Recently, I posted the following message and link on my Facebook page:

"For several weeks now I've pondered most of these views presented by Doug Giles. As I've visited several churches across the country, I've noticed that pastors appear to be dead to some issues that matter to the flock's daily lives. While remaining spiritual, we still have the responsibility to make a difference in our environment. Otherwise, I think those who are not led will be overcome by the powers of Satan’s political schemes."

Why Pastors Punt on Political Issues - by Doug Giles

A few days later, one of my brother-in-laws posted the following link on Facebook, suggesting I rethink our role as Christians:

"God & Country" or Christ's Kingdom? - by Jon Zens & Cliff Bjork

I encourage you to read both articles if you haven’t already. The second article is long but read it entirely.

Some of Zens’ and Bjork’s article is right on and is hard to argue with. The paragraph written after the subtitle, "As You Have Opportunity, Do Good To All," could have been taken from my thoughts nearly 30 years ago. Overall I'm displeased with their article. Zens’ and Bjork’s tone is that churches and Christians should be relatively quiet in governmental affairs. As you read the rest of my article, I intend to debunk that tone.

There is one vitally important thing I think Zens and Bjork failed to consider. That is the political or governmental environment during biblical times. I've learned in recent years how important it is to know the environmental issues of the times in which the scriptures were written. Knowing the environmental issues brings the scriptures to a new level of life and you view it from a different perspective.

During these biblical years the primary political systems were monarchies consisting mostly of types of kings and queens. These leaders were rarely placed in their position by the people. It wasn’t until the middle of the 5th-4th century BC in some Greek city-states that the infant, “democracy,” was born. I emphasize the word infant because this early democracy was extremely weak.

When our founding fathers of the United States wrote the Declaration of Independence, the premise was to leave the monarchy of England and form a Republic. Not a democracy as so many mistakenly refers the US as being. There is a difference between republic and democracy. I will not define that difference here. You can learn that on your own time if you don’t know.

Therefore, during biblical times, the scriptures were written during the strong and powerful monarchies. Since the people didn’t have much choice in their earthly leadership, God provided guidelines on how His people are to respond and react.

Zens’ and Bjork’s notion that the United Sates is no different than other nations is wrong in my opinion. Our founding fathers created an experiment so vastly different than other nations. They created a Republic; a republic in which the supreme control of the government is retained by the people. This was so important to our founding fathers and still is today. The reality for the United States of America is our Constitution is the government and likewise per the Constitution we the people are the government. It is the nation’s leaders, which the people of this republic put in charge, responsibility to lead in accordance with the Constitution.

So I would ask you to go back and read the scriptures again pertaining to how we are to respond to our government. This time, keep in mind our government is the Constitution and we are a Republic nation.

Here are a few scripture examples of what I mean from the New International Version Bible that I modified:

Romans 13:1 & 5

1. Everyone must submit himself to the US Constitution, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

5. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the US Constitution, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

1 Peter 2:17

17: Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the US Constitution.

Matthew 22:21

21 United States’, they replied. Then he said to them, Give to United States’ what is the United States’, and to God what is God's.

(Notice here in what Jesus did not say. Jesus did not tell us we are to avoid giving to the United States. Jesus clearly pointed out we are to give or render to the United States as well as God.)

We as Christians are to be not of this world. Yet at the same time God gave us dominion over the earth. Therefore we have the additional responsibility to uphold the Constitution and the rights it gives us. If we sit only in our pews and study groups and prayer rooms and neglect our God ordained rights in our nation, then over time we shall fall back to some sort of monarchy. I believe God has ordained us in a very unique place allowing us to have dominion over our form of government.

As for me, I believe God has blessed us. But I also know that blessing could be taken away. It is my prayer God will continue to bless us and that our pastors and churches will awaken from indifference.

So I ask you, if we fail to follow God’s instruction to render to our Constitution, is that sin?

"Until apathy is murdered and the citizens of this country stop hibernating in the comforts of their very small world, the independence we now enjoy will be lost forever." David W. Gray, July 3, 2009

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