The Bible and Politics
Religion and Politics
Politics in the Scriptures
Anyone who's read the Bible knows that there are, and always have been politics contained in scripture.
Some have come to the conclusion that Christianity and Politics shouldn't be mixed. I find that stance to be prosperous.
Politicians are "law makers," and the bible is filled with accounts of people breaking natural laws against others.
The Old Testament is filled with stories of laws being set in place that involve both obedience to God and the laws of the land.
In fact, many of the ten commandments have always been the "law of the land," and are contained in laws that govern nations today. If you look at the second 5 commandments listed, you'll see how these tie into natural laws.
The Ten Commandments:
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me
2. Do not make any graven images
3. Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy
5. Honor your mother and your father
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6. Thou shalt not commit adultery
7. Thou shalt not steal
8. Thou shalt not kill
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor
10. Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor
Throughout history, people have faced consequences for breaking the laws of the land. Even today there are consequences for everything we do in this world. The same goes for everything we do against God.
Genesis 6: 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Perhaps this is the reason that Jesus said of the last days:
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:12
Both of the accounts are not only speaking of people who walk in the spirit. We as Christian's do have a voice. Both verses are speaking about the entire world, and all humankind.
There are laws that apply to every human being alive. There are sins against God, and then there are sins against our fellow man. Jesus said this as he told his disciples the parable of the Prodigal son.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Luke 15: 21
The scriptures are clear that every single human being will be held accountable for crimes committed against others.
The Lord's prayer draws sins against God and man together by saying:
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6: 12
According to Strong's concordance, the word "debts" in that very passage means:
Word: ofeilhma
Pronounce: of-i'-lay-mah
Strongs Number: G3783
Orig: from (the alternate of) 3784; something owed, i.e. (figuratively) a due; morally, a fault:--debt. Use: TDNT-5:565,746 Noun Neuter
- 1) that which is owed, 1a) that which is justly or legally due, a debt, 2) metaph. offence, sin
Apostle Paul
Paul covered how we are subject to governing authorities:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Romans 13: 1
Peter also wrote much of the same thing:
1 Peter 2: 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 1 Peter 2: 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 1 Peter 2: 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Isn't it interesting how Peter wrote that we are to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man, (leaders and lawmakers) "as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of then that do well."
By doing so, we may "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."
God's word has a way of confirming itself as scripture interpret scripture, Just as Paul said it does.
Paul was brought before magistrates to testify on charges brought against him.
Not once did Paul say, "I'm not subject to your laws!"
If Paul had said such a thing, he probably would have been put to death right there and then.
The Second Commandment
Our Actions and Non-Actions
The first commandment states, "You shall have no other God before Me."
The second Commandment states fully:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Exodus 20: 5
Who are those who hated God, as stated in the above verse? I'd say they are just the opposite of those who have God's laws written on their hearts.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14: 21
Of course, we know that God's laws are written on our hearts. However, the only way to have them written on our hearts is to be in the word studying to show ourselves approved. If study were not important, the Apostle Paul would not have stressed how highly he thought of the Berean's. Paul never would have said:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15
Of course, when we as believers become lax regarding the "laws of the land," future generations are effected by it. We aren't on this earth just to walk through it until we die. We are here to make an impact on this earth while being guided by God.
We are trailblazers, not pew sitters!
Since the 1970's prayer was removed from schools.
Where were the Christians standing up against this happening?
In the past decade the ten commandments were removed from court houses.
Where were the Christian's standing up against this happening?
What we as believers do and don't do will affect the lives of every other human being on this earth after us.
Sodom and Gomorrah didn't start off being completely reprobate. It happened through compromise, a little here and a little there...
Well, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump!"
In the Parable of the Seed Sower Jesus didn't say that the field was the church. What He did say is this:
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Matthew 13: 38
"The field is the world."
I say 100% YES, that politics and lawmakers are a huge part of the lives of every Christian.