The Christian & Politics
By Sandy Holden[1]
I was interested this past week to hear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak of the freedoms that the nation of Israel and the United States of America have in common. These freedoms are rare and even non-existent for most of the nations of the world. I could not help but be drawn to the many spiritual connections between these two nations. Both would honor the following verse from the Torah and the Bible.
The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous . . . The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord. Psalm 146:7b-10
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke almost reverently about America’s founding documents. The United States has indeed been blessed with freedom. Her founding documents include statements that acknowledge and honor our Christian heritage and its accompanying freedom. Some of these statements are as follows:
The Declaration of Independence: When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. . .
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The Constitution of the United States: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Many have sacrificed much, even their very lives, in support of these profound statements within these profound documents.
Over the years not everything has gone well. Significant areas of sin in our historical past and present are:
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Slavery - The people of our nation suffered tremendously before, during, and after the Civil War in the fight to end slavery. Then, the Civil Rights Movement brought further necessary reforms.
- Women’s suffrage – Women were denied the right to vote until an amendment to the Constitution was passed. This Nineteenth Amendment prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote based on gender. Introduced in 1878, it was submitted to the states for ratification in 1919 and ratified in 1920.
- Humanistic psychology – This is the element of psychology that is diametrically opposed to theology. This anti-God thinking has become pervasive in American society. The subtleties are evident on a daily basis. While it began in the 1800’s, the push to remove God from our society gained momentum during the 1900’s.
- Abortion - This is one of the results of humanistic psychology. Self has become all important even to the point of mothers legally killing their babies as a means of birth control. And, oh the heartache that many of them bear later. It is a grievous situation, indeed.
It is noticeably significant that three of the points listed are discriminatory against entire people groups. While we cannot go back and change the past, we can work from where we are to change the future. Why should we do this when the Scriptures say that we are to be subject to rulers and authorities?
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. Titus 3:1-2
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14
We fervently pray and fast and trust God that all will come together in His perfect will just as He has planned. And, of course, we know that this will be the case. But, we also see in Revelation that churches will be judged. Then, we read that nations will be judged.
Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Joel 3:12
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36
God cares about the careless word that is spoken. God cares about the churches that let their eyes wander away from Jesus. God cares about babies that are being needlessly murdered. And, God will judge our nation for this sin.
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16
We quite often hear that people are calling for the end of tax-payer funded abortions. But, I do not believe this will let us off the hook in the final roll call. The issue is legalization of abortion. It was unlawful for the majority of this nation’s history, is unlawful in God’s economy, and should be restored to unlawful status.
Our Lord has not called me into the profession of politics. And, while politics will never replace or even be able to compete with the spiritual disciplines in my life, I’m making an effort to know more about the candidates and political issues as I take my role as a Christian and citizen more seriously. It is the issue of abortion that has clarified my understanding of the Christian and Politics. The sin of our day should not be ignored.
Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’ Acts 5:29
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
These babies are orphans in the truest sense.
Just as Christians were involved in the abolition of slavery through helping dedicated women like Harriet Tubman with the Underground Railroad, we can be in the abolishment of abortion. As our history has proven, it takes time, effort, and dedication to change minds about discrimination. I often hear about the “woman’s right to choose” and wonder how we came to a place that justifies a right to kill. This could only happen with anti-God thinking that does not value God’s creation of human life. The real choice is for us as Christian women to carry the burden for the unborn through our faith, our prayer life, our witness, and our vote. We do not have to be running for political office to make this commitment. Thankfully, God is in control and, by His grace as we are used as His vessels, we can jointly make a difference.
But, let us do this with wisdom and gentleness as unto the Lord. And, with the hope that we might share our precious Savior with those who have yet to believe.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6
[1] Sandra K. Holden has her Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Ministry Degree and is currently pursuing her Master of Christian Studies in Biblical Counseling Degree with IABC Certification from Master’s International School of Divinity.