Biblical Theology of Political Involvement from Daniel

Notes
Transcript
If you spend any amount of time online in Christian groups or following Christian personalities on platforms like X, it does not take long to discover that Christian love to argue, and they will argue about just about anything.
One of the things they love to argue about the most is politics. In fact, I’d be willing to guess that politics is one of the most hotly debated topics of our day.
All of you know that I do not often discuss politics from the pulpit. There are times when political issues are actually moral issues that the Bible directly addresses, and so we address them, but I don’t waste time preaching about this candidate or that one, or this policy or that. My job is to preach the WORD.
Today I am going to discuss politics and a biblical theology of political engagement. But in order to do that well, I do need to give us some context of the broader discussions happening in the broader church right now.
The biggest point of discussion is dealing with how involved can Christian be in politics, what government structure should we be advocating for, and what is the best means to achieve that end.
You cannot get very far into tracking these discussions before you come across the term Christian Nationalism.
What is CN?
This word has been used for several years now, but remains difficult to define. It was introduced as a pejorative by individuals that would be considered on the “woke” spectrum against Christians who advocated for basic Christian worldview ideas.
For example, an a journalist for Politico said on MSNBC that a Christian Nationalist is someone who believes that our rights come from God. In her view, that’s a dangerous belief because if our rights come from God than they cannot be up for debate!
But this is a basic Christian worldview understanding of natural rights that has existed for centuries and was the very basis of the declaration of independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”
Others picked up the term and began using to label all Christians as xenophobic, homophobic, white-supremacist, and all the other terms of derision that the left uses.
This prompted other Christians who heard the label to consider…huh....what do the words, Christian Nationalist, actually mean?
Some adopted a definition of Christian Nationalism that reads
“Christian nationalism asserts that there is something identifiable as an American Nation distinct from other nations”
pause. Good so far, right? There America is a definable nation.
“that American nationhood is and should remain defined by Christian cultural norms and that the American people and their government should actively work to defend sustain and cultivate America's Christian culture, Heritage, and values"
historically I think it is largely accurate to say that America has enjoyed basic Christian cultural norms. Some of that is waning in recent years, and so, according to this definition, Christian Nationalists are those who would be actively calling america to return to its roots in that regard.
They do this by advocating for laws consistent with a biblical worldview, calling leaders to repentance and faith, and pleading with them to govern in a way that would honor Christ’s authority over all.
If that’s all Christian Nationalism was, then I’m not sure we’d have much of a debate about in Christian circles. Historically this is exactly what the church has done. The church has written letters. We’ve prayed. We’ve voted as much as possible for candidates that would govern according to our worldview and interests.
But is that all Christian Nationalism is? One could argue that if that’s all CN is, when we don’t need a label for it. It’s just biblical Christianity and the biblical approach to engaging in a broken political system.
Christian Nationalism however, has taken on a more specific meaning, a meaning that is more troublesome to me.
The most ardent supporters of the term Christian Nationalist have interpretative the meaning of the term and infused it with their theology in different ways.
There is a form of Christian Nationalism that has become the dominant form of Christian Nationalism that goes beyond the idea that we are fighting for Christian cultural norms to the idea that we are building Christ’s Kingdom here and now, and we must make the government thoroughly Christian. Many in this camp are known as Theonomists, or those who want to see us return to a system of government dictated by OT Law.
Many of these individuals view the great commission in such a manner that we are not to merely make disciples of people from all nations, but that we are to disciple the nations themselves, which means Christianizing the government such that it is explicitly a Christian government by law.
Many of these individuals believe that by Christianizing the government, they are building Christ’s kingdom and then when the world is sufficiently Christianized, that is the point when Jesus Christ comes back.
Not all Christian Nationalist believe all these things. But those who have championed the term the loudest do.
We believe that theological conclusion of theonomy, discipling nations as nations, and postmillennial eschatology and kingdom building as described are unbiblical and dangerous.
Okay. That is all context. You have to know this stuff, because these ideas are influencing people. These ideas are drawing some people in, but they are also scaring other people away from what might be a biblical approach to engaging in the political realm. We need to think clearly on these issues, we need to think biblically on these issues.
And biblical thinking is what is often missing from the discussion.
Something that I have noticed in these discussions is that political theory gets thrown around a lot, and people talk about the implications of their theological systems in connection with these things, but what is often missing from all of this is a detailed examination of biblical texts that would inform these ideas!
What does the Bible say? What does God’s Word teach us about how we engage in a broken governmental system?
And that is what I want us to think about today.
Today’s sermon, as you can see, is titled “A Biblical Theology of Political Involvement from Daniel”
What is a biblical theology?
Most of us are familiar with the term “systematic theology”. Systematic theology is the process of pulling together everything the bible teaches on a particular subject and synthesizing the data to succinctly state all that the Bible teaches. There is no one text that teaches us everything we need to know about the nature of who God is, but we know that he is eternal, all powerful, all knowing, all good, loving, holy, omni present, etc, by pulling together all the data and systematizing it.
Biblical theology as a discipline is the necessary step done before systematic theology. Before systematic theology can pull all the data, that data has to be discovered in its context. Biblical theology is the process of walking through passages of Scripture and identifying the theology present in the text as you move along. As those things are identified, systematic theology takes that data and synthesizes it.
Today I am going to present to you a biblical theology from the book of Daniel on political involvement. As we’ve moved through the book of Daniel I could not help but notice all the ways that Daniel and his friends are described as engaging the governmental structure of their day and how they were able to be faithful, even as they worked for pagan rulers.
The way they engaged was seldom the main point of the text, and as a preacher I always make it my aim to seek to preach the main point of the text, but it was there in the background. The more I saw it the more I said to myself, I need to highlight all of this. I need to make us aware of these details.
So I started reading through the book of Daniel and making note of everything that pertained to Daniel’s political involvement. I started doing Biblical Theology as a discipline in this area.
And what I found was such a well-rounded approach. What I found was such a helpful approach. What I found was implicit and explicit teaching from the Word of God that if we just followed Daniel’s example, there would be much fewer debates about political theory in the Christian world.
I discovered at least 11 distinct principles for engaging in politics, possible as many as 13, but I’ve combined a few to condense them.
If you embrace these principles, you will be called a Christian Nationalist by some people. Don’t be afraid of that. Simply be prepared to ask for definitions.
Though Daniel harmonizes with other passages of Scripture, Daniel is not exhaustive when it comes to everything the Bible teaches about political involvement. There are other things that the Bible teaches that are not found in this book. We’ve been covering the book of Daniel, and so I wanted to highlight these themes. But Daniel is not the totality of the Bible’s teachings.
alright. That’s a ton of time on introduction, and I have 11 principles to run through. This is going to be fast.
Daniel recognized the Sovereignty of God over the nations - Dan 2:20-21.
This is the primary theme of the entire book of Daniel.
Daniel answered and said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and might belong to Him.
“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.
Any approach to engaging in politics MUST start here. We cannot force things to happen that are outside God’s infinite wisdom and ordination.
This perspective should go a long way to keeping us from too much anxiety over candidates. Cool our passions.
2. Daniel served Pagan Government - Dan 1:19-21, 2:48, 3:30, 5:11-12, 6:1-3, 28; 8:27.
Daniel worked for the good of the king/kingdom - Dan 1:20, 4:27, 5:12, 6:2-4, 28; 8:27.
Daniel’s longing for the promises land did not prevent him from fulfilling his responsibilities. Dan 9.
And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they stood in service before the king.
And as for every matter of wisdom in understanding which the king sought from them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his kingdom.
And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.
Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I rose up again and did the king’s work; but I was appalled at what had appeared, and there was none to make me understand it.
‘Seek the peace of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to Yahweh on its behalf; for in its peace you will have peace.’
3. Daniel was an exceptional man - Dan 1:4, 17.
Not everyone is called to politics.
youths in whom was no defect, who were good in appearance, showing insight in every branch of wisdom, being thoroughly knowledgeable and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and he said for him to teach them the literature and tongue of the Chaldeans.
And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and insight in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.
Those in the theonomic postmill camp today speak in such a way that make it sound like all Christians have an obligation to engage politics. We all have different desires, skills, abilities, availability, etc.
4. Daniel determined to remain pure - Dan 1:8.
Godly men refuse to give in to pressure to sin - Dan 3:16-18, 6:10.
But Daniel set in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to respond to you with an answer concerning this matter.
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to save us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will save us out of your hand, O king.
“But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”
5. Daniel boldly Spoke Truth to power - Dan 2:27-28, 4:19-27, 5:17-28.
Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king is asking, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king.
“However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the last days. This was your dream and the visions of your head while on your bed.
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts remain with you or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and make the interpretation known to him.
6. Daniel was persuasive/negotiator (2:14 “discretion and discernment)- Dan 1:11-13, 2:14-16
Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;
he answered and said to Arioch, a powerful official for the king, “For what reason is the law from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel.
So Daniel went in and sought from the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
Discretion and discernment are largely missing from today’s political landscape. We live in a day where top leaders simply say whatever enters their minds. Daniel negotiated.
7. Daniel and co. Spoke respectfully to power - Dan 2:29, 31, 37, 3:16-18, 4:19, 22, 24, 27, 5:18, 6:21-22.
Too many references of respective dialogue to list out, but this one stands out:
Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever!
Respect is anything thing missing from today’s discourse.
Should ALWAYS be “president Biden” President Obama. President Trump.
Honor all people, love the brethren, fear God, honor the king.
8. Daniel sought to get his friends into key positions - Dan 2:49.
And Daniel sought of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s court.
This is what we do with every election, right? We try to get people into positions of authority so that they might rule and lead well. Sometimes our options are pretty thin. Sometimes those who make promises break them. But it isn’t wrong to do this. We want to governed by people with a biblical worldview. That is what is best for our land, that is one way we love our neighbor, by working to see good people in charge.
9. Daniel was grieved at the judgement on the pagan king - Dan 4:19.
“Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts were alarming him. The king answered and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!
too many gloat over the downfall or judgment of those who are in rebellion against God.
This last week we saw the funeral for Jimmy Carter. Most people praised him for being a good man, which is more than I can say based on his policies. Some mocked and gloated over his death. The mockery and gloating is inappropriate.
God himself says this
Ezekiel 33:11 (LSB)
“Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares Lord Yahweh, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!
10. Daniel called the king to repentance - Dan 4:27.
‘Therefore, O king, may my advice seem good to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.’
We should not shrink back from calling our leaders to repent and trust in Christ. We should prayer for them as the NT instructs, and pray for their salvation. We should seek to direct them to the Savior.
11. Daniel was encouraged to fulfill his duty by the Lord Himself - Dan 12:9, 13.
Then he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the time of the end.
“But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and stand again for your allotted portion at the end of the days.”
You may not be called to political engagement. That’s alright. You are called to faithfulness in wherever God has placed you.
If God places within you a desire for political engagement, go for it! As much as it is within your power, go good in that sphere! Our theology is not one that demands political disconnection. We should never ever say “well, it’s all going to burn one day anyone, so why bother”
Why bother? People in between then and now, millions of people will be effected by the policies put in place. If we can do good in that sphere and love our neighbor by advocating for biblical policies and godly candidates, why would we not do that??
But at the same time, recognize that this is not the primary mission of the church as an institution. The church is not a political action committee. But the church can encourage us all to seek to steward whatever influence we have in this system, and to steward it well.
For most of us, I suspect that voting is about as far as we’ll get involved. And that’s okay. But I want you to know that if you have a desire to be more involved, you want to write letters, you want to campaign for candidates, you want to do more. You can! Go for it! Use that for good!
Just remember God’s sovereignty over it all. Remember to commit to purity. Remember your obligation is to God over man.
Some would call this approach Christian Nationalism. I just call it biblical Christianity. We’re not filled with delusions of grandure. We aren’t building the Kingdom to usher in the return of Christ. We should simply seek to “go our way” and the Lord commanded Daniel, faithfully living and serving wherever God has placed us, using whatever influence we God has given us for good.