I have long wondered how
Christians can influence national policy. It is a challenge because our position is
built on scripture, but when the culture rejects the bible as authority, we lose
credibility, relevance and power.
Mankind has always
struggled with the tension between doing what they want, and doing what is
right. Fundamentally, this is a consequence of the fall in the garden of Eden. Sin
became fun. The Old Testament is filled with stories of God repeatedly stating his
expectations, and his peoples’ failure to comply. These stories include His
laying down the law – in ten statements. The interesting part is what follows. People
start to question the limits. If there is a line – how close can I get to it? What
if I just put my toe across? Can I cross it when no one is looking? What if no
one is hurt? Just this once?
The reason we have
lawyers is to address these issues. They work to refine the details of the
lines, close loopholes or find ways to bypass them (depending on who is
paying). Again, go back to the Old Testament.
The 10 commandments were backed up with reams of rules in the Pentateuch.
These were further extended by the priests of the day to libraries full of
minute details of what could and could not be done in any given situation. Philosophers
struggle with defining what is right without becoming subjective, especially
when they do not consider scripture.
In the past, laws have
been instituted by people to support God’s standards, but they often become tools
for abuse, discrimination and bigotry. This dilemma is entirely consistent with
the bible. Laws do not make people do what is right; they make sinners into criminals.
For instance, what were the consequences of the Prohibition of alcohol? Certainly
not a reduction in drinking.
Communities set up morés
and traditions, and use the law, social shaming or even death threats to
enforce them. Consider, for example, the conundrum of a culture that encourages
and glorifies sex with anyone without limitations. The subsequent backlash to
abuse of this “freedom” is that it becomes criminal even to ask someone if they
are interested.
Much of what we see in history
and entertainment is commentary about the validity, abuse and enforcement of
local standards. Every cowboy and action
movie features the good guy vs the bad guy.
Often, the question being raised is whether the Robin Hood-like characters
are the good guy or not. Is the cop who breaks the rules to uphold his
standards a hero or a rogue? Should small-town sheriffs beat up strangers with
the wrong look or accent because of a perceived threat? How do we feel about national heroes who are
chemically castrated and banished because they are homosexual? What if the
majority of people consider a given rule to be wrong? We watch with confusion as
stories unfold through the ages of shunning, abuse and hurt, all conducted in
the name of enforcing what is “right.”
Despair is raging in the present
christian community as the USA marches steadfastly into a post-christian age. I
knew a preacher who regularly berated his church about the slide of American
culture away from God into sin. He was not wrong, but I am not sure I ever
heard an answer on how to fix it. The church struggles to come to terms with living
in a community that glorifies marijuana, same sex-marriage, and abortion. They respond
by getting angry and ugly. They vote for any politician who pays lip service to
some of these concerns, despite falling far short in others. They are swayed by
propaganda machines that play to their fears and selfishness. They start to
hate and disparage people with different opinions. They blockade funerals of
soldiers, because the deceased may have been a homosexual. They place bombs
outside abortion clinics. They hate people stupid enough to be born in a
different place. Hypocrisy reigns. The gospel is silenced. Satan smiles.
We have lost sight of our
purpose. Believers in the USA should not be just like everyone else, terrified and
manipulated by security, financial and cultural failures. God is on his throne,
more powerful than any political authority (go read Psalm 33). He is in
control. Our place on the planet is to reflect him, to be an ambassador, salt
and light, to a broken world. The role of the church is to disciple people. When
people change, the nation changes. The desire to do what is right cannot be
legislated because it has to come through changed hearts. We do not have to
change laws. We have to be part of God’s work to change people.
“Hosanna” was a political
rallying cry – the crowd believed that Jesus would liberate the Hebrews from Roman
oppression. They celebrated his entry to Jerusalem because they thought he was
a conqueror, who would overthrow the invaders and their lives would be easier. Instead
He died. In the build-up to elections in the US, we clamor for political solutions
that will make our lives easier. Experience should inform us that this hope is
misplaced.
How can Christians
influence national policy when the culture rejects scripture? We don’t. Just as
Jesus did not. Instead, He delivered the answer to a far bigger problem: the failure
in Eden. Our task is to extend that work.
This does not mean we
should not exercise our privilege and duty to ensure that righteous leaders are
elected, and that they are obligated to do what is right. However, placing them
above Christ in our priorities is misguided and dangerous. God is extremely jealous of his status, and
has been known to exterminate those that ignore Him.
We started this
discussion with 10 commandments. Jesus highlighted two – love God and love
people. The challenge then, to all Christians is to examine our opinions, conversations,
social media posts and teaching. Is Christ glorified? Who are we loving, and
who are we hating? Is the gospel being declared? Are we trusting God, or our
politician?
