A recurring theme
Do you ever notice a recurring theme in your life? If you’re a dental hygienist, floss is a recurring theme in your life. If you are a new parent, diapers are a recurring theme in your life. If you are a student, books are a recurring theme in your life. (Do they still use books?) If you are a Ducks basketball fan, winning games are a recurring theme in your life. You get the picture.
Something that is constantly recurring demands attention. It shows itself to be an important part of life. There is something that is a constantly recurring theme in my life.
I sat beside the hospital bed of a wonderful woman within our congregation. She has prayed and trusted God every step of the way. She went in for a single operation which turned into multiple operations. Each one had a complication of some type. The most recent complication was a nicked artery that continued to bleed. As I sat there holding her hand just a few hours after her latest operation, she said to me, “Pastor, why is this happening? What am I doing wrong?”
I was in my office, sitting across my desk from a young couple with two young children. One had recently passed away from cancer and the other was now showing concerning symptoms and was being tested at Dornbecher’s Hospital. The mother asked me, “Why did our son have to die? Why him?”
After the devastating tsunami in Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004, where over 283,000 lives were lost, the world together asked, “Why did this happen?”
I could give you many other examples. This is not only a recurring theme in my life, but in everyone’s life. It is common to the human condition. It is important. It is something that we should talk about.
THE QUESTION
The BIG Question is one of the oldest known to man, spanning cultures and civilizations. It has been wrestled with by just about every philosopher, theologian… by every human being for that matter. Here, it is taken on by the writer of Ecclesiastes, The Preacher, one who had gained more wisdom than all who had come before him (Eccl. 1:16). Traditionally, Solomon is considered the writer of Ecclesiastes.
Let’s take a look.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 (NKJV) 14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
This question has two parts, or two forms:
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why do good things happen to bad people?
The Bible does not sidestep this issue or gloss over it. I’m so grateful about that. Solomon is the one asking this question. I have noticed that when people ask this question they are somewhat ashamed even to be asking it. You don’t have to be ashamed to ask this question. It is a legitimate question. It is life’s BIG question.
LET’S THINK ABOUT IT
This is an important question, worthy of some real thought. Let’s think carefully about it.
1. Think about the question, not the answer.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 (NKJV) 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.
Here it is in the Message Bible:
When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you’ll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Search as hard as you like, you’re not going to make sense of it. No matter how smart you are, you won’t get to the bottom of it.
What this is saying is this is a question that you cannot answer. Even if you were the wisest man on earth. Even if you could see everything, the ‘Big Picture’, and could put all the pieces together, you still wouldn’t get it.
§ You can’t answer it.
You may think, “Well, that’s a really bad trick. That’s terrible. This is all just a dead end then.” Is it really? Maybe we should look again. If there is a question that we cannot find the answer to, no matter how hard we try, what could that mean? Could it mean that it is the question itself I need, not the answer?
We are focused so hard on the answer that we have failed to realize that it is the question, not the answer, that is the real point. The value for life is in the question. The question, instead of challenging God’s existence actually supports it. Are you willing to change your focus?
Change your focus
Dalene and I went over to our daughter and son-in-law’s house (Jenni and Tony). While there, Tony and I went down to play video games in his media room. He has a 10 ½ foot screen, projector, surround sound, computer links and the works all hooked up in this great room. It is a guys paradise. That’s why I let him marry my daughter.
He decided to show me how to play a racing game. I am terrible at video games but I figure I am a pretty good driver, so I’m really going to impress him on this game. He set it all up and ran through the course to show me how it works. I watched very carefully because he was about to be amazed.
Now it was my turn. I picked a Maserati car to drive. The clock counted down and I peeled off the line. I wasn’t going to use the brake, that just slows you down. So I was working the gas pedal, just shooting through the curves. Everything was flying by so quickly that I just focused on the track ahead, not looking at any of my gauges.
I was real proud of myself. Then I heard Tony say, “You’re going 30 mph.” Not too impressive with a Maserati on a race track. I guess I needed to look at the speedometer.
I need this question
Let’s look from life that’s whizzing by to the question itself. I need this unanswerable question in my life for at least two reasons:
§ How do I respond when I don’t know the answer? If God owes me an answer, then He is not God. When I don’t understand everything that God is doing, do I still trust Him? There’s only one way to know… if I don’t understand everything.
§ It shows that God is bigger than I am, and bigger than I can understand. Isn’t that just what I would expect? Why worship a God so small that I could understand Him?
2. Think about the alternative.
Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 (NKJV) 2 All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NKJV) 11 I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.
A merit system
Consider the underlying assumption that we bring into this question. The assumption is this: If you do good, then good things should happen to you. If you do bad, then bad things should happen to you. In other words, a merit system. What you merit, that’s what you get. When we ask the BIG question, we are actually advocating a merit system. That is the alternative. Is that really what you want?
Like on that movie Bruce Almighty, I pretend that I am Jim Almighty. “Now that I am God,” I say, “I will run everything on a merit system. That’s how things should work. As you merit, so it happens to you.” This creates a couple of problems.
§ A merit system eliminates grace...
Do you realize that everytime we ask that question we are devaluing grace? What is grace? It is God giving us beyond what we deserve. Grace is God going beyond the merit system. Grace is not-so-good people getting better than their actions merit.
If we revert from grace to the merit system, we may eliminate the BIG question, but now we have a BIG problem. We all need grace for this life and for eternal life. Whoops.
So, as Jim Almighty, I adjust my system a little bit. Okay, good things can happen to bad people, but good things can only happen to good people. If you do good things then you are guaranteed good things.
§ and produces conditional obedience.
Doing good things (being good) to receive good things is conditional obedience. It says, “Okay, I will obey as long as I get something for it.” There is a condition on obedience. Conditional obedience is not really obedience. It is manipulation. It is obligation. The legal term is ‘quid pro quo’, meaning ‘this for that.’
Obedience is a form of worship. Obeying God just because He is God is worship. Conditional obedience is not worship. It removes the worship element of our relationship with God and replaces it with a payment
That is why I say, “A merit system eliminates grace and produces conditional obedience.” God doesn’t really owe me, or anybody, anything at all. Whatever He gives us is grace. If He choses to do things that I don’t fully understand… well, He’s God. I trust Him. I can only make that statement when I don’t fully understand.
3. Think about the timing.
They say that, “Timing is everything.” That is certainly true here.
Ecclesiastes 9:12 (NKJV) 12 For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.
There are two things I want to say about this issue of timing.
§ Difficulty comes and goes.
Often, life’s difficulties spring upon us like a trap springs upon an unsuspecting prey. One moment everything is fine, or we think it’s fine. The next minute we’re trapped. It happened so suddenly. All of a sudden, things are dark and hopeless. There is no way out. That’s when we despair. That’s when we ask the BIG question.
What we can’t see in those dark times is there is a way out. Things are not hopeless. Often, just as quickly as the trap sprung it can unspring. Sometimes in the most hopeless of situations we find an unexpected escape. Think of Joseph thrown into a pit by his brothers in Genesis 37. Even the difficulty ends up being for our good.
That is why depression and suicide and euthanasia are so tragic. Things may seem hopeless now, but they won’t always be. Difficulties come and difficulties go. You don’t know what tomorrow holds.
§ This is an ‘evil time’.
The other thing is this: This life on earth is an “evil time” (Hebrew: ra` `eth). Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In the same chapter, He describes this life for us is like a woman in childbirth. She has pain when she is going through labor but as soon as the child is born she forgets the pain because of her great joy. Jesus said this life is our labor. It is going to be painful.
The next life will be nothing but joy.
The Apostle Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time [this evil time] are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) He also said we should be redeeming the time, for the days are evil. (Eph. 5:16). Psalm 90 repeats this same theme.
And I quote the great theologian Edith Bunker. Once Archie asked her if there was a God then why was the world so messed up. She said, “That’s easy. It’s so when we get to heaven we’ll notice the difference.”
Eternal life
This life will be over before you know it. The next life is promised to those who, by grace, receive God’s gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Not because they are so good they earn it.
Conclusion
We have been challenged to see things differently today. If you are going through a difficult time right now, asking the BIG question, I would say to you:
§ Don’t be ashamed of asking the question. Wrestling with this question refines our worship.
§ Take heart. God does know. He does care. He is at work.
§ Take hope. This evil time will end.
I would like to end with a rather unusual poem that I found. It is ‘A Prayer for Disturbance.’
A PRAYER FOR DISTURBANCE
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new Earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love."
—Sir Francis Drake, explorer and naval pioneer during the Elizabethan era
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
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.
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.
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