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 One World Under God
By Renee Harms
Okay, I confess. I am "politically challenged." I know, that's a little risky to admit in the midst of a heated presidential campaign, but it's true. Politics just does not run in my blood, it doesn't jive with my thinking, it doesn't tug at my passions.
And yet this year it's hard not to be political. I don't know if you've noticed, but there's an unusually intense push to make our voices heard at the voting polls this election season. That in itself has plagued my conscience. But perhaps more importantly, I am becoming increasingly aware of some of the issues that may affect the religious and moral fate of my country. Issues like the marriage amendment, or the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Though the privilege is sometimes taken for granted (as evidenced in my earlier confession), as Americans we have the opportunity of being involved in and actually influencing our government. As Christians, we have the privilege of involving God in those political decisions. But how do Christians respond to a country that is becoming increasingly anti-Christian?
1. Remember who's boss: First and foremost, God remains the ultimate ruler of this world. Whether or not prayer is allowed in schools, "under God" is deleted from the pledge of allegiance, or the marriage amendment is passed, "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne." (Ps. 47:8). Nothing happens without the Ultimate Authority saying yea or nay.
That can be hard to believe. Sometimes it seems impossible that certain world leaders could have been allowed into power by God, or that some decisions made for our country were not influenced by the devil. And yet, as Solomon stated of God:
By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;
by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.
(Prov 8:15,16)
Centuries later, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Rome—the political center of the known world—stating, "…there is no authority except that which God has established." (Romans 13:1) This should give us a sense of security: our country and our world is in God's able hands.
2. Pray: As we see throughout all of history, God uses His followers to achieve His purposes. And so, as Paul pleaded with Timothy, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Tim 2:1, 2)
As we educate ourselves on the political affairs of our country, we should be on our knees seeking God's direction for how to act on those matters. Whether you make your decisions based on political party or on individual preference, whether you believe in the current President or in his opponent, whether you think the issues of the marriage amendment or prayer in schools should or shouldn't be influenced by morals, pray for God's perspective. Only He knows the end from the beginning; only He knows what is needed in such a time as this.
Years ago, when our government was first stretching its legs and learning to walk on its own, Benjamin Franklin addressed the President during a Constitutional Convention:
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages.*
I may be politically challenged, but that makes good sense to me.
* Jorgenson, Chester E. and Frank Luther Mott, Editors, Benjamin Franklin: Representative Selections with Introduction, Bibliography, and Notes, Revised Edition ( New York: Hill and Wang, 1962), 489.
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Oxygen Multimedia Ministries or its partners.
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