On The Horns of a Dilemma

Many in the Christian community, whether they are willing to admit it or not, find themselves on the horns of a dilemma concerning the current economic/political turmoil in America.

We are, I believe, facing an economic and social crisis in our country–precipitated mostly by the loose monetary policy of our government in the last 40 years– unprecedented in any of our lifetimes; perhaps the worst crisis the nation has faced in its history. Our existence as a free country under the rule of law is threatened by this crisis, which if allowed to continue, unabated, will foment widespread social unrest and chaos, and warrant the suspension of the Constitution and a declaration of martial law.

The dilemma itself is this:

What shall we do about this? Anything? Something? Nothing? As Christians and believers in the unfettered grace of God, we understand that our true citizenship is in heaven. On the other hand we are also citizens in a secular/pluralistic society called America. Most of us participate to some degree or other in the political process of this secular society, and all of us are partakers of the goods of liberty that come from the political moorings upon which it was founded. The question is, how far should we go, ie, to what extent should we involve ourselves in the effort to retain the liberties and freedoms we enjoy in this country, now threatened by this crisis?

How folks answer this varies all over the continuum. At one end are those who contend that none of this is our concern, and that we should therefore stay out of the political fray altogether. “Just preach the gospel; there‘s nothing we can do about it anyway,” they say.

On the other end there are those who contend that if we are willing receivers and partakers of the freedoms our forbearers fought and died for, then we are charged with the responsibility of doing whatever is necessary to keep those freedoms–if not for ourselves, for our posterity–to shirk this responsibility would be considered an act of treason.

There are sincere believers of good will on both ends of this argument. So how does one decide on what to do about it, and how to go about doing it? If we believe the word of God to be the benchmark for how we should live in this sin-cursed world, then it stands to reason that it is what we need to consult for direction.

First of all, in whatever we decide to do, it should be done whole-heartedly.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”¹

In other words, don’t, on the one hand, claim it isn’t “our” problem in front of the brethren, but turn around and complain about it, or decry it, or say “we” ought to do something about it in front of other people. Nothing is more hypocritical than this. If you truly believe it isn’t your problem, and that you are therefore not called to try and change it, then don’t complain about it.

Second, “be fully persuaded” that what you are doing is right.² Don’t do anything in order to appease or placate others. They aren’t your judges or your rewarders.³

Third, don’t violate your conscience. The apostle Paul has a lot to say about this. He refers to it twenty times in his epistles. If you cannot do something in good conscience, then abstain from it. “All things are lawful unto me, but all thinks are not expedient…”⁴

Fourth, (this is closely connected to number three) whether you decide to be involved or not, be sure it isn’t for the sake of money. Check your oil. Most of us enjoy the material blessings of the society in which we live, and none of us desires to suffer the loss these. But this shouldn’t be the reason you stand in opposition to any government policy or decree. It should be about right and wrong, not about gain or loss. For instance, I don’t suffer any material loss (that I can put my finger on) when an unborn child is killed in its mother’s womb. Nevertheless, I should and will stand in opposition to this–even though the government says it’s okay–because it is wrong, and to do otherwise would violate my conscience.

Finally, if you do decide to involve yourself in the political debate, resolve that you are first and foremost an ambassador of Christ,⁵ and that you will not compromise or soft-peddle what you believe in order to appease the unbelievers involved with you in the cause. While you are willing to die for another’s right to believe and proclaim something other than what you believe, you must do this without compromising that belief.

Some contend that this is impossible; that any involvement in a political cause will necessitate the compromise of your beliefs, or possibly demand that you keep them to yourself altogether. I believe that this position is without merit. If it is in fact true, then no believer would be able to work at a secular job, because no secular employer or client is going to allow you to stand up any time you wish in a work place or on a jobsite, during the hours that he is paying you to do the work assigned to you, and preach the gospel.

There is also the claim that Romans 13:1-7, demands that we not oppose any government authority or decree; no matter what the government hands down to us, we are to obey it without question. From Moses to Esther to Nathan to Elijah to Isaiah to John the Baptist to Peter and finally to Paul, saints throughout Scripture opposed and confronted the ungodly or unlawful actions of government officials and kings. To say that Paul negated all this with seven verses in Romans 13 is preposterous.

I am not talking about promoting lawlesness here. I’m talking about demanding that those we elect to public office (and those they, in turn, appoint to it) uphold and obey the law (the Constitution and Bill of Rights) they swore an oath to when they accepted their respective offices. When they refuse to do this, take actions or promote legislation that clearly violates their oath, then we not only have a right, as “free born”⁶ citizens, but an obligation to oppose and resist them.

Indeed, our main priorities, concerning any political involvement, should always be to “live peaceably with all men” …to “…lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” in a social setting where we may have “free course” to preach the gospel.”⁷ The extent to which we involve ourselves in the political debate/process is entirely up to our own individual discernment. Some will discern that their commitment to the cause is greater than others, and fall into the error of standing in judgment over those who they deem to be politically lazy and uncommitted. To this error Scripture says: “Who is this that darkened counsel by words without knowledge?“ And “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth”⁸

Moreover, a commitment to some political mission does not issue us a license to promote violence or hatred,⁹ adopt an “end justifies the means” philosophy, or join ourselves at the hip with people who espouse these methods.¹⁰ Neither does it relieve us of our duty to maintain a good reputation in the community¹¹ and provide for our own households.¹² While claiming no responsibility for what happens in the world we live in is absolutely wrong, abandoning all for a political cause, and demanding that everyone else do the same, is just as wrong.

In Christ, and to His glory

Mike Schroeder

Questions and comments may be addressed to Mike Schroeder, pastor of the Grace Bible Study Fellowship at schroeder6025@yahoo.com . For information concerning times and places of Bible studies for GBSF and other grace ministries in Texas, go to:

www.TexasGraceChurches.com

Are you saved? Jesus Christ—“who knew no sin”—and his sacrificial death on the Cross, has made the way for “everyone that believeth…to be reconciled to God. History has shown that whatever peace man has achieved in the world can only be temporary. The Bible says that individual men and women can know, beyond a doubt, that they are saved and bound for heaven, and therefore have absolute and permanent peace, regardless of what is going on in the world, by trusting Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for their eternal salvation. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Have you done this? If not, why not now?

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