 “20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.”

For Christians living in a democracy, Vote!

Christian should not only support Christian Candidates (Ge. 41:31-57, Dan 2:46-49, Ez. 6:1-12).

Support candidates who best represent moral teaching consistent with the Bible no matter their religious background.

God does not explicitly command a democracy and yet often democracy is rooted in the concept of all people being created in the image of God.

Get involved in politics, at the level God directs you.

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 “12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the …”

Conclusion/Reflection:

Is it ethical to accept substantial benefits from a nation without giving much in return?

God’s sovereign over nations: Acts 17:26 “26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,”

Declaration of Independence’s last line: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Jeremiah 29:7 “7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Is it ethical to accept substantial benefits from a nation without giving much in return?