Titus 5:1-21 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
In a recent series on Titus by our pastor, he touched briefly on the subject of Christians in government. Making a convincing connection between verse 1 and 2 of the text above – that being that verse two is how we are to be subject to rulers and authorities. Rulers in government, and rulers on a person to person level. This excerpt is the part on Christians in government. The full audio version of the sermon is available at http://www.gbcmt.org/sermons.php?series=Titus under the sermon heading of ‘Living Worthy of the Gospel’. It’s a great series if you’re looking for something to download onto your i-pod. =)
“In our system of government, guard your words of how you speak of leaders no matter how vile or wicked....Instead of being a fighter, insubordinate, and argumentative, we should be known as those who are peaceable, humble, and gentle. This answers the question that many Christians have in their role in government. Is it okay to object, is it okay to try to change things? After all we are in a democratic system or form government, is it okay? Yes if. If our character is peaceable gentle and humble. This is what God calls us to be. Unfortunately, far too many… high-profile Christians are known as being those who are argumentative, those who are sarcastic, those who are rebellious, those who are insubordinate. And their character is not known to be gentle, peaceable, and humble. This is what God wants us to reflect. And if we do so using the system it’s fine. When we step outside of that to where our character is violating these principles or this kind of character that God calls upon us, it is unacceptable. And this is true in our relationship with government as well as on a person to person level…think about it, we never get anywhere eternally by arguing and fighting with non-Christians. It doesn’t accomplish anything; it just arouses hostility in them. That’s why in verse two, God says we should be peaceable gentle, and humble. If we have to disagree, if we have to change something, we can do so: peaceably, gently, and humbly. Those are the kind of virtues that will impact people in a corrupt society.”
Unfortunately, the truth is many Christians in government, and even Christians merely interested in politics - myself included - can easily fall into the ditch with the rest of the political world and be mean and sarcastic in ways that are never to characterize a Christian. It's easy to excuse it when taking about or to a person with clearly wrong views, or a truly irking political personality. But as our goal in life as Christians is to win people to Christ, not to conservatism, God calls us to a higher level of conduct in the political realm.
Dec 28, 2007
Dec 8, 2007
Were We
Were We
Were we attacked, invaded, by enemy foreign
Alone in our cause, battered and torn
Would we wish others to join our cause?
Other nations to lend a hand with little pause?
Would we wish to be left alone,
Disregard and apathy by other nations shown?
Would we wish they keep to their selves
Not police the world, not in our nation’s affairs to delve?
If by mean cruelty and unlawful ends
A dictator took over, and our nation by force bends
If we had not the power to counter throw
Would we wish another to bring this tyrant low?
I feel we would wish to have friend
If desperate times of such should tend.
I do not think we wish another nation
To look the other way in such a situation.
Turn it around. What do you think?
Is a strict non-involvement policy a worthy brink?
If another nation found itself in such plight
Would such a policy lend us to do what is right?
The United States a policeman should not be
But a helper, defender, crusader She.
When the cause is just, the means cruel
Should we not enter into such duel?
A word of caution I urge
And mediation on this point encourage
Look down the line of history
And look forward in the mystery.
Think of how a policy of “we will let you alone”
Would change the world if evil over the earth was shown
Let our country’s interest for those who seek it ever be
Mercy, justice, and equity.
Were we attacked, invaded, by enemy foreign
Alone in our cause, battered and torn
Would we wish others to join our cause?
Other nations to lend a hand with little pause?
Would we wish to be left alone,
Disregard and apathy by other nations shown?
Would we wish they keep to their selves
Not police the world, not in our nation’s affairs to delve?
If by mean cruelty and unlawful ends
A dictator took over, and our nation by force bends
If we had not the power to counter throw
Would we wish another to bring this tyrant low?
I feel we would wish to have friend
If desperate times of such should tend.
I do not think we wish another nation
To look the other way in such a situation.
Turn it around. What do you think?
Is a strict non-involvement policy a worthy brink?
If another nation found itself in such plight
Would such a policy lend us to do what is right?
The United States a policeman should not be
But a helper, defender, crusader She.
When the cause is just, the means cruel
Should we not enter into such duel?
A word of caution I urge
And mediation on this point encourage
Look down the line of history
And look forward in the mystery.
Think of how a policy of “we will let you alone”
Would change the world if evil over the earth was shown
Let our country’s interest for those who seek it ever be
Mercy, justice, and equity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Any thoughts? This poem, however poor in correct poetry form, brings up the point of looking at what a strict non-interventionist type policy would lead to if turned around. What would we think of it then?
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