Politics

September 20, 2020
Randy Hageman

Politics and Race are very

topics in our country today.

Jesus: … ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ —Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
Jesus: ‘…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ —Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. —Galatians 5:14-15 (NLT)

is our highest calling and the best description of the Christian lifestyle.

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. —1 John 3:18-19 (Message)

For the disciple of Jesus, politics are formed by our faith and

of God and neighbor.

Biblical Principles That Undergird Christian’s Lives In Politics:

PRINCIPLE #1 – All people are created in the image of

, and therefore, are to be treated with

Reveal Answer

.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. —Genesis 1:27 (NLT)

Every person we encounter is an image-bearer of

, even if their sin has badly distorted that image.

PRINCIPLE #2 – Jesus’ followers are members of a new

, the

Reveal Answer

of God.

Jesus: … ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’ —Mark 1:15 (ESV)

When we commit our life to Jesus Christ, we’re saying Jesus is not only our Savior but also our

.

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. —Philippians 3:20 (NLT)

…no political party only votes God’s way… —Pastor Tony Evans

Jesus calls us to put the Kingdom of God

in our lives.

The Kingdom of God isn’t going to arrive on Air Force One. —Chuck Colson

Jesus: ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’ —Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

PRINCIPLE #3 – Governments have an important and valuable

in God’s plan.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. —Romans 13:1 (NIV11)

The Bible lays out two primary purposes for human government:

1) To seek

for all.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. —Romans 13:3-4 (NIV11)

2) To

for the common good.

During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. —Genesis 41:48 (NLT)

We have responsibilities to our governments:

1)

for those in authority.

Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God. —1 Timothy 2:2 (NCV)

2)

in our governments.

PRINCIPLE #4 – We strive to live by the

values and practices.

Gateway is a

Church, with wide-open doors, but our focus will always be to “lead everyone to become more like Jesus.”

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8 (NIV)

The ultimate value is

love.

It takes love to change a heart, and that’s why, as important and valuable as government is, it can’t do

.

Disciples of Jesus

him by showing respect and kindness to everyone.

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.… —Romans 14:12-13 (NIV)

It’s possible to disagree with someone without being disagreeable.

It’s through personal

that we find the best ways to reach and change people’s hearts.

‘You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’ —Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

Next Week: Race and Racism