Welcome to our three part “Christianity and Government” Series.
We started the Series by talking about Godly respect for and willing submission to those in the government. You can find that here:
http://www.scottduck.com/respect-for-government-christianity-and-government-series-part-1-of-3/
Then, we talked about praying for those in the government. You can find that here:
http://www.scottduck.com/praying-for-government-christianity-and-government-series-part-2-of-3/
Now, let’s conclude by discussing unity under Government.
So many of the things in our lives are very obviously connected to government, in some way, and we can make connections in other less obvious ways. The government makes us do some things we do not want to do. The government does not let us do some things we do want to do. The government allows others to do things we believe it should not allow them to do. If we really want to, we can make a connection between just about anything and the government. In the midst of all of these political connections, both real and imagined, there is room for all kinds of opinions. We express those opinions quite freely and we often deride those who do not share our opinions. Our political views have become so important to some of us and, too often, this has come at great cost to Christian unity, which is so important to carrying out the great commission.
As an example, let’s look at the polarization caused by the 2020 presidential election.
Shortly after President Biden took office, I saw many people say something like this:
“President Biden wants unity. Where was the unity when Nancy Pelosi ripped up President trump’s speech? Where was the unity when, after the 2016 election, many Democrats said that President Trump was not their president?” Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
I voted for President Trump, in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, and so I understand where these people are coming from. However, we can’t simply take what our natural emotions tell us to do and just go with it. Consider the following words of Jesus, from the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 7
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
This is where we get the idea for the Golden Rule. Jesus said that we are to do to others what we would want them to do to us. He did not say that we are to do to them what they have done to us. We are better than that, or at least we are supposed to be, because He is better than that and we represent Him, or at least we are supposed to. Imagine if Jesus were to take that attitude with us. Where would we be? It is true that, in President Trump’s four years in office, some on the left acted in a way that they should not have. Just as it was wrong of the left then, it is wrong of the right now.
Concerning simply not wanting unity. I guess that depends on your definition of unity. If unity means pretending that we agree with things that go against the Word of God, then we should absolutely never do that, ever. However, in our human pride and selfishness, many of us have begun to take this a step or two or ten beyond this, to exhibit attitudes that themselves go against the Word of God. In Romans 2:23, Paul asks “You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?”. Many of us who follow Christ are doing just that.
Please read these verses carefully.
Romans 12
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Are you living out these verses? Are you even trying to? Be honest. Many of us aren’t. Even for those of us who are trying to, many of us, including me, have a long way to go. We have got to stop being wise in our own eyes (verse 16) and stop trying to repay evil with evil (verse 17). We have to start really trying to live in peace (verse 18). We cannot overcome evil with good (verse 21) if we are not letting Christ’s good shine through us. Please, brothers and sisters in Christ, give this significant thought and prayer. We cannot continue the way we are going, either as a nation or as Christ’s Church.
We have begun to rail against the things of this world that go against the things of God. We should do that. But, in our pride, many of us have begun to do it in such a way that goes against the things of God as much as the things that we are railing against. And, if we aren’t careful, we will do as much damage to His cause as those things do, for we will turn no one to Him if they don’t see Him in us.
