(050) The Politcal Sermon
Topical: The Political Sermon
Romans 13:1-7
November 2, 2008
Prep:
· Blinded by Might, chapter 4, p 179ff
· Blog answers/Erin’s video (“vote is power”)
· Piper
You might be a democrat/REPUBLICAN if...
I have really been looking forward to this sermon, “The Political Sermon” because I am a trouble maker, talking about religion AND politics.
D: You believe personal injury lawyers when they say they are just trying to defend the little guy.
R: You argue that you need 300 handguns, in case a bear ever attacks your home.
D: You know that those profit mongering drug companies could find a cure for AIDS if they really wanted to.
R: You’ve ever tried to prove Jesus was a capitalist and opposed to welfare.
D: You actually expect to collect Social Security.
R: You have ever told your child that Oscar the Grouch “lives in a trash can because he is lazy and doesn’t want to contribute to society.”
There will be a time for Q & A, text them in.
Prayer
· Guide the political process; people that accomplish your will.
· Help us figure out how best to engage our culture.
USA Rules!
Growing up I had this idea that America was the very best and had the very best of everything and never lost a war. So I was surprised the Asia had a taller mountain, Africa a longer river, and that we lost Vietnam.
· It seems that we are predisposed towards ethnocentricity.
I still believe America is a great country, that democracy is best form of government we can hope of this side of heaven. Yet we are not perfect.
America is a paradox of good and evil: We have exported democracy and immorality all over the world. We are examples of both justice and injustice.
I don’t say this to be anti-American, but to remind us that America is not heaven, and it will always fall short of God’s righteousness. Our true citizenship is not here, it is heaven:
Philippians 3:18-21 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
I think that a fundamental truth that every Christian must hold very tightly is that our citizenship is in heaven, not here. We are “resident aliens” here, “green card” holders.
It’s a tricky situation: We are citizen of Heaven, living in America. It’s made even more complicated because our form of government allows input.
· In Paul’s day there was no voting, no means of politically influencing the government.
Q How do we effectively engage our culture politically?
The rest of the sermon will look at our four tools for changing our nation. All of them are important, but two are more effecting and two are less.
Ä I believe that the first thing we should is to vote.
Our Christian responsibility
Q Should Christians vote? How do you justify your answers Biblically?
Romans 13:1, 5-7 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...
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
It is that last point: “Pay to all what is owed them.” In our system, we have both the privilege and responsibility of influencing our nation and government.
· Voting is our Christian responsibility as a thing owed
· I charge each of you to vote and make vote that is politically and Biblical-informed.
Honor and taxes
But before we got to the second tool, notice that Paul says some rather unpopular things here that guide our civic duties:
· We are required to submit to our government – even the seat belt law.
· We are required to respect and honor our government – even if we didn’t vote for them (she is your governor).
· We are required pay our taxes – even though the money is used in ways you don’t approve of.
Q But what about when the government is wicked?
Nero was Caesar when Paul wrote this, one of the wickedest men to ever rule, and taxes were used to support all sort of idolatry and wickedness.
Political involvement
The second tool is political involvement: Writing letters, contributing, advertizing, signing petitions, and even running for office.
· I want my church to be politically involved as their conscious dictates, and I would love to see someone run for office.
Ä Voting and political activism are the first two tools for bringing change to our nation, and they are the weaker two.
· We have two stronger weapons: prayer and the Gospel.
Pray for the king
1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
I believe that our prayers are far more effective than our votes or letter writing. Letters and votes may or may not influence politics, but prayers are always heard by God.
· My favorite quote from the blog: “Your vote most definitely counts, but your prayers count more.”
The Power of the Gospel
The last weapon is the power of the Gospel. The problem in this country is not political. The politicians mirror the will of the majority. The problem is sin, and the Gospel is the only remedy.
· There is only one institution in America that has the power to change the nation, and you are sitting in it.
· If you want to change this nation, change hearts, not votes.
Go ahead and vote, even campaign, but don’t expect it to make a major difference in eternal matters. Politics is too weak to make lasting change.
· This is a failure that Ed Dobson and Cal Thomas talk about in “Blinded by Might.”
For that reason, the church (as the church) must never allow politics to hinder its primary purpose of preaching the Gospel and expanding the kingdom of God.
Paul and slavery
In this I am following the example of Paul.
Q Have you ever wondered why Paul never spoke against slavery?
1 Timothy 6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
He didn’t support slavery (he told slaves to try to buy their freedom), but because speaking against it would have gotten him branded as seditious and prevented him from preaching.
· It would have reviled the name of God.
For that reason, as long as I have say, you will not see this church promoting any political cause or candidate. I will preach God’s truth, I will teach what the Bible says, but I do not want us to get distracted by political causes.
· I will not do anything that hinders the Gospel, because that is our most powerful tool for changing our world.
I am horrified by the thought of a church’s politics keeping a person out of the kingdom. If they reject Jesus, that’s “fine,” but I don’t want them rejecting a politicized Jesus.
Dividing the church
Worse than that is seeing the body of Christ divided over politics. Christ came to break down barriers in himself and make us one, not to see the church divided.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Q Does this exemplify the average political conversation?
Politics by its very nature divides people rather than bringing them together. It thrives on polarizing people on subjects they should not be polarized on.
· Just read through your average voter’s guide.
I dislike calling a group itself “Christian Coalition,” if you disagree with them, does that mean you are not a Christian?
Q How is anti-gun control become the “Christian” position?
I am not saying gun control is pro-Christian either, but it’s a very complex issue that believers can legitimately disagree on.
Can a Christian vote democrat?
Whether or not you can believe it, there are both Christian Republicans and Democrats Christians. And Christians will vote for both Obama and McCain, tolerating things about each.
Let me OVERSIMPLIFY things and INSULT everyone in the room:
Republican holds the INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE for their actions, but to UNDERESTIMATE the role of SOCIETY.
Democrats tend to hold SOCIETY RESPONSIBLE, but they tend to UNDERESTIMATE the individual’s responsibility.
Neither party has a corner on VIRTUE or VICE. Both parties have something good to say, and both are incomplete.
It is good and fitting to have political views, just don’t pretend they’re only Christian view. And don’t allow your views to divide the church, either the local church or Universal.
Q & A
closing/Application:
So be informed, be politically involved, vote on Tuesday. Just remember that these are our weaker weapons. Rely more on prayer and the power of the Gospel transforming lives.
Prayer:
· Guide this nation; guide your children as they vote so that they bring glory to you.
· At the same time, help us not neglect the stronger weapons of prayer and the Gospel.