With so much contention over politics and the upcoming midterm elections, here is a question worth answering. Whose government is right? In other words, what is the right form of government as God would have it? And before we answer this question specifically and biblically, let’s consider the Christian’s role in relation to citizenship.
As Christians, we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), but that doesn’t negate our responsibility to participate in our civic responsibility as citizens here on earth (Romans 13:1). However, as sojourners, we should operate solely under a biblical worldview, which means we affirm that the Bible is the lens through which we view the world and the filter by which every issue of life is run through. And it is in the Word of God where we are commanded to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ to the culture around us (Matthew 5: 13-16). Salt engages the decaying culture and preserves it. Light exposes the darkness and overcomes it.
Now let’s consider the question above in regard to the Christian’s role to government--even in a tyrannical form of it. In the book of Jeremiah, we see a letter written to the Jewish captives to Babylon. It states what the people of God should do while under a godless government- "And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace, you will have peace” (Jeremiah29:7).
Interesting. In the midst of a pagan system, “Seek the peace of the city where you are placed and pray to the Lord for its peace. Because if the city is at peace, you will have peace.” In other words, if you are the salt of society, then your preserving will lead to humanity flourishing. Thus, the choice government of God is when God is the choice of government, when His people seek to have Him govern them even in the midst of godless government.
Now back to the 21st century.
Isaiah 33:22 states, “For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us.” Judge. Lawgiver. King.
This verse helps frame the birth of our original governmental structure, where we have a judicial branch (judges), a legislative branch (lawmakers), and an executive branch (president). This separation of powers was intentional to prevent the corruption of power. The founders and framers understood that these 3 branches were offshoots from the trunk of truth (the Bible). You see, from moral law comes the right infrastructure for civil law.
And that is why George Washington stated, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” This statement is true even if we were to replace the word nation with “life, or family, or church.” It is impossible to rightly govern self without God and the Bible. And if our souls and society are not being governed by the Bible, it is likely because we have been given over to Babel.
You see, when we divorce moral rule from our civil rule, we get arbitrary rule which leads to tyrannical rule. And “it is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains” (Patrick Henry). Tyrants always rise through the vein of lies as 2020 forward has so aptly revealed. And when the Church and Christian begin to understand their role in our governmental context (Romans 13:1-7), we will begin to delay the decay of our day until the Lord pulls us out of the way. Until then, we are to be the salt and light in our land, which requires us to engage community by praying faithfully, voting biblically, and standing righteously.
The truth of the Gospel saves the soul and it is Gospel truths that salvage society. As for those who claim to be Christians, we are expected to know biblical truth and practice what we preach (II Timothy 2:15). And without question, it is our responsibility to contribute to the land’s Constitutional Republic by voting!
A question I get all the time—How do I know who to vote for as a Christian? Am I looking for a Christian to lead? My response is, a Christian should always evaluate the candidate’s policies over their personality. And the policy divide and differences have never been more aggressive than they are now. Life versus death. Liberty versus tyranny. Morality versus immorality. Order versus chaos. Truth versus lies. It’s the Bible or Babel!
America is at a precipice between freedom and socialism, literally God and godlessness, spiritually and morally. You must pray for spiritual eyes to see what is no longer lurking beneath the surface but is blatantly evil and aggressively attacking on all levels – and most specifically aimed at the next generation. My faith compels me to vote biblical because my conscience is held captive to what is Scriptural.
“For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad’ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
WE. MUST. VOTE. BIBLICAL.
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