Repost | The Gospel and Pulpit Freedom Sunday: How Christians Have Missed the Point

Yesterday was Pulpit Freedom Sunday.  Last year I wrote on the subject and am reposting it here.

This past Sunday was an important date.  Not because Christians worldwide gathered together to celebrate the resurrection of their Lord, but because a group of 100 pastors endorsed political candidates in their church's pulpits baiting the Internal Revenue Service to remove the church's tax exempt status.  This is not the first time such an event took place, but everytime such a stunt is performed by well-meaning church leaders, the coverage increases.

USA Today reports:

On Sunday, a group of 100 preachers nationwide will step into the pulpit and say the only words they're forbidden by law from speaking in a church. 

They plan to use the pulpit as a platform for political endorsements, flouting a federal law that threatens churches with the loss of their nonprofit status if they stray too far into partisan politics.

While other church and nonprofit leaders cringe at the deliberate mix of the secular and the religious, participants in the annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday protest hope this act of deliberate lawbreaking will lead to a change in the law.

The support from the Christian community is robust in this situation.  Perhaps the most prominent voice supporting the even has come from Christian author, thinker, and influential voice Charles Colson.  In an article titled Legislated Laryngitis Colson lays out the origin of church's being silenced by the IRS.  He shows that then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson silenced the church in an re-election effort.  He writes:

In 1954, then-Senator Lyndon Johnson was in the middle of a particularly bruising re-election battle. Two nonprofit groups had been especially troublesome to the senator, vocally opposing his candidacy.

So, on a hot summer day in Washington, D.C., Johnson slipped an amendment into the IRS 501(c)(3) code that governs nonprofit organizations in order to restrict their speech -- including the speech of churches. Johnson’s amendment stated that nonprofits could not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing and distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.” 

The penalty for such “participation?” Revocation of their tax-exempt status. 

Without debate, the Senate held a quick voice vote on the amendment. As the chamber filled with a chorus of “Ayes,” the church became infected with an instant case of laryngitis, thanks to the Senator from Texas.

Colson goes on to note that prior to Johnson's amendment, the church was always at the center of public and political debate.  And, thanks to an encroaching government, the church has been silenced and thus unwelcomed in the public debate. This begs the question, posed by Colson, then:

It’s now time to ask the question: Who decides what the church can and cannot say? 

Should it be the government? Or should it be the church? 

Colson makes an important point from a citizenship perspective.  Traditionally Christians and those of other religious beliefs have had a robust influence in the political and public arena.  Now, however, the government is abusing the tax code to silence unwanted political free speech.  The last question quoted above by Colson is an important question for Christians to ask.  Who decides what the church can and cannot say?  It does seem that in this one instance (not to mention the countless hate speech codes being passed throughout the nation and throughout the West) the government is determining not what the Church can say (that's the business of hate speech laws) but what they can't say.  Should not the Church, rooted in the gospel and Scripture, determine what the Church says?

I offer a loud Yes!  Yes, the Church should be free.  Yes the Church should speak for itself and have the liberty to say, proclaim, and believe whatever she wishes.  But I am afraid that even this misses the point.

Other Christians have offered their criticism of Pulpit Freedom Sunday.  The head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Richard Land, raised his concern by saying "It puts congregations in an awkward position. It's not a wise thing for churches to endorse candidates. We think candidates should endorse us."  As the head of the ERLC, Land finds himself very much involved in the political arena and as a Southern Baptist I wholeheartedly respect and support Dr. Land.  However, I believe that even he has missed the point.

Colson is concerned with the issue of freedom and the 1st Amendment and rightly so.  Dr. Land is concerned with the State aligning with the Church and not the other way around and rightly so.  But neither response is the correct one.

When we as pastors stand up in the pulpit and proclaim politics we have missed the point.  Certainly there are political implications of the gospel, but to campaign for the ways of man at the cost of the ways of God is not the duty of preachers.  As a pastor and as a voting citizen I know what I believe and already know how and who I am going to vote for.  However, when we meet on Sunday's to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord we meet to celebrate the resurrection and worship the God of our salvation.  Our priority at worship is worship, not politics.

I do believe that the government is walking on dangerous Constitutional lines disallowing religious institutions to endorse political candidates.  I also am against the government passing hate speech laws that silence religious believers and leaders from espousing their convictions and faiths.  I am first and foremost loyal to the gospel, not the tax code. However, when the Church gets more press regarding who they are going to vote for than the message they are called to proclaim everyday, we have missed the point.

The Bible is clear on this issue.  The gospel is more important and ought to be our utmost priority than anything else including public policy.  Yes Jesus did comment on political issues (like paying taxes), but he needed protested political policy.  Yes Paul certainly used his Roman citizenship to his own benefit but still expected believers to submit to government (even government ruled by the wicked Nero) as we submit to our Lord.  Yes Peter refused to obey the political and religious leaders of his day when they asked him to stop proclaiming Christ, but otherwise called on Christians to live peaceably among men and to obey the governmental authorities.

Furthermore, it is the priority of preachers and pastors to proclaim the gospel.  When God called Ezekiel, he described him as a watchman on the wall.  If he fails to proclaim the message of God, the blood of men's souls falls on his hands.  But if he does proclaim God's message and they refuse to obey, their blood is on their own hands.  In other words, "Preach the Word!" (2 Timothy 4:1ff).

Everything is about the gospel. Everything.  And the minute we take up precious time of worship and gospel proclamation we have cheapened the gospel.  If we really want to influence politics, we must proclaim the gospel.  Are we trying to moralize the unconverted or convert the immoral?  If we want real solutions, then we must preach Christ.  The gospel is central to all that we are and believe.  Unless our vote is centered on a gospel worldview, then it is empty.  Unless our sermons on centered on the gospel then they are nothing more than self-help, empty psychological babble.

Clearly I did not participate in Pulpit Freedom Sunday at the church where I pastor not because politics is insignificant but because the gospel is too important.  Let us preach Christ and trust in the power of the gospel.  You know its a sad day in the health of the Church when trust in the policies of Washington more than the transcendent message of our immutable God.

Preach Christ!

Speak Up Movement Promo from Josh Garlow on Vimeo.

Alliance Defense Fund - Pulpit Freedom Sunday:  Participating Pastors Will Exercise First Amendment Right to Speak on Positions of Elecotoral Candidates Sept. 28  

Townhall (Charles Colson) - Legislated Laryngitis  

USA Today - Pastors plan to 'bait' IRS with pulpit politics    
CBN - Pastors to Challenge IRS on 'Pulpit Freedom Sunday'


For more:
Blogizomai -  Endowed by Who?:  President Obama and the Source of Liberty - A Gaff or a Statement?
Blogizomai - The Ongoing Conversation on Religious Liberty  
Blogizomai - The Politics of Cowardice:  Health Care Passes
Blogizomai - To Build or Not to Build, That is Not the Question:  Where is the Gospel in the Ground Zero Debate? 
Blogizomai - To Build or Not to Build, That is Not the Question:  Where is the Gospel in the Koran Burning Debate?
Blogizomai - Have We Forgotten the Gospel?  Glenn Beck, Social Justice, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ   
Blogizomai - Why I (Hesitantly) Signed the Manhattan Declaration 
Blogizomai - Where the Gospel and Politics Collide: The Separation of State and Church  (Part 1)
Blogizomai - Where the Gospel and Politics Collide:  Under God or Under Government? (Part 2)
Blogizomai - Where the Gospel and Politics Collide:  The Necessity of Government in a Fallen World (Part 3)
Blogizomai - Where the Gospel and Politics Collide:  The Birth of the American Concept of Separation of State and Church 
Blogizomai - Where Does the Madness End?:  Where the Homosexual Agenda Ends - Part 2
Blogizomai - What is to Be Our Response?:  Living As a Christian in an Obama Administration

Wednesday Night - Romans 13

Since I did not make notes for our study of Romans 13, I want to make available again of the sermon I preached at the end of last year on Romans 13:1-7 on submitting to government. To download the notes for that sermon, click here.

Applying Romans 13

Tomorrow we will be looking at Romans 13. A large portion of that chapter is related to living as a citizen. Christians are called to submit to government and political leaders. Although this is at times difficult, Christians are called to submit to one another; even to the government. What follows is an article I wrote regarding living as a Christian in an Obama administration when some policies (such as abortion and homosexuality and other critical issues) contradict our faith.

What Is To Be Our Response? Living as a Christian in an Obama Administration

In just a few minutes, the 44th President of the United States will be sworn into office. The election of Barack Obama is both historical and controversial. But as Christians, it is time that we begin to think how to respond and interact with the next four years. Barack Obama will oppose most of what social conservatives stand for: pro-life, the protection of marriage, the sanctity of life, etc.

I want to offer a few things that Christians must think of as we embark on the next 4 years.

PRAYER

The first and primary thing that Christians are called to do and that is to pray. Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy. 2:1 saying, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lad a quit and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." It is clear then, that the response of all Christians, regardless of our leader, to make supplications, to give prayers, to interceded, and to give thanks to them.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr shows us how to pray on this day. He begins his prayer with:
We know that you and you alone are sovereign; that you rule over all, and that you alone are able to keep and defend us. We know that our times are in your hands, and that "the king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord" [Proverbs 21:1]. Our confidence is in you and in you alone. We come before you as a people who acknowledge our constant need for your provision, wisdom, and protection.

Father, we pray today for Barack Obama as he takes office as President of the United States. We pray that you will show the glory of your name in our times and in these days, confounding the wisdom of the wise, thwarting the plans of the arrogant, and vindicating those who do justice and practice righteousness.

Father, we pray with thanksgiving for the gift of government and the grace of civic order. Thank you for giving us rulers and for knowing our need for laws and ordered life together. Thank you for this nation and the blessings we know as its citizens. Thank you for freedoms unprecedented in human history. We understand that these freedoms come with unprecedented opportunities.
As Christians, we must remember that God brings glory to His name through anyone. I am reminded of King Cyrus of Persia and how God describes him as His "anointed one." It was not because Cyrus was righteous or God-fearing, but that God sovereignly used him to fulfill His purposes. Whenever we pray, it is a reminder that we are not the one that decides elections or chooses a president. God, and God alone, does that.

SUBMISSION

Paul also commands us to submit to government (Rom. 13). On the surface, this is pretty easy to do especially since we have had a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, openly Christian president. But what about a president in whom we have very little in common with.

First, we must be reminded that Jesus, Paul, and all of the first Christians never had a leader that agreed with them on anything. Even the apologist Justin Martyr pleaded with Caesar that Christians were their greatest ally because they sought peace and obedience, but they were still being killed.

And so as Christians, we are called to submit to the demands of government even whenever we disagree with them (policy speaking). If taxes are raised, we must pay them. If laws are passed, we must obey them. Why? Because God, in His sovereignty and providential care, has given us our President whether we like it or not. Truth is, God couldn't care less what we think. He has given us our President. Period.

But we must make our self clear. We are to submit to God first. Therefore, there are two instances in which submission and obedience to government must not be done. First, we must not submit/obey whenever government demands we do something that God has commanded us not to do. Secondly, we must not submit/obey whenever government demand we do not do something God has commanded us to do.

Scripture gives us a number of instances where believers did not obey (cf. Daniel, his three friends, Peter and John, and others). However, we must not be falsely looking for occasions to disobey. Chances are, none of us will be put in a situation that directly contradicts our submission to God.

ENGAGEMENT

Finally (and this is no exhaustive list), we must be willing to engage the new President and Congress. By this I mean that we must hold our government accountable, celebrate when they are right, correct them when they are wrong, while doing it with an attitude of love, grace, compassion, and concern.

This is perhaps the toughest part of being a Christian in a fallen culture. We are called to be light who place our trust in the gospel first and then politics. Oftentimes we confuse the two. We begin with politics thinking that it will bring about the spreading of the gospel. We must not fall for this trap. Christianity does have political implications, as does all worldviews. But we must begin with the heart, not the tax code.

CONCLUSION

As we begin the journey toward the next four years, let us act as Christians, not as angry Republicans/Democrats/Libertarians/or anything else. We seek to fulfill the Great Commission to the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, let us not forget that we live in a dream world compared to the early Church. None of us have faced death in our country because of our faith. That day may come, but until then, let us not forget that though the early Church faced death, they continued to pray, submit, and engage their culture and their government.

We can learn a lot of them. But learning is only part of the equation. We must also live out what God has revealed. So today, let us pray for our new President hoping that God will glorify His name no matter who is sworn in every four years.

Weekly Recommendation: "Can God Bless America?"

I have not been able to do a recommendation for some time because my laptop has been sick and I have been limited to when I could get online. But since this is the 4th of July weekend I thought it best to recommend an important book that goes along the lines of what we saw in 2 Chronicles 7:14 on Sunday Morning and what we discussed from 1 Timothy 2:1ff.

John MacArthur is perhaps my favorite pastor/theologian/author living today. He has had an immense impact on my life. After 9/11 he wrote a little book called "Can God Bless America?: The Biblical Pathway to Blessing." In it, MacArthur asks the question, not can God bless America, but should God bless America. Using 2 Chronicles 7:14 as his main text, MacArthur walks the reader through the importance of our nation repenting, praying, and humbling ourselves before our Maker. How can we expect blessings from God when we ignore Him in our lives?

Although this book is short, it is an important book nonetheless. I have previously written a review for this book. I conclude with this:

Although the book is short, it is quit eye opening. MacArthur calls out our hypocrisy. Most Americans, to this day, want God's favor, we just don't want God. We want God to give with nothing in return. We think that we can demand of God rather than God demand of us. MacArthur calls us back to the truth: God is in command, God makes the demands. We are called to submit, repent, and receive the grace of God. And as long as our culture remains content with our sin, the more likely we will receive, not God's blessing, but His curse.

Such words are too strong for our culture. We are soaked in our national pride and have convinced ourselves that we are too special to receive God's curse. Yet, the Biblical record makes clear that a culture engulfed in sin like ours is not deserving of God's blessings but only His curse.

But there is hope. MacArthur shows his readers that we can repent, we can receive God's blessings. He offers various Biblical examples such as Nineveh in the book of Jonah to prove his point. If we repent, truly repent, like Nineveh, God will bless us. But if we continue to compromise and dive deeper and deeper into morality, God will judge us however He sees fit (see Rom. 1). Although such words are hard on the ears, they need to break our hearts. Let us, as a nation and culture, heed his words and repent. Let us as Christians offer the gospel, not the watered-down message we have been feeding everybody. The moment we Christians diluted our message was the minute we turned away from God. Lord forgive us for such sin.

Basic Chrsitianity: Submission Part 2 Sermon Notes

Here is the second part of our series on Basic Christianity and Submission.

Click here to download my sermon notes. Also, I had previously posted the manuscript for this sermon. To read it, click here.

Basic Christianity: Romans 13:1-7 - Submit to the Institutions Established By God

Here is the second part of our series on Basic Christian and the role of submission.

Click here to download my sermon notes. Also, I had previously posted the manuscript for this sermon. To read it, click here.

ROMANS 13:1-7: Submit to Government

*Note, my MP3 recorder broke a few weeks ago and so I am unable to post the audio of these sermons. Currently, I am not recording them. Therefore, I will post the manuscripts whenever I do them.

_______________

Major elections are always fun living in the city. Every time I find myself driving down the road, I am tempted to read all of the bumper stickers on the cars in front of me. I have seen some duzies. Some make me want to cheer, some make me want to scream. But perhaps my favorite bumper sticker this past election cycle came from another church member. It read, "Jesus ‘08: Lord Come Quickly Before November 4." Chances are, we have found ourselves saying similar things these past few months.

But as everyone already knows, America went to the polls and voted for a new President, a new Congress, new initiatives, and new persons to represent them. Just in summary, here is what took place this election cycle:

• Senator Barack Obama was chosen as the 44th President of the USA.
• Proposition 8 passed in California overturning the California judges disallowing gay marriage. It won with 51.9%.
• Both Florida and Arizona defined marriage as between a man and a woman. In Florida, the initiative passed 62.1%, in Arizona 56%.
• In Arkansas the act "providing that an individual who is cohabitating outside of a valid marriage may not adopt or be a foster parent of a child less than 18 years old," passed 56.2%.
• Colorado, on the other hand, rejected defining a fertilized egg as a person. The pro-life cause lost 73.5%.
• Washington State became the nation’s 2nd state to allow euthanasia - lost 59%
  

In light of these and other things this past week, what does God think about these things? What does God think about our President? What does God think about our current President? What about Congress, the state legislation, local government etc.? What does the Bible say about Christians and politics? What if our guy isn’t in power? What if persecution comes our way? What if our taxes get raised? What if we disagree with our government?

I want to begin with a few words of caution for Christians engagement with culture and politics. First, the gospel is not spread through politicians or politics. Secondly, Evangelism comes before political involvement. Thirdly, one’s faith soaked in sanctification must be the foundation for one’s politics. Next, a moral culture is not necessarily a redeemed culture. Fifthly, passing laws do not solve the problem of sin. Also, Christians must not wed a political party. This is tempting. Republicans are known to be supported by the "Religious Right." As a result, many Chrisitans criticize such Christians for being wedded to a political party. How do they respond, including the Emerging Church, Liberal Protestants and others? By being wedded to the Democratic party. Both are dangerous. Finally, our hope must be in God who is Sovereign over a nation rather than a politicians given charge over a nation.

With these warnings in mind, we must seek to have a Christian understanding of politics and political involvment. We will not cover every issue this morning, but I believe that with the help of the inspired text, we will come to a correct understanding of how we are to live in a country and in a culture as Christians. If you will, please turn to Romans 13:1-7.

If I were to sum up this text it would be this: Because we are to be submissive to God, we must therefore submit to the institutions He has established such as government authorities. The question then becomes, why should I submit myself to government?

Last week we established that the foundation for Christian faith and morality is our submission to God in all things. Now, we turn to see how our submission to God is played out in our daily lives. And in light of recent events, we turn to our responsibility to submit to ruling authorities.
God has established a number of institutions. The first insitution, which we will look at next week, is the Family. The second institution, which we have been looking at previously, is the Church. Finally, God has established government. All of which involves submission which is rooted in our submission to God.

Let us look at our text. In 13:1-4 we see that WE MUST SEE POLITICS PRIMARILY AS A GOD ISSUE.

In verse 1, Paul tells us that the Christian’s role in politics is primarily a God issue. Paul’s primary concern is for his readers to understand that one’s subjection to government is reflective of their subjection to God. He says first that no authority except from God. That is, God is above all things.

At this point we must briefly pause and think about some of the issues taking place in our culture. This is what is at stake at many of the debates that we have. For example, atheist father Michael Newdow has sued arguing that saying "under God" is a violation of separation of Church and State. The problem here is not with the pledge of allegiance, but what it’s removal implies. A secular society makes government, i.e. man, the ultimate authority. That means, morality, etc. comes from a politician and is subject to a vote or to 1 man’s decree. This is idolatry, a return to the garden: we want to take the place of God.

Paul’s point is clear, if God is above all things, everything falls under His rule and falls into His plan. Nothing takes Him by surprised.

Paul goes on to add authorities that exist are appointed by God, that is, God appoints, man doesn’t. Regardless of what the polls say, or who is crowned the winner, God is the King that places kings. God is the one that sets up Kingdoms, nations, Presidents, and world leaders.

APP The issue here is who will you put all of your hope in: God or Government? If God, then elections will have no affect over your hope and salvation. You will not loose sleep over what happens in this world knowing that God is on His throne in complete control. Your responsibility, then, is to be obedient to Him and leave the rest in His arms. God knows what He is doing. If, however, you put your trust in government, then you will be in constant state of uncertainty and unsure hope. We will find hope only if our guys wins. We will find fear and uncertainty if our guy loses.

Christians are guilty of both oftentimes. We trust God, but we seem to trust a politician more. "If so and so is voted, then America will fall into moral chaos." This might be so, but morality isn’t up for a vote, God has already declared what is moral and what is not. An election is not what deters immorality, the gospel is. We must therefore put our hope in God & the gospel, and then fulfill our role as citizens praying that America will remain obedient to Him. As Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10, "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

In verse 2 Paul tells us that God’s purpose is for government to be an instrument of His judgment & blessings. Verse 2 begins with the word therefore. Friends, always remember when reading Scripture, whenever you see the word "therefore," you need to ask yourself, what is it therefore? This means look at the immediate context.

In light of what Paul has just said about government being primarily a God issue, because government is a institution divinely appointed by God, fully under His sovereign rule, we must submit to that authority. Notice what he says, whoever resists the authorities, resists...God. The issue here to Paul is obedience to God which is played out in obedience to the institutions He established. He then adds, those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Paul is telling us that government carries out, and is a reflection, of God’s character.

Therefore, resistence is the opposite of submission. It says that I can do it better. Remember last week we discussed how not submitting to God is our way of saying, "If only I were God..." Paul is tellings that whenever we find ourselves saying, "If only I were government...," "If only I were Senator/President/Mayor/Congressman/etc." we are really challenging the Soveriengty and Providence of God. As a result, those who fail to submit to God are subject to His divine wrath. Those who fail to submit to government, too, are subject to judgment.

ISSUE You are probably wonder, does this imply government is perfect? Absolutely not! Here is a list of evil governments throughout Scripture. First, there was Egypt who enslaved God’s people. Second there was Sodom & Gomorrah who allowed abominations to run rampant throughout their land. Third, there was Babylon who destroyed and enslaved God’s people and then blasphemed His name by taking the vessels from the Temple and desecrating them. Next, there was Assyria who conquered and killed God’s chosen people.

And finaly, there was Rome who murdered Christians, including the writer of this Epistle: the apostle Paul. Let us not forget that this letter fits a context and was written by a real person. Paul is not living in a dream state where everything is honky dory. Let us not forget that it was under Roman approval that Jesus Christ was executed. Let us not forget that Paul had been arrested and persecuted under Roman law. Let us not forget that years after the penning of this letter, Paul would, according to tradition, be beheaded for his faith and Peter would be executed because of an evil tyrant named Nero who needed a scapegoat for his own incompetence. Let us not forget the illogical decisions of many of the political leaders in Rome. Nero would have his own mother executed, while other Emperors would name their horse as Senator. And let us not forget who Paul is writing too: those dwelling in Rome. Rome was to the Roman Empire what Washington DC is to America.

Safe to say, losing an election is nothing like the context that Paul finds himself writing in and yet Paul commands us to submit to our governing authorities though they be imperfect.

Are there any perfect governments, you might ask. Yes. Just one. It is called the New Jerusalem. It’s King will be Jesus Christ who will reign in glory and honor. But that kingdom has yet to come. And in the meantime, we anxiously await His reign while living in a imperfect world, run by imperfect people, who have formed imperfect governments. But nonetheless, God calls us to submit. A failure to submit to His established institutions is a failure to submit to Him. Politics is primarily a God issue.

In verse 4, Paul tells us the Christian’s response to government must be obedience. Paul argues that if you want to live a life free from the fear of government, submit yourself to it. At this point, perhaps your asking, is there ever a time I should not submit. Yes. There are two instances.

First, we must not submit/obey whenever government demand we do something that God has commanded us not to do. An example of this in Scripture is of Shadrach, Meshach, Abendego. Remember that they were commanded to do something God told them not to. Therefore, they disobeyed government rather than disobey God.

Secondly, we must not submit/obey whenever government demand we do not do something God has commanded us to do. An example of this is of Peter and John in Acts who after being told not to preach Christ, they responded by saying they would rather obey God than men.
Outside of these two exections, not to submit is to disobey. Every sin is rooted in our failure to submit to God. Every crime, is our failure to submit to government. And our failture to submit to government is tied to our failure to submit to God.

APP Let me ask you, does your heart beat faster whenever you see a policeman while driving? Then your not submitting, therefore you fear. Do you get nervous over your business practices, your taxes, or anything else? The reason isn’t b/c you are not obeying government, but b/c you are not submitting, and thus obeying, God.

Just as we are to fear God when we do wrong, so we too must fear government whenever we do wrong. Why? It is an instrument that reflects God’s righteous acts.

Notice that Paul uses the word sword, in this verse. Paul is essentially warning his readers that if they disobey government, government has been given the authority from God to punish you; including execution. What else do you think he means by sword? Nothing short of capital punishment. The idea here is that both God and government are serious about sin. Submission is a primary issue.

Real quickly, I want us to answer the qustion, what is the Christian understanding of capital punishment? In general, God has given government the authority and approves of it carry out execution. Here are a list of texts:

• Gen. 9:6 - Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God he made man."
• Num. 35:33 - "You shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it."
• Matt. 26:52 - "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword."
• Acts 25:11 - "If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die"

Paul doesn’t seek to defend capital punishment in this text, he assumes it. He isn’t debating the issue, but reminds us that disobedience is a failure to submit and submission is a primary issue and a God issue.

The second thing I see in this text is in verses 5-7: WE MUST SUBMIT TO GOVERNMENT IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

Notice against at the word in verse 5: therefore. Because submission to government is not a partisan issue but a God issue, we must therefore live that out in everyday life, not only b/c of wrath but also for conscience sake. Paul, here, reminds us that we must not just obey b/c we fear jail time or paying a ticket, but b/c it is a reflection of our obedience to God.

In verse 6, we see Paul’s exhortation concerning taxes. Because government is a institution divinely appointed by God, we are called to obey them which includes paying taxes. Remember Jesus’ words in Matt. 22:21: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, & to God the things that are God’s?" Jesus is not just saying, "pay taxes and pay tithes," but also, I believe, both are a God issue. He is saying, "pay taxes b/c it is a reflection of one’s obedience to God." Let us not forget the context of that passage: the Pharisees hated Rome and believed that a faithful Jew should not pay taxes to them.

Finally, in verse 7, Paul tells us that submission to government goes beyond paying taxes. He beings by mentioning both taxes, and customs. We know what taxes are, customs are additional taxes on various goods and services. Paul is saying that we must pay taxes to government with the same heart we pay our tithes and offerings to God.

He then goes on to tells us to fear. This is not just fear in the normal sake, which leads to obedience. Although we must do that, especially in light of what Paul has just said. But also, Paul is calling us to have sincere respect for the institution God has established and the leaders God has appointed in our nation.

Finally, Paul calls us to give honor to whom honor is due. By this Paul is calling us to show genuine appreciation that is not fake.

CONCLUSION

We conclude with this burning question that has been on our mind this week, how are we to respond to the election of President-Elect Barack Obama and everyone else that was elected this past week? Here is what Scripture has to say:

• Fear & Respect Him - Prov. 24:21: "My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise.
• Submit to Him - 1 Pet. 2:13-17: "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good...Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
• Pray and be Thankful for Him - 1 Tim. 2:1: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lad a quit and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."
• Obey Him - Titus 3:1: "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work."

In light of what Scripture tells us about politics and the Christian response to government we might find this to be a hard pill to swallow, but God has given us a command: submit to Him and to submit to His established institutions.

Here is hope. Here is change. Here is our future. Yes we can! I am Kyle McDanell and I approve this message!