We Must Find Our Governmental Voice
In the 2020 elections, I was accused by some of being too political. I’m used to it - it happens to me every four years. In reality, I have chosen not to affiliate with either political party, so that I can speak without a political bias or motivation. (I freely admit to a biblical bias.) The problem with some people’s perspectives regarding involvement in government is they don’t distinguish between government and politics.
I don’t really like the political process, though I realize some of it is necessary. What I AM interested in, big-time, is government. So is God. He IS government (see Isaiah 33:22) In fact, the entire account of the Bible is about government and authority, dealing with the question: “Who is going to rule the earth? Will it be Jesus, the Creator or satan, the usurper?” God‘s will and plan is for His governing authority to flow into the earth through people motivated by love and servanthood - starting in the family unit and continuing upward to nations. When this occurs appropriately, it provides covering, protection, justice, peace, and more.
Satan and fallen humans abuse the process. Many Christians, including their leaders, ignore the process, swallowing the lie that “God isn’t interested in government. It is carnal, evil, and corrupt.” This of course, by default, allows satan and the abusers to abuse it even more.
Satan is very cunning. God said this about the devil and, in fact, it is the first thing stated about him in the Bible: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast…” (Genesis 3:1). He worked his craftiness and sold the church a lie that we should stay out of government, thereby removing one of God’s most significant channels for delivering His life and blessings into the earth, and allowing him to fill the void.
Our ignorance is empowering satan and destroying us! (Hosea 4:6) We are feeding the beast.
The anti-Christ and anti-Bible abusers of government in America now feel they have the right to:
kill babies and make us pay for it
sell the aborted babies’ body parts
leave them to die on the abortion table when the process doesn’t work well (and celebrate these evil, reprehensible laws with cheering and lit-up buildings)
redefine marriage
mock the Creator who called us “male and female”
force our teenage daughters to shower with boys
open our borders
promote socialism
rewrite our history, steal our roots and redefine our Constitution
lie to us at will
and more.
If these are not spiritual issues, and therefore the church’s responsibility to address, I’m not sure what is. And I didn’t even list our government’s fiscal irresponsibility; the way we handle our finances, however, is also a VERY biblical issue. For Christians to try and separate God and the Bible from government is worse than unscriptural, it is heretical. Refusing to make a stand from our pulpits on these and other important issues is as disgraceful as it is devastating. Neglecting our responsibility to speak up and act, literally empowers abortion and other evils of our day.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor, anti-Nazi dissident, and author of The Cost of Discipleship poignantly stated, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak, is to speak. Not to act, is to act.” (1) The great reformer Martin Luther King said, “To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.” (2) These warnings are as appropriate and applicable to the church of America today as any time in history. We are even now being weighed in the balances, and our decisions will tip the scales one way or the other. The church must become a voice once again.
Only about half of Americans claiming to be evangelical Christians are registered to vote, and many who are registered don’t bother to do so. Most statistics make it clear that evangelicals could turn any national election in America if we all voted, and did so based on biblical values rather than party lines or personality preferences. Not only does the indifferent church fail to vote or actively involve itself in social issues, most do not even pray regarding the challenges we face in America.
I was in the Sunday service of a large church the weekend President Trump made his decision regarding retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s replacement. This decision was one that had the potential of shifting the balance of power on the Supreme Court to a conservative, pro-constitutionalist, pro-life majority, something America had desperately needed since the 1960s. Doubtlessly, the decision was so monumental that it would affect the lives of the children and even the grandchildren of those present that day. That choice by President Trump, and the next Justice he ultimately appointed, will absolutely be two of the most significant decisions of our lifetime.
In light of this decision’s magnitude, I kept waiting for someone to lead in prayer for wisdom and guidance to POTUS Trump, for Holy Spirit to lead him in making the right decision. If not a 15-30 minutes time of corporate prayer - perhaps this was more important than the sermon that day! - then maybe even 10 minutes, or 5, since the pastor himself referred to the congregation that day as “a praying church.” No? At least someone might mention it when praying over the offering or sermon. When no prayer was offered, I held out hope that they would at least encourage people to pray about this on their own. As you have probably guessed by now, it was never even mentioned. I was stunned, grieved, and angry. Tragically, this is the norm, not the exception.
We continue to pay a high price for our forfeiture of government. Two weeks ago Nancy Pelosi blocked a vote on a bill to ban taxpayer-funded abortions for the 58th time. Instead, she and her Democrat colleagues in Congress voted unanimously to eliminate the 40-year-old Hyde Amendment, which prevents taxpayer dollars from being used for “most abortions in Medicaid and other federal programs. It is credited with saving 2.4 million babies’ lives…Republican members offered several amendments that would’ve restored Hyde protection to the budget…Democrats refused to allow consideration of any pro-life amendments.”(3) The article concluded by saying that, “Joe Biden recently rejected the Hyde amendment after decades of supporting it. His proposed 2022 budget also would force taxpayers to pay for abortions.” (4)
None of this would be happening if Trump was still in the White House. He was the most pro-life President we have ever had. The anti-Trump RINOs who claim to be pro-life aren’t. They are actually sometimes pro-life, when it suits their political agenda. The same thing is true of the Christian leaders who opposed him and endorsed Biden. All of these people’s dislike for Trump was greater than their love for the babies. Even without Roe v. Wade being reversed there is much a president can do to curb abortions. Millions of tax dollars are now being spent to abort thousands of babies that had been stopped under President Trump. Maybe some of these anti-Trump folks would like to congratulate Biden again.
If taking the lives of surviving, struggling babies on bloody abortion tables is not enough to motivate the church of America and its leaders to regain their voices, then I simply do not know what could possibly do so. If we refuse to make a stand, do not talk about these issues from our pulpits, don’t pray for and support godly candidates during elections, and won’t pray publicly as congregations regarding important laws, we have no right to complain about the mess our silence helps create.
Thankfully, there is a remnant of the church that is now becoming a voice. The ekklesia is arising and a growing number of determined voices are sounding the alarm. The watchmen have been awakened, the intercessors and warriors are responding. You are probably one of them. If not, get on board. You were born for this time - be an Esther!
Pray with me:
Father, in Christ’s name we thank You for the awakening we see beginning in the church. The sleeping giant is stirring. Cause the alarm clock to become louder and louder. Make it impossible for Christians in America to silence the alarm or override it with other activities and thoughts. Confront us with the reality of where we are in our nation.
We know what You intend to do. Our hearts, though breaking over many issues, are also filled with faith that You are about to change things dramatically. The conscience of a nation will be brought back to life. The heart of a complacent and passive church is being, and will continue to be, awakened. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy.
We confidently declare that Your grace and the blood of Jesus is greater than all of our sin, that it cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. We boldly state once again, and will continue to do so daily, that “America shall be saved!” The greatest revival in history has begun and will bring healing to our land. It still works. Amen.
Our decree:
We decree that we, the church, will involve ourselves in every level and facet of government, releasing the authority and blessing of God into the earth.
Click on the link below to watch the full prayer.
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