How You Can Accept Barak Obama As President

Christ and culture will always be at war until Christ returns as judge to restore all things. Nowhere is this more evident than in the words of Jesus in John 3:19, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." Since culture influences people, and people become governors, all systems of man-led government will move further into corruption as it's people become more wicked. Paul also emphasizes the contrast between culture and Christ when he commands believers not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). Finally, John provides a strict word to followers of Christ imploring them not to love "the world nor the things in the world," which he says is evidence that the love of the Father is not present (John 2:15).

But are we then simply to always rebel against culture and the governmental systems of this world? The answer is no. Here lies the paradox. A believer is to submit to the government whenever it is possible, whether that government is good or evil, and to submit to it's leaders as if they were God's representatives. God is no less restricted in His ability to use wicked rulers than He is good and just leaders. Indeed He even calls Nebuchadnezzar, a wicked and idolatrous king, "My servant" (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6). However, at the same time a believer's ultimate allegiance is not to the king, the judge, or this world but to Christ. So then, anything that forces a believer to violate the Law of God is to be opposed (Acts 4:1-31). Such is the picture that is presented in the book of Acts. Believers did not try to have the laws changed to allow them freedom, they simply obeyed God whenever there was a conflict and accepted the consequences as good citizens.

If such is the case, then why is the church so concerned over, and devoting so much time to who is elected and what laws are passed? Can God not work around unbelievers just as much as through believers? Is His plan any less accomplished with Barak Obama as President than it would be with John McCain or Mike Huckabee? Further, how is it that it has become a normative practice in the church to force biblical principles and laws upon a lost nation? I am amazed at how believers complain about the law and say it is unfair that many laws are imposed upon them by a lost world but will quickly turn around and impose their law upon the lost (i.e. abolition, or the closing of stores on Sunday). Yet God has given every man the right to choose Him or deny Him. So then why is the church comitted to forcing men to obey Him who have chosen to deny Him? For most the answer is that America is a Christian nation founded upon Christian principles which must be reinstated. Let me make something very clear, this nation has never been a Christian nation. This nation was founded upon the principle that there would be no official religion or established religion, but that everyone would be free to worship based upon their choice. So then, attempting to make this nation "Christian" is contrary both to the right of free choice that God has given to each man and to the intentions of the founding fathers.

That said, here is the point of all of these posts. I believe and am convinced, based upon the Word of God, that as believers we must pray for, support, encourage, and accept Barak Obama as God's appointed leader of this nation just as we would have any other man. We must not complain if laws are passed which hinder our religious freedom because ultimately our allegiance is to God and we must serve Him first. In such cases we must disobey any law that hinders our obedience to the Law of God (I do not mean any law we do not agree with, but rather any law which forces us not to obey one of God's laws) and accept the consequences of our actions. We must strive to set a faithful witness not as people who are constantly complaining about the woes of society, but as people who faithfully obey the government and serve God. After all, our ultimate responsibility is not to change the state of this world, but to lead the people of this world to Christ. Once we understand that, who is elected and what laws are passed will seem inconsequential to us because we realize that this is not our home, this is not our world, these are not our rulers, and we ultimately belong to and serve a God who transcends everything that we see.

If Only I Could Change The World

There is perhaps nothing more disturbing today than the movement of modern evangelical Christians toward a political worldview rather than a biblical worldview.  These people will believe Christ, teach His Word, and vote based upon biblical mandates, but at the same time look to the world's system of government to solve their problems.  And if that government cannot solve their problems then their responsibility is to change that government to fit what they believe.

Now let me state a few caveats before we examine this belief further.  First, I am not saying in anyway that Christians should not vote.  It is their responsibility to participate in their government and be dutiful citizens.  Second, I am not saying that at times the government will not be changed to reflect biblical principles.  Certainly this can be the case, and has been, throughout history; although these times are fleeting.  Third, I am not saying that we should not pray for our leaders or our government for indeed Paul commanded such things (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

In 1951 Richard Niebuhr wrote a book entitled "Christ and Culture."  His book presented 5 possible explanations for how Christ relates to culture: (1) Christ against culture - a radical view where believers oppose any government and only follow Christ; (2) Christ of culture - a radical view where Christ is experienced through culture and Christian doctrine is remove in order to create unity; (3) Christ above culture - a view where God still has control over culture; (4) Christ and culture in paradox - a view where Christ and culture cannot be reconciled because of sin and therefore continue to exist side by side but always in opposition to each other; (5) Christ transforming culture - a view where believers actively try to change culture to fit biblical mandates through Christ.  The predominant view held by most evangelicals is "Christ transforming culture."  It is this view that causes them to do everything in their power to change laws, officials, and governments to fit Scripture.

As I noted in my previous post I do not believe that this was the thinking of the Apostles, the early church, or of Christ.  Here are several reasons why this view is not biblical.  First, while Christ ultimately will transform culture when He renews all things, at current Christ is not the ruler of this world.  While He owns this world it is currently under the authority of Satan (Matthew 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4).  Second, this world is not the home of the believer, but rather the home of those living in darkness (John 8:12-24).  Believers are pilgrims traveling through this world who maintain citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20).  Third, if Christians are to follow or transform a culture which is controlled by Christ then rebellion against that culture would ultimately be rebellion against Christ and His authority.  This would then contradict the practice of Peter and John in Acts 4.  Fourth, this view assumes that it is reasonable and just to force morality (or even religious morality) upon unbelievers.  It is exactly this sentiment that produced forced conversions by Augustine and the Crusades of the Middle Ages.  Ironically, many believers are fine enforcing their morality on those who do not believe, but complain when the morals of unbelievers are forced on them (Note: This does not mean that some issues of morality should not be mandatory for all people, such as a ban of abortions which result in the murder of those who cannot defend themselves - this is an issue of justice not of forcing religious morality).  Finally, the major problem with this view is the reality that this world will continue to get worse.  The depravity of man will become more gross, sin will continue to proliferate, and the nations will continue to reject God until He finally comes to bring judgment to them (Revelation 7-19).

My hope is that through reading this post you will consider very carefully how you act and what you say in regard to the government of this world.  It is long past time for us to stop waging a political war to legislate morality and time for us to take the Gospel and wage a spiritual war over souls that are lost.  Next time I will present a case for why I think the "Christ and culture in paradox" view is the biblical picture and how this will impact our thinking.

Why Does It Matter So Much Who Is Elected Anyway?

Today I went to place my vote for the President of the United States (among many other things).  All this week I have been receiving emails, phone calls, and mail alerting me to the fact that if Obama is elected the world will end (well, maybe not that drastic, but they were certainly close!).  I have heard that if Obama is elected abortions will increase (as if that could happen - the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is what decides those matters), that Christians will be persecuted (might not be such a bad thing), and that immorality will proliferate (exactly what is prophesied of the end times in Scripture anyway).  Now let me make one thing clear.  I did not vote for Barak Obama.  However, neither did I vote for John McCain.  Every time an abortive embryonic stem-cell research bill has been on the floor of the Senate he has supported such procedures.  That is just as much abortion as taking the life of an infant in the womb.  As a result, I went with another candidate who I believe to be more in line with biblical values and principles.  Can he win?  No, but that isn't the point.  If winning was the ultimate end then many moral decisions would be passed over because they aren't popular.

Now, let me get to the point of this post.  The point is not whether it was better to vote for McCain or some other candidate (I will assume that you did not vote for Obama who is clearly in favor of free unabated abortions), but rather in how much followers of Christ are clinging to this world.  Throughout this week I have heard the woes of many believers who think that the world will come to an end if Obama is elected.  I have seen worry, distress, fear, and anxiety, all over something that doesn't really matter.

This world, this government, and this economy do not belong to believers or to the church.  Their world, their government, and their economy is in Heaven.  It is stable, it is flourishing, it is growing, it is abundant, it is unconquerable, and it always provides an increase.  Why then would believers have so much anxiety over a place, a people, a world, a system, and a leader that does not belong to them?  Will God be in any less control if Obama is elected over McCain or if McCain is elected over Obama?  Will his plan be thwarted in any way by a mere man?  Was his plan any less accomplished when Nebuchadnezzar, or Darius, or Caesar, or Nero, or Hitler, or Stalin were in power?  The answer to all of these questions is no.  So then, why are believers so concerned about who leads this nation?  To be quite honest, this world, it's government, and it's economy are all under the authority of Satan anyway.  Satan offered them to Jesus because they are temporarily in his stewardship.  Now that is not to say that we should not endeavor to change these things.  We should vote, we should participate in our government, and we should strive to see justice and morality proliferate, but we must understand that these things will not be accomplished politically.  The only way to fight a spiritual enemy is with a spiritual weapon, the gospel.

In the end, what it all comes down to is the simple fact that far too many believers are too closely tied to this world rather than to the kingdom of Heaven.  Their concerns are here, now, with this economy, this leader, and this nation.  As a result, they are more concerned about winning a person's vote than winning person's soul.  This all stems from the belief that role of the believer is to change culture through Christ.  However, as I will demonstrate next time, I do not believe that this was how Jesus or the church proceeded in the New Testament, nor do I believe that this is the message of Scripture.  So until then, think on these things as you sit up till all hours of the night counting every single vote to see who will rule a world that isn't ours.