Life. government

Introduction
Our continuing journey in Ecclesiastes takes us to the halls of government today. We have looked at success, finances, fun, work, church and friendships. Today we look at the role of politics in life. Remember our quest along with Solomon. We are asking the question: Is there anything in this life, “under the sun”, apart from eternity that gives us ultimate purpose?
How about the government? Can politics save us? Can it provide ultimate meaning? Can we put our hope and our trust in the political system?

A hot topic
We have many, varied opinions in this room this morning about politics and our role, as Christians, within the political system. There is a great deal of confusion with this topic. I hope we can shed some practical light on this issue this morning.
We can all become confused, like these kids:

A little identity crisis
A mom wrote:
One Sunday morning, while I was brushing my 9-year-old daughter's hair, she peppered me with questions. I was doing my best to answer them when she looked up and asked, "Are we Christians or Republicans? (Deborah Horn, McLeansboro, IL. "Heart to Heart," Today's Christian Woman)

Hopefully the two are not mutually exclusive. For equal time, here’s another-

He has conquered every Democrat
A Sunday School teacher wrote:
One Sunday morning during junior church we learned a song with the line, "He has conquered every foe." When I saw a number of puzzled expressions, I explained a foe is an enemy. Still thinking on my feet, I said, "The name of one of our foes begins with the letter D." I was referring to the Devil, but I got some immediate insight into one family's politics when one child replied, "Oh, you mean the Democrats!" (Sean Mixson, Oakland, Illinois. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom.")

What is ‘politics’?
First of all, what is ‘politics’? You know of my love for words. If we break this word down of course we have two root words: ‘poly’ and ‘tics’. Poly, of course, means “many”, as in polygamy or polytheism. Ticks, of course, are blood sucking animals. So, ‘politics’, it follows, refers to many blood sucking animals.

Okay, I’m kidding. We might as well have a little fun while we’re at it.

Actually, the word comes from the word for a Greek city/state: ‘poleis’. It simply refers to a way of dealing with a group of people who have different personalities, different opinions, different ideas and different goals. Politics are all around us, whether you like it or not. Have you ever witnessed family politics? Office politics? Church politics? It is all there, and it is not inherently evil. It is a necessity part of life ‘under the sun’.

How can we make sense of all this? You’d be amazed at how much direction we can receive from the book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 8:2-9 (NKJV) 2 I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. 3 Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.” 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, 6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly. 7 For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur? 8 No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

We going to walk through this passage step by step.

A CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE TO POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
This entire conversation may repulse you. You may be thinking, “I didn’t come here today to discuss politics. Talk about the Bible.” Don’t you realize that the reality of politics is found all through the Bible. Many great heroes of the faith were deeply involved in politics: David and Solomon were kings, the heads of governments. Nehemiah was a governor of Jerusalem. Joseph was Prime Minister of Egypt. Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego were rulers over provinces in Babylon. Moses established the government in Israel. Joseph of Arimathea, who buried Jesus’ body in his own tomb, was a member of the Jews ruling party, along with Nicodemus. Cornelius, the first gentile convert, was a government official. The Apostle Paul was being political when he appealed to Caesar. Jesus refers to Himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, governmental terms.

It is a part of life. We might as well talk about it.

1. Submit to authority
verse 2: “I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God.”

The real test of submission
This is not just a government issue, it is a submission issue. Romans 13 tells us that all authority is established by God. Submitting to authority, then, is submitting to God.

The real test of submission is NOT when you agree with the directives given, but when you DON’T agree. Anyone can submit when they like what their authority says. That isn’t submission, that’s agreement. If you are unwilling to submit when you don’t like the direction, it shows that you haven’t been submitted all along, just agreeing. Disagreement demonstrates true submission. Can you trust God’s working through authority?

You may say, “Wait a minute. You don’t know my authority. He is far from God.” Do you remember when Jesus stood before Pilate, and Pilate said to Him, “Don’t you know that I have the power to crucify You or to set You free?” Jesus responded, “You could have no power over me at all, except it came from My Father.” (John 19:10-11) Wow!

We are to submit to authority. Not just when we like it. Christians should be the most submitted citizens in the world.

2. Appreciate the benefits you have.
verse 3 begins: “Do not be hasty to go from his presence.”

When you come into the presence of the king, you walk through the halls of his beautiful palace and have a sense of protection and benefits that you don’t enjoy in the outside world. Appreciate the protection and the pleasure of the palace.

In the same way, should appreciate the protection and the benefits that we have because of our government, because of our citizenship. We happen to be in the most richly blessed nation in the world. Is it perfect? No. But if you don’t see what we have to be thankful for then you have not traveled outside this country. Thank God for the blessings He has given to us. Apprecite them. Enjoy them.

Paul’s citizenship
The Apostle Paul learned this lesson the hard way. In Acts 16, Paul is at Phillipi and gets arrested. Once they arrest him, they tie him to a pole and have him flogged. Scripture says, “They laid many stripes on them.” Later on he brings up the fact that he is a Roman citizen. The officials there are afraid, because you just can’t whip a Roman citizen like that. (Acts 16:37)
Later, in Jerusalem, Paul is once again arrested. Once again, the commander brings him in and orders him to be examined under scourging. Immediately Paul plays the Roman citizen card and avoids the whipping. (Acts 22:25)

There were benefits in the Roman Empire to being a Roman citizen. Paul learned to appreciate these benefits. Do you appreciate the benefits that God has given you?

3. Stand up for what is right.
Now that we have said all of this, it is important to read the rest of verse 3: “Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

Notice it says, “Do not take your stand for an evil thing.” It doesn’t say, “Do not take your stand for a good thing.” There are times, and biblical examples, of submitted men taking a stand for what is right.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Go ahead and throw us into the fiery furnace, we will not bow to the idol.”

Daniel said to King Darius, “Go ahead and throw me into the lion’s den, I will continue to pray to my God.”

The disciples said to the Sanhedrin, “Do to us whatever you want. We will not stop preaching about Jesus.”

When do you take a stand?
When is the right time to take a stand for something you believe in? When you are willing to suffer the consequences for your convictions. How is that submission? Either submit yourself to the authority or submit yourself to the punishment. That’s what these godly men did. Someday soon we may all have to take a stand. Are you ready?

4. Be the government.
verse 4: “Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

Who may say to him, “What are you doing?” In Solomon’s day, this was a rhetorical question, but not today. Kings were not voted into power through a popular election. They rose to power by birthright or by military might. No one could oppose them.

Today we have a democratic process and the voters are king. You are not only under authority in our government, but you also have authority and have the responsibility that goes along with that authority. Voting and being heard is your part as ‘king’. This, too, should be done in a way that is honoring to the Lord.

Students battle over who Jesus would vote for
In the 2004 presidential election, partisan fervor visited the University of North Carolina. Two students – one supporting George Bush, the other supporting John Kerry – debated over a unique political question: Who would Jesus vote for? (WWJVF bracelets?)

Jesus didn't reveal how he would vote, but we can be sure how he felt about the debate. When the exchange became heated, one of the combatants slapped the other in the face. His opponent fell to the concrete patio, suffering a head injury. ("Only in America," The Week (10-15-04) p. 6)

5. Know your own role.
verse 5-6: “…a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, 6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment...”

This issue of political involvement requires great personal discernmnet and judgment. There is not a pat answer to this question for all, no ‘one size fits all’. Some people would like a spiritual edict: “All Christians are to be political activists.” I can’t say that. Others would like the opposite edict: “No Christian should be politically active.” I also won’t say that.

An early political dilemma
In Romans 14, Paul addresses the question of eating meat offered to idols and observing a particular day. Do you realize that these issues were important political issues of the day? These activities were bound up in civic duties. Paul said, “If you do, don’t look down on those who don’t. If you don’t, don’t look down on those who do.”

William Wilberforce
There is a movie out in theaters right now that is actually worth watching. It is called ‘Amazing Grace’ and it is the story of William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was elected to British Parliament in 1780 and was converted to Christianity in 1785. His conversion was in large part due to the ministry of John Newton, the former slave ship owner who wrote the hymn, “Amazing Grace”. Newton and others urged him to fight against slavery in the political arena.

William Wilberforce waged a political war against slavery that took twenty years. In 1807 Parliament voted to abolish the slave trade. Not everyone is called to be a political activist. But some are. Know your own role and let others do theirs.

6. Pray for those in leadership.
verse 7: “For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?”

Governmental officials need supernatural wisdom to know what is up ahead. We are told in 1 Timothy chapter 2 that we are to pray for all men, especially for kings and those in authority. This is a universal call. This is something all can do.

7. The government can’t save you.
verse 8: “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.”

No government, no political system and no legislation has any power when it comes to salvation or eternal life. None.

You have heard it said, “You can’t legislate morality.” Well, here’s a new one: “You can’t legislate mortality.” No matter what laws are passed we are all going to from this life into the next.

Some people pour into government and politics as if they could create a heaven on earth – as if it’s their last hope. What happens in this life may be immediately important, but what happens for the next life is eternally important. I would rather be a spiritual activist than a political activist. Politics can’t save you. Jesus can.

I love this country but I don’t worship it. Jesus is God, not the U.S.A. If I have to chose between the two the choice is easy. (post 9/11 letter; Constantine; etc.)

8. Always put people before politics.
verse 9 begins: “All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.”

Jesus was often misunderstood. People thought He came to bring a political solution to their problems. His own disciples thought He would set up His own government and they would be His cabinet. His enemies said He was plotting to start a rebellion against the Roman government.

Jesus did not die for politics. He died for people. People are of much greater value than politics to Jesus, and should be to us, too. If we ever let politics or affiliations or party lines get in the way of loving people then we have left the message and the mission of Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to bring political or legislative reform. He came to reform the human heart.

Conclusion
I hope this message today can bring a degree of freedom. To those who feel a sense of a political calling, I hope it can bring you freedom to follow that calling. To those who feel a sense of condemnation because they are not politically motivated, I hope it can bring freedom from that weight. To those have been confused by the relationship of Christianity and politics, I hope you are freed from that confusion.

Most of all, if you’ve been looking for something to hope in beyond anything this world or its governments have to offer, let Jesus give you real freedom.