AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE

AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE Joshua 24:15 1 Timothy 2:1-6 With grateful acknowledgement of these sources of direction and inspiration: the Holy Spirit; the Word of God; William Bennett, Our Sacred Honor; William Federer, America's God and Country; Os Guinness, The Great Experiment; Tom Minnery, Why You Can't Stay Silent; Robert Vandenbosch, selected notes and article, Why Should Christians Vote?; George Washington, The Writings of George Washington (John C, Fitzpatrick, editor) October 3, 2004 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introductory Begin with a short clip from the film, Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail, in which the concepts of monarchy, oligarchy, despotism and elected government leaders are humorously handled. There simply is no perfect government among humankind. But the very best we have is democracy. There are a thousand reasons to agree with that statement, but I assert that, for Christians, we must remember that democracy is rooted in the Christian faith (despite what modern deconstructionists would have you believe-go to the founding fathers and see what their consistent message was). (I recommend William Federer's America's God and Country-a good compendium of historic quotes that you, unfortunately, will not read in your children's history books today. The wise man should wonder why that is so!) Democracy is the one form of government that is most conducive to the propagation of the gospel and the kingdom of God. There is freedom to practice and talk about religion. As our culture drifts into post-modernism, those religious freedoms are becoming more and more fragile. While we can, we should take advantage of the freedom we have to preach and teach. My intent this morning is to collect a couple biblical principles and come at you with one objective-to convince you to vote your Christian conscience on November 2. And if you are already planning to do that, I want to strengthen that conviction so that you will convince others to do the same. Pastor, are you preaching politics? Emphatically, no. I am preaching the Word of God that admonishes us to respect, support and pray for the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:15-22; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 1 Peter 3:13-17). Here's the outline of my reasoning: Our democracy is a blessing from God, our democracy is a stewardship from God, and our democracy is a divine opportunity from God. 1. Our democracy is a blessing from God James 1 teaches that every good gift is from God (James 1:17). That's why I can be confident when I say that the United States of America is a gift from God. I'll tell you another reason I know America is a gift from God. 1 Timothy 2:2-4 says the objective of our prayers for government leaders is that "we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." That is saying that any country that has the peace and freedom it needs to share the saving gospel of Christ is a blessed nation. There are a few other things that I think please God. Prayer in the halls of congress. Presidential prayer meetings. Politicians closing their speeches with "God bless you and God bless America." I know the skeptics call it insincere and religious schmoozing, but it's a whole lot better than not having them and just saying, "Good night!" or "Good luck!" With the secular mentality that is squeezing God out of every part of public life, it's refreshing. Let's keep it up. Let's make it so popular and acceptable that the roar of a million God bless you's will drown out the monstrously moronic gutter speech that floods our market place. Don't you believe that part of our calling to be salt and light in our culture is to introduce decency and courtesy of speech? Let's not forget the blessing that this great country and this great democratic ideal is for all of us. Let's announce without apology to those around us that we are under a blessing form the Lord. Let's be done with letting the negative naysayers and godless loudmouths influence us. We are called to be a positive people and to introduce the most positive message in the history of this ball of clay called earth. These things are good and please God our Savior who wants all me to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. We are put here in this blessed nation to help make it stronger by being godly moral agents for good. We're here to keep the blessing in America. We're salt and light and witnesses and ambassadors. We're His witnesses, His children, His army, His Temple, His family. We are here for ministry in His name, and we of all people can say, God bless America! 2. Our democracy is a stewardship from God The good gifts that God give us, like our freedoms and our peace and security in America, are not only things for which we are to give thanks. But we are also stewards of them. In the very beginning, before sin ever dirtied the Garden of Eden, God gave the garden and everything in it to Adam and Eve and said, "You're in charge. I'm entrusting all of it to your care." And He's been doing that ever since. Your life, your health, your family, your job, your home, your money, your car, your microwave, your golf clubs, even your pets. They are not only gifts to you-God has allowed you to have them-but they are your stewardship, and you are called to handle them with godly care. America is a stewardship for every Christian who lives here. We are to protect, defend, strengthen and perfect our nation and our government. And we do so with godly priorities, knowing that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). How do Christians help preserve the righteousness of the nation they live in? The Bible is clear and redundant that there are two kinds of behaviors we engage in that help to strengthen the nation: Prayer and Influence. The passage in 1 Timothy 2 that we referenced earlier is the one that begins with an impassioned plea by the apostle Paul for the Christians to pray for their government officials: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Christianity is a life of intercession. As soon as we come to Christ in faith He gives us a ministry of standing in the gap for others. One who stands in the gap between God and people who need Him are always doing what they can to bring them together. The only two things we can do are to pray and to influence. We pray to God and do our best in the power of the Holy Spirit to influence others. That influence occurs as we live our lives in godliness and a sincere effort to please God and seek His kingdom and His righteousness. This is God's design for us as intercessors, standing in the gap. You know, there were others who stood in the gap for you, both in prayer and in influence. Thank God they did! So, we pray for others, and particularly for those in government. Why? Because in the natural realm, they control how it goes for the city, state, nation and world we live in. We ask that God would give them wisdom from above, even overriding their natural inclinations. When things go better in Washington and Springfield, our whole existence is more at peace and becomes a freer environment for the gospel. We have liberty, natural and supernatural, to influence others for Him. Here are a couple of examples of prayers for lawmakers and leaders: Some political prayers, as collected by Doug Adams of Pacific School of Religion: Lyman Beecher: "O Lord, grant that we may not despise our rulers; and grant, O Lord, that they may not act so we can't help it." Samuel Eaton (a Congregationalist who disliked the Madisonian foreign policy): "Lord, Thou has commanded us to pray for our enemies; we would therefore pray for the President and Vice-President of these United States." Henry Ward Beecher after President Buchanan was out of office: "Thank you, Lord, for removing rulers imbecile in all but corruption." That's how we steward the blessing of American citizenship. We remain pray-ers and influencers for the Lord. I would add one more natural outgrowth. If we will sincerely pray for salvation and godly wisdom for our government leaders, and if we will be sincerely interested in expanding the kingdom of God among people around us, it will be perfectly reasonable to assume we would vote. In fact, it would seem ludicrous for Christian intercessors to pass up an opportunity to vote. 3. Our democracy is a divine opportunity from God When we vote, we make the most direct contribution of godly principles into government that is available to us. Listen, do you realize that if the right president and the right legislators inhabit the offices in Washington for the next four years, it is possible to change at least one vote on the Supreme Court and literally save tens of thousands of later-term unborn children from the fate of partial birth abortion? That is, your Christian vote, representing a godly perspective on the value of human life, contributes directly to sparing those children from having their skulls punctured and their brains sucked out just before their feet leave the birth canal. Neal Laybourne: 'The church must be a public voice for the eternal truths of God.' In his fabulous book, The Great Experiment, Christian writer Os Guinness says this of the survival of a nation: "Liberty requires virtue; virtue requires religion and religion requires liberty." This graph, taken from that book, depicts the important interdependence those three ideals have. Whom do you think God has asked to steward this balanced cycle in the USA? Liberty requires virtue Benjamin Franklin: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." Daniel Webster: "If we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity." Virtue requires religion Again, Benjamin Franklin: "If men are so wicked as we now see them with religion, what would they be without it?" Thomas Jefferson: "Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not violated but with this wrath? I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever." Os Guinness: "There is quite simply no greater sea-change from the world of the American framers to the world of contemporary American intellectuals than the attitude toward faith and it importance to freedom. Religion in national life has gone from being considered constructive and indispensable to being considered by many as damaging and extraneous. In the process, some American thinkers have switched allegiance to a view of religion closer to that of the French Revolution ("We want to strangle the last king with the guts of the last priest") rather than the American Revolution (George Washington's "of all dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.")". George Washington: "While just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords government its surest support." Religion requires liberty In 1776 John Witherspoon preached these words: "God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both." Alexis deTocqueville: "Religion perceives that civil liberty affords a noble exercise to the faculties of man and that the political world is a field prepared by the Creator for the efforts of the mind. Free and powerful in its own spher4e, satisfied with the place reserved for it, religion never more surely establishes its empire than when it reigns in the hearts of men unsupported by aught beside its native strength." If you in your Christian conscience think it is wrong that this nation legalize homosexual marriage, and you don't take the opportunity to vote your conscience next month, you've not stewarded your life, your country or your opportunities very well. If you're concerned about terrorism, the war in Iraq, Social Security, out of control pornography, national debt, stem cell research-then tell your feet about it and let them take you to the polls! Roughly 50% of those who qualify to vote actually are registered. Roughly 50% of them are expected to vote in November. That's 25% of the potential voters! That means 13% of our population will dictate who gets elected to represent you and your values in Washington! That sad truth is that while the overall percentage of adults who vote is 25%, Gallup and Barna agree that among evangelical Christians that figure is only 20%! That moves beyond lethargy and apathy. That's a sin of ingratitude and sloppy stewardship. Get registered. Vote. Otherwise you're leaving it up to Secular Steve, Agnostic Agnes, Atheistic Allen, Post-modern Pete, Lesbian Liz and Gay Glen to make your choices for you. November 2 is an opportunity for Christian stewardship of the highest order. It's an opportunity to say thank you to the Lord for the blessing He has given us in this nation. And it's an opportunity to commit to being His faithful spokespersons to a culture that needs Him more than ever. Two years ago, Robert Vandenbosch stood on this podium and told us, "When we fail to vote or participate in government, we fail in our stewardship to bring leaders who will stand for what is right before God. Having candidates who are marginal at best, is another indication of our failure." Conclusion It is my understanding that Christian leadership is mostly example. That I may speak words, even godly truth, but unless I as a pastor-teacher put the principles into practice myself, I have failed in my ministry. I want to tell you in no uncertain terms that I and the members of my family will be voting on November 2, 2004. We're doing it as an expression of our gratitude to God for the gift He has given us in our American citizenship, and in appreciation for the freedom He has allowed us to have. We are dong so as a matter of Christian stewardship before God who will hold us all accountable for our actions. And we are doing it because we love this country and all it stands for, in spite of its imperfections, and we will contribute to its future by voting our Christian principles. "If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves whom you will serve . . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15 The Family Prayer Song (As for Me and My House) Chapman © 1994 Maranatha! Music Come and fill our homes with Your presence You alone are worthy of our reverence Chorus: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, We will serve the Lord. Lord, we vow to live holy bowing our knees to You only Chorus: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, We will serve the Lord. Bridge: Staying together, praying together Any storm we can weather, trusting in God's Word We need each other, fathers and mothers Sisters and brothers, in harmony and love. Chorus: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, We will serve the Lord. Bridge: Staying together, praying together Any storm we can weather, trusting in God's Word We need each other, fathers and mothers Sisters and brothers, in harmony and love. Chorus: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, We will serve the Lord. [Back to Top]