POLITICS, POLICIES, PARTIES, PEOPLE
Planning for this Political Season:
As followers of Jesus, we seek to honor God and be advocates for policies that align best with God’s Word and that lead to human flourishing. Politics is important because the policies that different political platforms put into play significantly impact people’s lives. We must remember that a Christian worldview shapes everything and leaves no corner of our lives untouched. We look to the Lord and His Word for the truth of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. Therefore, as a church, we should:
Pray for those in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7)
Not live in fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
Renounce a spirit of rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23)
Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Focus on truth and reject falsehood (1 Timothy 6:20)
Vote and live in alignment with Biblical Values in regard to:
Ultimate Authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Sanctity of human life (Genesis 1:26)
Abortion (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139)
Gender/Sexuality (Genesis 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
Covenant Marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6)
Examine ourselves and ask God to search us (2 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 139:23-34)
Remember, the LORD is in control, not a person or party (Proverbs 21:1)
Gain Perspective (Nehemiah 9:6)
Often, we may want to disengage when it comes to politics, but we should not do that if we are to obey the command to love our neighbor. Life is best lived under God’s Word and according to His ways. God teaches us how humans flourish and the benefits for all who live in a society that is ordered according to our Creator’s design. His ways are most loving, and we must remember we cannot out-love God. So, we must search the Scriptures and let His Word inform our beliefs on specific issues. Bad beliefs lead to bad policies, which hurt our neighbors. At the end of the day, we declare along with the Psalmist, “Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” (Psalm 146:1-4). Above all, we trust our sovereign God who never fails and always does what is right, good, and just. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7).
Resources we Recommend:
World Watch (news for students in 10 minutes or less): https://worldwatch.news
The Briefing Podcast (News from a Christian Worldview): https://albertmohler.com/the-briefing/
The Remnant (Factual News for Faithful Christians): https://theremnantnews.org