Sermon for Sunday, July 6
Dear friends,
232 years ago our country was established, and Friday we rightfully celebrate this occasion. I am interrupting the series on James to visit the question of how we as Christians must live as good citizens in a secular post Christian culture. Fortunately the Bible is pretty plain in listing our responsibilities to the Lord in this matter. The fundamental principle is that we are to respect, pray for, and obey those in authority over us all the way from the president to the local magistrate. It makes no practical difference according to Scripture whether they are kind, fair or harsh.
Look at these Scriptures and see if you line up with their teaching. Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-2, and 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Jesus gives the principle guideline for us in Matthew 22:15-22 – “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
In the light of the Scriptures answer these questions and discuss the reason for your answers:
1. A Christian may be a Democrat, a Republican , a Green or Libertarian or not vote at all.
2. We have the freedom as a Christian to weigh the issues and vote accordingly as opposed to being “forced” to select the Christian candidate.
Remember Martin Luther: ‘I would rather be ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian.”
You know we do not have an American flag set up in our place of worship. One reason is that our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and our Christian belief surpasses our loyalty to the American government. We love our country, but we do not worship it. There are bigger fish to fry.
Discuss with someone or your family what these Scriptures mean in our practical political life. They do not tell us who to vote for, nor to what party we should belong, but there are moral principles which we must consider binding in our political decisions. Yet each of us is free to decide for whom to vote; we must each give account to the Lord for what we do.
See you Sunday,
Lee