Sermon Tone Analysis

*Who you going to vote for…*

 

Up until 6:00 pm last night I was going to teach on mercy this morning… but I just could not escape this little voice telling me I wasn’t supposed to teach on mercy this week…

 

Instead I was to speak about politics… We are just 2 days away from the election…  an election that will shape our future as a country…

 

*I know that most of you don’t come to church to talk politics but most of  you have an opinion on politics… So I ask up front for an umbrella of mercy this morning!*

*They say “politics and religion don't mix*.”

But our faith is not isolated to Sunday mornings between 9 and 12… our faith shapes our world view.

Our faith shapes our morals and values… Our faith touches every part of who we are… SO are faith does and should affect our politics…

\\ And so I ask you: What is a politician without visible values?

What is life without faith?

To borrow the words of Paul, “It is nothing.”

It is a resounding gong, a clanging symbol.

*Now, as we begin today, let me mention a few things that I do not believe.

\\ * \\ First, I do not believe that we should have an established state church in America.

The Founding Fathers were right in not wanting the state to sanction and approve a particular denomination as the preferred denomination for this country.

*Religious Freedom for all is something that makes this nation great… \\ * \\ Moreover, I do not believe that we should have a church state.

In the middle ages, the Roman Catholic Church had control over many countries… Religion was used to conquer in the name God and I do not believe that is biblical.

\\ \\ Furthermore, I do not believe that pastors should endorse political candidates from the pulpit!

*I do not think it wise for pastors to become entangled in partisan politics because my primary objective is to win people into the Kingdom of God not to a political party* \\ \\ And lastly, I do not believe that pastors should tell people who to vote for.

Each person must decide that on their own

\\ What I do believe, however, is that my task as a pastor is to declare the principles of Scripture that apply to every issue that confronts Christians—even those issues that are political.

So this morning I would like to share with you 5 guiding principles that have shaped how I vote and why…

 

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*Principle #1 Christians should engage in the political process!*

I know Christians who don’t get involved in politics at all… they don’t vote, they don’t stay informed, they try not to have an opinion… as a matter of fact just a few decades ago only 25% Christians voted.

Only 50% were even registered to vote… their reasoning Jesus wasn’t political…

 

In some senses they are right Jesus never ran for office, he never lobbied or tried to get the laws changed… but Jesus did engage in some political discussion and defiantly spoke to issues that had political ramifications!

 

*Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV) \\ *15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.

17 Tell us, then, what you think.

Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.”

And they brought him a denarius.

20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.”

Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

22 When they heard it, they marveled.

And they left him and went away.

So, observe then the political answer given by Jesus.

\\ \\ Jesus immediately saw through their scheme.

He knew that their real purpose was not to get an answer to their question, but to trap him into choosing sides political sides.

The Pharisees believed that they had no duty or obligation to pay Roman taxes… \\ \\ Jesus could have refused to answer the question.

He could have said Faith and Politics don’t mix.

But he didn’t instead he took the opportunity using a political issue to speak divine truth.

Jesus used a political opportunity to silence his enemies and, at the same time, teach the people an important principle regarding their relationship to the government.

\\ \\ *And so Jesus said, “Show me the coin for the tax.”*

\\ \\ And they brought him a denarius.

A denarius was a silver coin, minted expressly by the emperor, and was the only acceptable currency for the payment of taxes.

\\ \\ *And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” * \\ \\ They said, “Caesar’s.”

All coins that were minted by the emperor, including the denarius, bore an engraving of the emperor on one side and an identifying inscription on the other.

\\ \\ *Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

This is a simple statement, but it is truly profound.

\\ * \\ The word “render” means “to pay or give back.”

It implies an obligation or a debt.

It is not something that is optional but it is required.

\\ \\ Jesus was saying that it was entirely lawful and right to pay taxes to Caesar, because that tax belonged to Caesar.

It was something that was under his control and oversight, and he had a right therefore to require it.

\\ \\ It is important to note that Jesus did not say, as the Pharisees had in asking their question, that they were “to pay” or “to give” taxes to Caesar.

But rather, as John MacArthur states in his commentary, “For them, as for most Jews, paying any tax to Rome was not considered a legitimate duty and was done only with the greatest reluctance.

Now Jesus declared that the payment not only was perfectly legal but morally obligatory.”

\\ \\ Matthew notes that when the Pharisees and the Herodians heard Jesus’ answer, they marveled.

And they left him and went away.

\\ \\ *So, in this encounter with the Pharisees and the Herodians Jesus declared that citizens have a divinely-ordained obligation to pay taxes to their government.

*

 

Notice that Jesus did not make any qualifying exemptions or exceptions.

He did not say, for instance, that taxes were only owed to good governments.

No.

The state has the divine right to assess taxes, and citizens have the divine obligation to pay them.

*I don’t hear many politicians using this as their talking point… \\ * \\ The apostle Paul, following the teaching of Jesus, gave a universal principal of submission to governing authorities in Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” \\ \\ Jesus teaches that with regard to the sphere of the state, its citizens have an obligation to submit to it.

That is not to say that there is no place for conscientious objection.

If the state requires its citizens to do that which is opposed to the law of God, then its citizens may refuse to submit, but they must then be prepared to suffer the consequences of such actions.

But as a general rule those who follow Jesus have an obligation to participate as citizens of the country in which they live and *therefore we should vote.*

*Principle #2 Christians should vote according to biblical principles!*

* *

When it comes to matters of life or matters in the Church we seem to be ok with allowing God’s Word to speak but when it comes to issues of politics most people even Christians get squeamish about using God’s word to guide us…

 

*We have so misunderstood the meaning of separation of church and state that many Christians check their faith at the door of the polling booth… *

 

But we as Christians must vote according to our faith not our pocket books, not our fears, not preconceived Ideas… we should not vote just because some promises prosperity or security… *God is the supplier of both not the Government…* As Christ’s ambassadors we should vote according to the principles of right and wrong that are established in the word of God…

 

And we should understand that God is involved in the political process…

* *

*Romans 13:1-3 (ESV) \\ *1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.

Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?

Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

* *

*Psalm 103:19 (ESV) \\ *19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

* *

*Daniel 2:21 (ESV) \\ *21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

* *

*Psalm 22:28 (ESV) \\ *28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

* *

We cannot discuss politics or Obama, McCain, Biden, or Palin, without bringing God into the discussion because God is already in on the discussion…

 

*We cannot divorce issues of faith and morality from our political decisions…* that means issues of human life, homosexuality, issues that affect the poor, issues of justice and peace, and truth and integrity should way in on our voting decisions.

The Bible and the Holy Spirit should be our voting guide…

 

We should be informed on the issues.

In the information age we live there is no excuse not to know who and what you are voting for… We do have some voters guides available at the welcome center if  you are interested…

 

*Principle #1 Christians should engage in the political process!*

*Principle #2 Christians should vote according to biblical principles!*

*Principle #3 Christians should not give into fear!

*

* *

Every political season the candidates try stir up fear… The economy, the war, terrorism, taxes, your job… you name it… they play on our fears… vote for me or else the world will cease to exist…

 

I’m not trying to saying that our nation is not facing some real issues… Terrorism, the economy, wall street… are all real issues but for those of us who know Jesus we should not approach those issues from an attitude of fear nor should we in the church have anything to do with stirring up fear… If we truly believe that God is in control… and that we are on God’s side… then we have nothing to fear… no matter what the outcome may be…

 

 

*Luke 12:4-7 (ESV) \\ *4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.

5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.

Yes, I tell you, fear him!

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

And not one of them is forgotten before God.

7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

*2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) \\ *7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

*Matthew 6:34 (ESV) \\ *34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.