The Only Thing You Need to Know About Politics - Part 3
I've said twice now that it is our sacred duty -- yes that means YOUR sacred duty -- to be actively involved in our nation's governance. I softened that blow by stating that your role may simply be to pray about who God wants you to vote for, then go vote.
(I had lots of scriptures and explanation lined up for this post, but I'll abbreviate it in the interest of your time, and if you have any questions, post them in the comments and I'll go over some of the details in response. Be sure to leave your email address, please as the comment response function wasn't working last I tried. I have somebody working on it.)
In this post you'll finally find out where I get this "sacred duty" from...
Where in the Bible does God tell us that we're supposed to be active in government? When did He say we're in charge and responsible for all this mess?
The answer: in the Beginning.
DOMINION
Dominion (from Dictionary.com) is the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority. Synonyms include authority, rule, reign, government/governance, jurisdiction, sovereignty, power and control.
We all know that in Genesis, God created Man in His image and gave Him dominion over all the earth.
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.
- Psalm 115:16
Then we fell for the enemy's deception and gave that dominion over to him. But Jesus came. He recovered our authority and gave it back to us before He returned to the Father.
... “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore... - Matthew 28:18,19
Note that this command was not given to the nations. Jesus was speaking to Christ-followers. Authority on the earth is back in the hands of God's children. And we're supposed to be participating in the family business. (Go ye therefore...) Also noteworthy is that, of all the reasons God had to create mankind, giving us dominion is the first one He spoke.
My favorite explanation of dominion or authority is "pre-permission." Or you could say He pre-authorized us to exert that dominion or authority.
A good example of this is "resist the devil and he will flee from YOU" -- God tells us to make the devil flee, not beg Him to do it for us. Why? Because the devil is in our jurisdiction.
This dominion/authority/power was given over the earth and over the forces of darkness. Note that 'dominion' is a governmental word, both as in a kingdom or geographical area, and as in enforcing rule or law. But in practical terms, how does this dominion relate to governance and politics (speaking of the devil...)?
ECCLESIA
Most Christians know this ancient Greek word, because it is translated in the King James Bible as "the church." But a study of 'ecclesia' reveals that it's not a word the Greeks used as a religious term. It's a GOVERNMENTAL word!
Ecclesia was the gathering of citizens for the purpose of discussing issues and making decisions on how their government and culture would go--rather like town hall meetings, but with decision-making authority.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my (ecclesia - ruling body); and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. - Matthew 16:18
AMBASSADORS
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us...
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
Ambassador: a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative (dictionary.com).
Note that 'ambassador' is another governmental word.
CITIZEN
This word's true meaning is the most exciting revelation of the year so far, to me. It comes from the Greek word 'politeia' which means"the administration of civil affairs." (Strong's Concordance G4174)
'Politeia' is obiously also the root of 'politics,' 'political' and even of 'policy.' Digging through the layers of meaning in ancient Greek, and condensing it into simple terms, a citizen is a (drumroll, please...)
co-ruler! Is that the coolest, or what?
We are co-rulers of this nation.
Note that all these derivatives of 'politeia' are governmental terms.
STEWARDSHIP
God has given us everything: dominion, a place in the Ecclesia, citizenship (both US and heavenly), ambassadorship. Freedoms listed in our Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights all come from God's Word. Our entire system of government and our laws come from God.
Are we good stewards of what God has set us over? The one person in Jesus' parable of the talents who got in trouble was the one who did nothing with what he was given.
So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents...from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. - Matthew 25:28-30
Your vote is stewardship of the blessings God has poured out by placing you in this great nation. No matter who you're thinking of voting for, not voting is a vote for the other guy. As for other forms of involvement,...
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”- 1 Peter 4:10-11
It is amazing to find out how much trust God has placed in us by giving us authority in the earth through the ecclesia -- His governing body. We have so much more power than we've been using. In the political arena, we can exercise that power through prayer, through our vote, by taking others to the polls with us, through making our voices heard by civil action and contacting our representatives, through speaking about the issues with others, through legal "vote harvesting" (help your great aunt in the nursing home and her friends vote), and if led, through your own election to office.
Authority brings with it responsibility. Those responsibilities are the sacred duty of a co-ruler.
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