Political Activism?
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Dear Mr. Wilson:

I am in a quandary. Do you think Christians should become involved in their political unrest that is brewing in our country? I believe that our country is in serious trouble. I also believe that we are facing several problems that will require painful solutions. I am wondering what I can do, if anything. Do you think Christians should participate in political movements like the “Tea Party?”

 

Sincerely,

JoAnn

 

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Dear JoAnn:

Thank you for your email. You are not alone in your quandary. Many people believe the United States is headed in a wrong direction and they are wondering what can be done to save the ship before it sinks. Of course, the beauty of democracy is that each person can choose whether or not to engage in political activism. To complicate matters, there is such a wide range of issues embroiled in standing conflict that this makes it hard to know what to do.  Whether or not to engage in political activism is a personal matter and ultimately, I suppose it depends on the issues and issues that concern you the most. I do not have a view on political activism that I would like to share, however, so please take a few moments to consider the following because I find this topic to be a serious one. 

 

Before I begin, you should know that I am not politically indifferent or a political fatalist. I do not accept the premise that what will be – will be. I believe that “we the people” have an obligation to support and help direct our democracy. Recent history proves that people in this country can have influence over their government and we can improve our nation’s direction when enough people get involved. For example, the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the equal wage for equal work movement of the 1970s prove that grass roots reform is possible. A few years ago, I became active in county government to bring about zoning. It was a lengthy process, but it was well worth the effort. So, yes, I know that people can improve the function of government at local, state, and federal levels.

 

The Basics

 

By definition, a democracy is a society of free people, that is, they are free to govern themselves. Our forefathers recognized the enormous gift of freedom that God had granted to this nation, but they also knew that this freedom was contingent on many factors that are why amendments were soon added to the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. democracy has been one of the finest forms of governments on Earth, but all forms of government are vulnerable to the same fatal virus. This virus is man’s sinful nature.

 

A free society can only exist for as long as a majority of its individuals embrace the highest standards of conduct and exalt “right doing.” No government, including a democracy, can exist without the rule of law. Therefore, the product of a free society is simple: To live well, its leaders and citizens must individually embrace and uphold the principles codified in the last six commandments of the Ten Commandments or society will descend into bribery, scandal, dishonesty, and violence. (Consider Mexico.) Its leaders and citizens do not individually embrace and exalt the moral principles codified in the last six commandments, political leaders will have no choice but to expand the dominion of government by creating more and more laws in hopes that more control will enable a society to function. (The United States is a perfect example.) There is no society without the rule of law – formally or informally. Even in Somalia – perhaps the most lawless nation on Earth having no central government – the strong rule over the weak and the rich rule over the poor.

 

Step back and consider the process: When a free society becomes degenerate, ignorant, arrogant, and unwilling to uphold moral conduct that is honorable in God’s sight, that society becomes unfit to govern itself. Legislators see the problems at hand and they attempt to overcome lawless behavior through legislation. This process increases the size and scope of government that is necessary to manage the deviant behavior of people. Then, to remain free of government regulations, lobbyists are employed by the rich to seek special exemptions. Using bribery and other favors, legislators often find a way to justify whatever lobbyists want. Over time, most of the leaders of the U.S. democracy have become corrupt and abusive and there is nothing further that God can do with a nation as a whole. Throwing out the leadership in Congress en mass is not an option because having no elders to guide a huge nation would result in anarchy.   

 

God recorded the history of Israel in the Bible because He wants everyone to understand His response to man’s degeneracy. God has not changed over the centuries and His politics for dealing with degenerate nations are changeless. (See Ezekiel 14:12-23.) Take an hour and read the whole book of Judges. It describes the seesaw experience of Israel as it vacillated between a free nation and a nation subservient to the laws of other nations over a course of about 400 years. God has provided this information in His Word so that we might understand that He knows how to deal with mankind. He has a predictable process.

 

A free society can only endure and exist for as long as a large majority of its people love God and their neighbors as themselves. What happens when people do not love God or one another? The process is simple:  Predatory abuse becomes commonplace. We become suspicious and fearful of one another. In contrast, when a nation embraces God and His ideals for human behavior, it will be blessed with freedom and prosperity. “From heaven the Lord looks don and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of its army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”

(Psalm 33:13-20)

 

Fatal Virus

 

Historians cannot fully explain the fall of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome because there is much more to the fall of any nation than human beings can see! Similarly, no man or political party can save a wicked nation because “no king is saved by the size of his army” and “ a horse is a vain hope for deliverance.” The Bible teaches that a nation is not a manmade entity. A nation does not have its origin in the will of men. Every government exists because a divine mandate brought it to life and God gave it authority over its subjects. (Romans 13:1) God sets up kings and takes them down according to His sovereign authority. (Daniel 2:21; 4:32-37)

 

Keep in mind, God holds leaders in public office to a very high standard of conduct. The same holds true in religious matters. In recent years, and rightfully so, millions of Catholics have been embarrassed because of all the priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children. The priest violated the trust of the children, as well as that of their parishioners. Church and state are not manmade institutions.  “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do….”

God sets up leaders and He brings them down (according to divine wisdom) when they abuse their “God-given” trust. When a majority of the leaders in a church or a nation becomes corrupt, God brings the whole institution down. This explains why governments appear and disappear. They appear because God has determined they should exist. They disappear when God determines they should cease to exist. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalms 127:1)

 

So, why is every person on Earth accountable to God? Let us begin by stating an eternal truth – God hears every word and sees every act. “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3) “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14) “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37) Because God sees and hears the sum of everything taking place on Earth, He knows when a majority in a nation has rejected righteousness. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush to evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

 

The virus that is rapidly tearing down the United States of America is our sinful nature. Increasingly, Americans continue to yield to their sinful nature. As a country, the U.S. is accelerating toward destruction because the sinful nature has gained control. The Bible says, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:19-23)

 

What causes people to become selfish and hateful? What causes people to become greedy? What motivates people to lie and steal? What causes people to take bribes? What causes people to constantly condemn others, putting every political decision in the worst possible light? What moves people to engage in sexual immorality? What cause children to abandon their parents and parents to abandon their children? The answer is simple. The sinful nature is a fatal virus. The sinful nature refuses to take responsibility for its actions.  (Genesis 3:9-19)  It tempts human beings to sin and once restraint (and responsibility) is cast aside, a free society quickly becomes a mad society. Look around at the madness. People become angry and protest. They become frustrated and mobs form, committing violent acts. Yet the root problem remains, which is our sinful nature. Those controlled by the sinful nature will do (a) whatever they think they can get away with, or (b) whatever it takes to get what they want. Legislators see the proclivity. They know there is a little earthly reason to do what is honorable, but they can make more laws to stop harmful behavior. This is how it was in Noah’s day. “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” (Genesis 6:5,6)

 

Jesus understands man’s sinful nature. He knows that the sinful nature of man always overtakes society. He knows the sinful nature of man always overtakes society. As the process spirals downward over time, the norms of society sink lower and lower. Have you noticed over the past fifty years how there is more profanity, more nudity, more pleasure, more obesity, more disease, more alcohol and substance abuse, more luxury and materialism, and increasing emphasis on sex and everything else which the sinful nature craves? Obviously, the sinful nature has gained control. “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:7,8, italics mine) Consider this: The sinful nature enables people to justify hurting others to get what they want. Even the former director of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, admitted in a recent TV interview that capitalism cannot limit greed because a greedy person will find a loophole.

 

Increasingly, the motto of corporate America has become “Get all that the market will bear.” But, Jesus made it a more significant motto when He said, “This is my command:

Love on another.” (John 15:17) Speaking about the last days, Jesus said: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12) In terms of money, this text works in both directions. Cold-hearted corporate leaders will financially gouge fellow citizens and feel nothing – “It’s not personal,” they say, “we’re just doing business.” On the other hand, cold-hearted individuals will seek a loan and lie about their finances, borrowing far more than they can repay. Paul warned the believers in Colosse, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:5,6)

 

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