(Note: You can read Part I here. Also, as a disclaimer, I realize the extreme of my "examples", and not wanting to put all Americans in a unfavorable light, I want to point out that these mindsets are not the majority. Also, in regards to the remarks made about Haiti by "Steve", I edited some of what he originally said. He also suggested that we relocate all Haitians before we destroy the island with bulldozers. See, that's much better! *sarcasm*)
I am very aware that the debate of whether or not Christians should be involved in politics and to what extent. I have been subjected to many different kinds of Christians with many different interpretations of Scriptures and I wanted to discover for myself what God really means on this subject. What I write will probably not be anything new - but it is what I have discovered, and it is where my convictions lie. I started with a small convictions, but once I delved deeper into the Scriptures on this subject, I was blown away. I look forward to sharing my findings.
Politics and "patriotism" are sprinkled liberally throughout Scriptures. God is clear that He will bless the nation that "seeks Him." (2 Chronicles 7:14) God created the nations. He created languages and borders and ordained their goings and comings. Politics play a key role in Israel's history - yet always seems to have a sordid, dark undertone. When the children of Israel left Egypt and followed Moses into the wilderness, they wearied of waiting for their God-ordained leader to come down off of Mount Sinai. They adopted a democratic mindset, took matters into their own hands and when the majority agreed, they built a god unto themselves - a decision which carried dire consequences.
Once established in the Promised Land, the children of Israel weren't contented to be "set apart" complained to the prophet Samuel saying that they wanted a king and leader "like all of the nations". Before this, Israel had been "ruled" through a religious system judges and priests, while God was recognized as Israel's one true King. Despite Samuel's warnings against human kings, the people stubbornly insisted (I Samuel 8) and God commanded Samuel to make them a king. When a true political system was instituted in Israel, most of their hardships began. Under a cycle of different kings and leaders, Israel opened herself to countless political influences from various neighboring kingdoms, and began a tragic yo-yo game of serving God, then backsliding; cutting down high places, then erecting them back up again; being blessed by God, then turning against Him, suffering His punishment and then repenting again...
The Bible is clear on Israel's wicked kings, but even Israel's best kings were still human. As true offspring of Adam, they were still sinfully weak and inevitably failed their God and their people. Even the best leader with the best interests are still imperfect. King David, who was described as being a man after God's heart, (I Samuel 16:18) sinned against God with Bathsheba, and as a result, his family deteriorated. The consequences of the resulting dysfunction were felt by the entire nation (II Samuel 15) King Hezekiah was praised as trusting in the God of Israel, "so that there was none like him among ALL the kings of Judah after him, nor among those before him." (II Kings 18:3-7) However, Hezekiah's heart was still susceptible to pride. And it was that patriotic pride that prompted him to show off all of his riches and wealth to the political envoy from the heathen kingdom of Babylon. The cost of that political pride was the overthrow of Jerusalem several generations later and the carrying-away of Judah by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
As a result of this seeming endless cycle, it was easy for the Israelites to despair, and the Scriptures and prophets were clear on the subject of "politics", and warnings and reminders of how things really were and WHO God is. The Bible is liberally sprinkled with God's views of power, nations, politics and patriotism.
"Behold, the nations are like a drop in the bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold He takes up the coastlands like fine dust...all the nations are as nothing before Him, they are accounted by Him as less than nothing and emptiness." Isaiah 40:15, 17
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7
"For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host..." Isaiah 34:2
"The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast LOVE and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." Psalm 98:2-3
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end..." Isaiah 8:6-7
Politics and patriotism played a key and specific role in Jesus' life on earth. Many Jews looked to Jesus as a political messiah; one who would lead the Zealots in rebellion against the Roman Empire and set up the Israel again as an independent state. They were more focused on "patriotism", that many did not see Him for who He truly was. He came for a greater purpose, and to meet a more dire need. He came to be the answer to the long awaited Savior, and to be the King of our hearts. His message to His disciples and followers was clear -
"Then he said to them, 'Therefore render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.'" Matthew 22:21
"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting...but my kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36
The tragic irony is that though Jesus had no intention of setting up a political reign during His first time on Earth, it was for the very whisper of treason, that hypocrites and traitors found reason to bring Him before the judicial authorities of that day and have Him executed - all in the name of patriotism and religious zeal.
"Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus said, 'You have said so.'" Matthew 27:11
"Again the high priest asked Him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And Jesus said, 'I AM, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with clouds of Heaven.' And the high priest tore his garments and said, 'What further witnesses do we need? You have heard His blasphemy. What is your decision?'" Mark 14:61-63
So what can we learn from the Scriptures that is applicable in our lives in this day and age, no matter what our nationality? What is the role of the Church and of a Christian in politics and government? What should patriotism be to us?
I see I'm going to have to make this a three-part post.
Part III coming...
I am very aware that the debate of whether or not Christians should be involved in politics and to what extent. I have been subjected to many different kinds of Christians with many different interpretations of Scriptures and I wanted to discover for myself what God really means on this subject. What I write will probably not be anything new - but it is what I have discovered, and it is where my convictions lie. I started with a small convictions, but once I delved deeper into the Scriptures on this subject, I was blown away. I look forward to sharing my findings.
Politics and "patriotism" are sprinkled liberally throughout Scriptures. God is clear that He will bless the nation that "seeks Him." (2 Chronicles 7:14) God created the nations. He created languages and borders and ordained their goings and comings. Politics play a key role in Israel's history - yet always seems to have a sordid, dark undertone. When the children of Israel left Egypt and followed Moses into the wilderness, they wearied of waiting for their God-ordained leader to come down off of Mount Sinai. They adopted a democratic mindset, took matters into their own hands and when the majority agreed, they built a god unto themselves - a decision which carried dire consequences.
Once established in the Promised Land, the children of Israel weren't contented to be "set apart" complained to the prophet Samuel saying that they wanted a king and leader "like all of the nations". Before this, Israel had been "ruled" through a religious system judges and priests, while God was recognized as Israel's one true King. Despite Samuel's warnings against human kings, the people stubbornly insisted (I Samuel 8) and God commanded Samuel to make them a king. When a true political system was instituted in Israel, most of their hardships began. Under a cycle of different kings and leaders, Israel opened herself to countless political influences from various neighboring kingdoms, and began a tragic yo-yo game of serving God, then backsliding; cutting down high places, then erecting them back up again; being blessed by God, then turning against Him, suffering His punishment and then repenting again...
The Bible is clear on Israel's wicked kings, but even Israel's best kings were still human. As true offspring of Adam, they were still sinfully weak and inevitably failed their God and their people. Even the best leader with the best interests are still imperfect. King David, who was described as being a man after God's heart, (I Samuel 16:18) sinned against God with Bathsheba, and as a result, his family deteriorated. The consequences of the resulting dysfunction were felt by the entire nation (II Samuel 15) King Hezekiah was praised as trusting in the God of Israel, "so that there was none like him among ALL the kings of Judah after him, nor among those before him." (II Kings 18:3-7) However, Hezekiah's heart was still susceptible to pride. And it was that patriotic pride that prompted him to show off all of his riches and wealth to the political envoy from the heathen kingdom of Babylon. The cost of that political pride was the overthrow of Jerusalem several generations later and the carrying-away of Judah by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
As a result of this seeming endless cycle, it was easy for the Israelites to despair, and the Scriptures and prophets were clear on the subject of "politics", and warnings and reminders of how things really were and WHO God is. The Bible is liberally sprinkled with God's views of power, nations, politics and patriotism.
"Behold, the nations are like a drop in the bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold He takes up the coastlands like fine dust...all the nations are as nothing before Him, they are accounted by Him as less than nothing and emptiness." Isaiah 40:15, 17
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalm 20:7
"For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host..." Isaiah 34:2
"The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast LOVE and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." Psalm 98:2-3
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end..." Isaiah 8:6-7
Politics and patriotism played a key and specific role in Jesus' life on earth. Many Jews looked to Jesus as a political messiah; one who would lead the Zealots in rebellion against the Roman Empire and set up the Israel again as an independent state. They were more focused on "patriotism", that many did not see Him for who He truly was. He came for a greater purpose, and to meet a more dire need. He came to be the answer to the long awaited Savior, and to be the King of our hearts. His message to His disciples and followers was clear -
"Then he said to them, 'Therefore render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.'" Matthew 22:21
"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting...but my kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36
The tragic irony is that though Jesus had no intention of setting up a political reign during His first time on Earth, it was for the very whisper of treason, that hypocrites and traitors found reason to bring Him before the judicial authorities of that day and have Him executed - all in the name of patriotism and religious zeal.
"Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus said, 'You have said so.'" Matthew 27:11
"Again the high priest asked Him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And Jesus said, 'I AM, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with clouds of Heaven.' And the high priest tore his garments and said, 'What further witnesses do we need? You have heard His blasphemy. What is your decision?'" Mark 14:61-63
So what can we learn from the Scriptures that is applicable in our lives in this day and age, no matter what our nationality? What is the role of the Church and of a Christian in politics and government? What should patriotism be to us?
I see I'm going to have to make this a three-part post.
Part III coming...
No comments:
Post a Comment