This Week #30 (03-28-04)

Politics and Political Action

            Most people I know talk about how important it is to never mix Politics and Christianity. I wonder where that thinking comes from? I want to tell you how I mix ‘em. Don’t ever think I am telling you what to do. I’m just telling you what I do.

            My text verse is 1 Samuel 16:7b (read the whole story, if you like). I certainly want to be like my Father when it comes to making decisions and using good judgment when confronting the issues that affect all of life. God does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

            In the Hebrew concept of “heart” there is embodied emotions, will, intellect, and desires. Therefore when I get ready to pick a politician, I am not too interested in his outward appearance or in the judgments of neither those who think too highly of him nor those who think the worst of him. I want to see that individual as God sees him. That means, of course, that I am going to have to make some decisions based on what his history and actions present to me, and not on any bias based on other factors. Of course we have been fooled in times past by what people say, as opposed to how they live, so we need some history to work with. And we need some direction from God’s Spirit within us.

            I’m worried about voting for any person who is not rightly related to God. Some people say that shouldn’t matter, but this is God’s world (see Psalm 24:1; Psalm 33:8;) and God is going to bring it to His conclusion (see Psalm 9:8; Psalm 96:13; Revelation 11:15), and folks who aren’t on board with His plan tend to foul things up.

            Don’t just tell me. . .show me! That’s my thinking. Don’t point to a building and tell me you attend there, rather show me by your actions that God is directing your way though the minefield of difficulties that plague our nation, our states, our counties, our cities and towns. We need good men, and the only good men are God’s men. Everyone else has an allegiance to the wickedness of his or her own heart. (see Jeremiah 17:9)

            Any person who is unwilling to pray, to expand his or her knowledge of God’s word, and live a life of llove toward God and others, should not be running for office, much less be elected to office. Some might say that we would have no one running if that is true. Good! As a matter of fact, I think Godly men and women can get elected in this country. We’ve been led to believe by the vocal minority that they can’t and we’ve swallowed that hook, line, and sinker. And any Christian who is scared of a person who is committed to God first and country (county, city, town) second, is acting out of ignorance or apathy or both.

            Am I saying that I want this country (county, city, town) run (governed) by people committed to God? YES! Do I want this nation to be in the hands of Godly people? YES! Am I concerned about those who don’t believe in the Truth or the God I serve? YES! I want them to be converted. Is that radical thinking? YES! But, hey, what would you expect from a God lloving, Bible believing, evangelical Christian whose whole goal in life is to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

©Weaver 2004

© Weaver 2004