STEVE McCONKEY: Christian Politics
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).
Christians need to stand up as they preach the gospel. Here are examples:
John the Baptist confronted King Herod publicly because Herod violated God’s moral law by taking his brother’s wife (Mark 6). Eventually, John was beheaded.
Jesus pronounced many woes upon the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees throughout the four gospels. They had members in the Sanhedrin, a tribunal of the Jews headed by a High Priest with religious, civil, and criminal jurisdiction. (Matthew 23:13).
Religious leaders (many were part of the government) and government leaders continually arrested the apostles throughout the New Testament. Example, Paul and Silas were imprisoned after casting a demon out of a slave girl that used divination for profit (Acts 16). Her masters had them arrested as the profits from divination dried up.
Demetrius, a silversmith who made idols, accused Paul of causing harm to the idol business because he opposed them. As a result, a great riot occurred in Ephesus (Acts 19). Because of Rome’s Pax Romana, a law allowing Rome to squelch riots, the riot subsided so Paul was allowed to leave Ephesus.
After being arrested in Jerusalem and moved to Caesarea by troops, Paul defended himself before Felix, who governed Judea. Paul was accused of sedition and rebelling against authority because of his teaching on the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 24).
Paul spoke to Felix and those present. “And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you’” (Acts 24:25). Obviously, Paul talked about morals and the coming of the Lord to government leaders and those present.
In Acts 25, Festus took up Paul’s case in Caesarea as he replaced Felix. Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor by having the trial moved to Jerusalem. However, the Jews were plotting an assassination.
Anticipating these plots, Paul invoked his right as a Roman citizen before Festus and appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Using the law to keep preaching the gospel, he eventually went to Rome to stand trial. As he went through the court system from the beginning, he was able to share with government leaders and others.
Before going to Rome, Paul also appeared before King Agrippa. He preached to King Agrippa and those present. “And Agrippa said to Paul, ‘In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?’” (Acts 26:28). King Agrippa ruled that Paul was innocent, but since he appealed to Caesar, he had to go to Rome for trial to face Nero.
In Rome, Paul gives an account of his days (Acts 28:17-24). He conversed with many and contended for the faith for two years under house arrest. “And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved” (Acts 28:24). By using Roman law, Paul was able to further his outreach.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Eleven of the twelve apostles were martyred. They preached the truth and the holiness of Christ. Roman culture during that time was morally bankrupt.
The holy lives of Jesus and the apostles, alongside their Biblical message, convicted the ungodly resulting in greater persecution.
In the future, Jesus will establish His millennial kingdom after defeating all human governments (Revelation 19).
The tension exists between sharing the gospel (preparing people for eternity) and standing up in this world (making it a better place for our children and grandchildren). Bottom line, we are to do both as the Lord leads, not erasing either one.
Some say we should not legislate morality. Wrong, radicals legislate immorality. We need to stand up for good laws and legislate morality. However, we cannot legislate salvation.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)