"There is a spirit in a man, and the breath of
the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the
aged always understand justice. Therefore I say 'Listen to me, and I will
declare my opinion." Job 32:8-10
I love that
passage from Job. I love the passion of Elihu, the young man that corrected Job
and his friends. His attitude is one of explosion! He waited, he listened, to “age”
and “wisdom” trying to convince Job. Yet, the right answer had not been found. Finally,
he had his chance to speak. You can almost feel his frustration and anger, and
then with wisdom and humility, he corrected Job and his friends.
I feel like
Elihu today, the spirit inside this man must speak. It is not because I am one
with wisdom, or great eloquence, but like Elihu I have a spirit within that
compels me to speak with intelligence and share my heart. Like Elihu, I am
frustrated and angry.
Before I get
into what I want to say, let me state clearly and unequivocally that this blog
is not in response to anyone person or group. I do not have an individual in
mind while writing this. I know there are those I love and respect greatly that
may disagree with some or all of this. My desire is not to correct, lecture, or
divide people. My only hope is that you would consider what I say and see if
you can find truth in it. If you are a person of faith, weigh it in prayer and
with the scriptures to see if what I write is true.
Over the last
year, starting with the election season, and culminating with the recent
passage of laws dealing with the 2nd Amendment, I have read literally thousands
of posts on Facebook and probably hundreds of blogs and articles dealing with
the question as to what should be the Christians response to what is a very dysfunctional
government? I have read everything from friends Facebook posts, to articles and
sermons from nationally known speakers. I have read every extreme opinion from,
"pick up your weapons and let’s go to war," to “we are slaves to the
government so let’s do what the Bible says and just submit to this nation’s
leadership." There are voices on one side calling for violent revolution,
and those on the opposite side of the spectrum stating if you really love Jesus
and the Bible you will just roll over. It is infuriating to say the least.
After reading these posts or blogs I am always confronted with two questions. One,
as a professing follower of Jesus, how should I respond to this government? Two,
to what length should I as a Christian go to protect the freedoms I hold dear?
Let’s start
by making the case that our government in the United States is seriously
broken. I don’t know if anyone reading this will actually argue contrary to
that statement. Just in case, let’s cover the basis. Look at some of the more
pressing issues right now.
We have an
economy that is teetering on total collapse. We hear constantly about the
fiscal cliff, and the only answer that our “highly educated” officials can come
with, is raise the debt ceiling so we can borrow more. Anyone that has dealt
with bankruptcy can tell you, borrowing more to save a sinking ship never works!
In fact, it only delays the inevitable collapse. Taxes are at an all-time high,
and Obamacare, which the Supreme Court ruled, would be the biggest tax increase
in history, hasn’t even went into effect yet! We have an increasing number of
citizens that are dependent on the government to survive. We have government
cover ups in Benghazi, attacks on some of our most important freedoms, corruption,
and the most partisan Washington, DC I have ever seen. These are just a few of
the issues we are facing. We are a mess and spiraling out of control more every
day.
As a young
man I made a decision to live as a follower of Christ thus giving me
citizenship in another kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven. So my first response to
any ethical, moral or spiritual decision is to emulate Jesus’ example. He
taught us that we are to be meek and lowly, Matthew 5:5. He taught us to love
our enemy and do good to those that persecute us, Matthew 5:44. He taught us to
turn the other cheek, Matthew 5:39. With these scriptures alone it would seem
that I am saying we just need to roll over and do what we are told. However, as
I read Matthew 5, a very interesting thing stood out to me. Matthew 5 talks
almost exclusively about how we are to act towards other individuals, not the
government. You may think that is a stretch but here me out. Almost every verse
states how we are to react to someone that is mistreating us. For example, take
one of the most famous verses, Matthew 5:39: “But I tell you not to resist and
evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him
also.” So if we are true believers of the Bible, then we should not condone
anything that thwarts stopping an evil person. In other words, we should not
have fought against Hitler and Nazi Germany, al-Qaeda and certainly not against
the King of England in the American Revolution. But is that what Jesus is
really saying? I don’t think so.
So what does
Matthew 5:39 mean? Let me give you an interpretation that you may not have ever
considered. To actually turn the other cheek you have to be in a position of
strength. If I was walking out of a gas station and got jumped by five guys and
was beaten would that be considered turning the other cheek? Of course not! One
on five generally turns out badly for the one, and I would most likely be
grateful to be alive when it was done. Now say I came out of the same gas
station and was confronted by a single individual, one on one, that I could
handle. Allowing that individual to strike me, without retaliating, would be
turning the other cheek. Let me give you an even clearer example. Did Jesus
turn the other cheek when he died on the cross? The answer is an obvious, yes!
How do we know that? We know that because Jesus could have come off that cross
whenever he wanted to. If He couldn’t have then He was not God and He wasn’t
turning the other cheek he was just another man being subjected to the cruel
devices of a stronger power. Matthew 5 is dealing with our response to one
another not the government.
Jesus is
conspicuously quiet when it came to government issues. There is a reason for
this and that was He was coming to a people and region that was looking for a
deliverer from the Romans. We know from scripture that was not why He came. He
came to die for the sins of man and for the redemption of our souls. But there
were a few instances where Jesus dealt with the government and I think some
clues about how we should act can be gleaned from his approach.
Many use the
story of Jesus being asked about paying taxes as an example of why we should
obey the government. Jesus stated, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s”…Mark
12:17. But every gospel that tells this story states that the Pharisees were
trying to trap him in his words so they could make a complaint to the Romans.
In fact, Mark states it was one of the lies they tried to pin on him at Christ’s
trial. It is clear from the gospels that Jesus’ answer was based on the fact
they were trying to trick him.
I think a
better example of Christ’s feelings for the government could be found at his
trial. There is no doubt that Jesus was meek and lowly, but I recently thought
there were a few points in the time after he was arrested and before the
crucifixion that he displayed the awesome power of God. I believe Jesus showed
his disdain for the puppet court and government of that day when he refused to answer
both Herod and Pilate. Can you imagine being the ruler of the region and bringing
in this carpenter and He refuses to answer you even though you have his life in
your hands? What power! What strength and how God like! His silence spoke
volumes about who He was and what He stood for. The gospels bring out that
Pilate marveled at the fact Jesus wouldn’t talk. It was if Jesus, through his
silence, was stating who was really in charge that day. The Almighty was still
the King in that court regardless of who was perceived to be in charge.
What an
amazing contrast Jesus is. He is a God of love, mercy and grace, but he is also
a God of justice, the Lion of Judah and a protector of the weak! The God of the
Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament. The Jesus of the Gospels is
the same Jesus of Revelations 19. Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today and forever.” How can the God of War (Exodus 15:3 &
Psalms 24:8 also be the God of Love and Mercy. This could be confusing until
you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. “To everything there is a season, a time for every
purpose under heaven…a time to love, a time to hate, a time of war, and a time
of peace.”
So the first
and most important question that we as believers should be asking is what
season is it? Do you know? Have you prayed about it or have you let your
emotions take you in a direction without clarification? It is easy to do but we
must seek God to see what season it is. Is it a time of war or a time of peace?
Let’s look back and see if we can glean anything further from the life of
Jesus.
If Jesus was
about anything he was about freedom. He went about healing the sick, healing
those possessed, healing the hearts of man and finally freeing us from the law
of sin and death. On the day he died on the cross his blood stamped pardon on
our souls and we were set free. “He who the Son sets free is free indeed” John
8:36. In fact His whole plan from the beginning was to free us. So how would
Jesus respond to a government that is starting to take away the freedoms of its
people? I strongly believe He would support freedom. I believe he would
emphatically and charismatically support freedom. The scriptures both old and
new are full of stories of freedom from oppression. Just because Christ did not
free the Jews from the Romans during his life does not mean he was not
interested in their freedom. Christ came to present another kingdom but that
doesn’t mean He was condoning the Romans and their treating of the Jews. He
simply had come for another purpose. Yet the final book of the Bible, the final
chapter in history is written with one ending, freedom.
How then
should I respond as a follower of Christ to a country that is starting to take
away freedoms? I think the answer is obvious from the Bible and that is we must
fight to maintain freedom. To take a casual and apathetic approach to the state
of our nation puts us in the category of the unfaithful servant found in Matthew
25. “To whom much is given much is required” Luke 12:48. We have been entrusted
with this great nation and to let it go down the road it is headed would be a
travesty. I can no longer silently sit on the sidelines and not act. The future
of all I hold dear is at stake.
What then
should our approach be as Christians? Should we write letters and make phone
calls? Am I suggesting protests? Am I saying run for office? Would I even go as
far as to say that we not only can, but should, join in active rebellion if
necessary? The answer is emphatically yes to every question. Do whatever it takes!
Sitting on the sideline is no longer an option. A good friend of mine recently
challenged me with the thought of outworking those that are looking to make
changes and laws that I deem dangerous and unconstitutional. Do whatever it
takes.
Almost as bad
as doing nothing is spreading toxic comments or posts on Facebook without doing
anything of substance. Organize, get involved, fight for what you believe and
do not let the disease of political correctness quiet you. Fight for your
freedoms.
In the
passion of the battle you must remember that we lose our voice when we act and
open our mouths out of emotion. One of the things that infuriates me is when a
person states my view point but says it in such a vulgar or uneducated way as
to totally turn off any open minded person that could be won to our cause.
Calling the president an “F…ing Idiot” or stating from, “My Cold Dead Hands”
only destroys the wisdom behind our cause. Be well written and well spoken. If
you are writing to one of your representatives I encourage you to read how our
founding fathers wrote to King George III when they expressed their grievances.
They used words like “humbly” and “beseech” even though they were months away
from armed conflict. “A soft answer turns away wrath” Proverbs 15:1. This would
be the time for meekness. Most importantly pray for your leaders. Praise their
decisions when you can and let them know you support them when they make the
right decisions. Politicians are real people and trust me the tide of public
opinion is still very powerful.
I know some will think that my statement about
active rebellion is radical and I would say they are correct but that places me
in good company. Our founding fathers were radical. Look at the reasons they
went to war with England and you will find many of the same issues we are
dealing with today, namely a government that no longer places the needs of the
people above its own devices and desires.
I am not
suggesting we are at a place where we pick up arms but if anything I have said
resonates with you then you should at least take notice to this fact. The
government is actively looking to reduce your ability to take up arms, even though
it is explicitly guaranteed by the Constitution in the 2nd
Amendment. Wake up citizens, things are happening fast.
I recently
read a blog in which the writer stated, “for a government to work effectively
there must be humility and an attitude of servant hood. These two
characteristics, if missing, will destroy any leadership and render it useless
or worse tyrannical.” Think about humility and servant hood when you think
about the way our fore fathers acted when they brought this country into existence.
I challenge you to do a little research about the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence.
Five signers
were captured and tortured until they died. Twelve had their homes burned or ransacked,
several lost children in the war. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardship
from the war. Many of the men lost their wealth and died bankrupt. They were
men that pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to defy a
king and a super power. I am afraid that today most Americans would not even
sacrifice their cable TV to fight for their freedom. How can we say we love
liberty and freedom if we are not willing to put it all on the line like our
fore fathers? How can we be worthy of this great gift to be born into this
country if we are not willing to sacrifice it all to keep what we hold sacred
and dear?
As citizens
we have lost the ideals of humility and servant hood. The American of today
thinks about self and how he can prosper self. We do not emulate those
characteristics that Jesus taught us and that our founding fathers exemplified;
humility and servant hood. Sacrifice is needed to right this ship, and a revolution
always has a price. So what are you willing to do? Will you do anything? I have
decided that I will follow the example of Jesus and the founding fathers and
lay my life down. I will do whatever it takes. I will write, make phone calls,
contact my representatives, write blogs, protest and educate the uneducated… Lastly,
God forbid that this day comes, I will take up arms and defend the Constitution
of the United States of America from enemies foreign, and even domestic.
So, what
would Jesus do? What should our response be as Christians to the state of our
nation? Quite simply, He would lay his life down for others, especially the
weak. Our response as believers should be the same. I have decided that as for
me, I will begin to make my stand here. I have planted my flag and this is a
hill I am willing to die on. “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay
down his life for a friend” John 15:13.
Thanks for reading
Steve
