One thing that I was thinking about the other day is how as Christians we are to be good stewards of what God has given us. Usually we prescribe this to how we handle our money and really "good" Christians apply that to their time other resources as well, and even to their whole life. I think it is good to look at what we have stewardship of and decide how we best can manage it for God's glory.
As this election year begins, I think if we will understand or remember how our government was founded we will find another area of our lives that we will be held to account for and of which we must be good stewards. The area of our life that I am referring to would be our God given freedom.
First some theory. As a whole, people can be governed in one of a couple of ways. People can be governed voluntarily, where they choose to obey the laws of their government and follow the biblical command to obey those in positions of authority and in doing so create a peaceful and orderly society in which to live and spread the Gospel. As Christians we are to love one another and do what we can to build a peaceful society in which we can work and support our families.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11:
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
The problem is that many times those in authority choose to persecute Christians or other groups and take their rights or otherwise force them to follow rules or to live in a way contrary to their beliefs. You could even extrapolate this to the example of a socialist welfare state that prevents people from living a life where they are "dependent on no one". This creates people stripped of their freedom and stripped of their dignity and makes them dependent upon the government for everything. Or worse, the government becomes hostile to certain groups and the people are forced to retaliate. So you have instances of people like Detrich Bonhoeffer who was a Christian pacifist involved in a plot to kill Hitler, the leader of his country, who the Bible commanded Bonhoeffer to obey (a command that Bonhoeffer in no way took lightly as he struggled through his plan).
If people won't be governed voluntarily, the other way to govern people is by force or manipulation. In this case a dictator or group has control of the military, police, or economic means and by force and manipulation they subdue the people to the point that they obey will of the ruling power or suffer prison, death, or economic hardship as a result of disobedience. Those who subscribe to Voice of the Martyrs can read about this kind of stuff in every issue, this is the kind of government prescribed by fascist and Islamic Extremists.
Most every form of government operates under the premise that power flows from the top town, and that personal liberty is a gift of grace from those who happen to be in power. In America our country was founded on a very unique premise. That all people are inherently free, and this freedom is a gift from none other than God alone. Our government was set up in such a way that, as citizens, we voluntarily choose to give up some of those freedoms in order to facilitate a orderly and peaceful society. The main conduit for that freedom to flow from the individual to the Government in America is through the individual votes for the political candidates that the people choose to govern them.
When we vote we are voluntarily "spending" our God given freedom. Because the outcome of the vote determines the people the Bible says that we are to obey. Our vote determines who will govern us, and sets up the situation where we will either be able to live peaceful and productive lives, or where we will have to choose to live lives of rebellion.
Therefore, as stewards of what God has given us it is of utmost importance that we not only vote, but we do so in an educated and prayerful manner, because we are spending something more precious than money, we are spending the freedom God has given us, and we must do so as "slaves" to Christ and His righteousness.
As Christians, our vote and our involvement in the political process is right and it is necessary. Not all of our forefathers were "super" Christians, and many were not even Christians, and many were, never-the-less they did know what they were doing when it came to creating a government that could rule primarily through the voluntary submission of it's people's freedom. This type of government suits Christians perfectly so long as we are active and thoughtful about how we cast our vote, and so long as we continue to evangelize and preach the good news of Christ and make disciples so that more people will also be good stewards of their freedom. If we loose this idea, or if we choose not to participate in this process, we are committing a terrible sin of poor stewardship of a God given gift.
We can already see the erosion of our freedom that happens when Christians don't lovingly and effectively participate in the American political process. This erosion of freedoms is symptomatic of the erosion of the values of the country as a whole and is caused by the failure of the church to properly disciple its people. It is caused by Christians living lives of low integrity, where we start to believe that our politics and our faith are two separate things. And if these freedoms continue to erode, we will see a day when we must choose between obeying our authorities and rebelling against them much like Bonhoeffer had to do, or worse, we will simply accept the stripping of our freedom and dignity and slip into mindless submission to a manipulating and controlling government. On the day of Judgement we will be held to account for allowing that situation to transpire, and for wasting the freedom God gave us, and trading it in for the risk-less life provided by a manipulative power hungry government that we substituted for God to meet our needs..
Some may argue that the Church thrives under persecution, and while that may be so, God does not call us to create that persecution by apathy, laziness, or rebellion, rather it calls us to love our pagan neighbors and live peacefully among them so that they will be able to see that God is real. And it calls us to be good stewards of what God has freely given to us.
My choice for president is Mike Huckabee. He is an unashamed Christian (like he's not afraid to say "Jesus is the only way") and he understands the how unique and incredible the American constitution is and how it relates to living a life of faith.
For those of you who don't like the name "Huckabee", check this out:
Educate yourself. Know what the candiates believe. Get a feeling for who they are and how they will rule. You are giving them your freedom, that was a gift from GOD to you! That's a big deal.
Now go vote.
1 Peter 2:12:
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Romans 13:1-7:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
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