Pastor Phil’s Weekly Message

 Pastor Phil’s Weekly Message

Our Mission:  To bring Jesus into your life

The Vision:     Preparing today’s generations with the Bible for tomorrow’s chaotic world

 

Dear Family and Friends,

As you can probably discern from the subject line, the message from SPFBC’s pulpit is the beginning of a preaching series, addressing political issues prior to the November 6 elections. It is my prayer that these biblically based messages will not be seasoned with personal opinions.  So, please pray for me that I will remain true to this purpose.

Since the Sovereign God of the universe ordains, appoints, and removes every authority in every place (Romans 13:1), know that the winning majority of votes does not install and guarantee who will serve in any political office; rather, our vote reveals our values and belief systems.

Therefore, when we enter the voting booth on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 or submit an absentee ballot prior to Election Day, remember that there is a day when each of us will give an account to God for our decisions.  Please, choose wisely.

Serving the King of all kings and the LORD of all lords,

Pastor Phil

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Sermon Series Theme:  A Biblical Perspective on Politics

Text: Selected Scripture as listed

Title:  To What Extent Should Christians Influence Government?

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Rev. Phil Andrukaitis, Pastor

September 16, 2012

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Sermon Transcript

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Introduction

It seems that many people today characterize the “2012” political election season as being the worst season ever.  Others call this election season the meanest and the weirdest; therefore, many citizens have said that they are going to disengage themselves from the political process by refusing to register to vote or to cast their vote on Election Day – [November 6, 2012].  This is not a good idea, as you will better understand by the end of this message.

While there are other descriptive words to describe this election season, I believe all of us would agree that extreme partisan politics, along with passionately expressed political opinions and convictions, is having a polarizing effect at every level in our society, especially inside the family of God.  In fact, the polarizing effect within the family of God has cause some sincere Christians to leave their church family [yes, it has happened in FBCSP] while other Christians border on profanely expressing their frustration against the endless rhetoric.

 

Like many of you, I, too, have passionately engaged “friends” on Facebook and through other social media outlets, by challenging political ideologies and their potential ramifications on society.  Other sincere and passionate believers have “brow-beaten” others with their viewpoints.  Hmmm, I still recall the time when people refused to discuss politics and religion in the same breath because of its divisive nature; however, all of that has changed because the stakes are high, as our nation stands at the crossroads of its existence.

 

Concerned citizens today believe revisionists, who ignore America’s historical foundation, are dismantling our country’s constitution.  On the other hand, misguided citizens are convinced that “church and state” should remain separated so that they do not “touch” one another.  Translation:  Christians should not be involved in politics and/or influencing the government.

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In his comprehensive work, Politics according To the Bible, Wayne Grudem identified five erroneous views about Christians and government:[1]

  • Civil government should compel people to support or follow a religion.

  • Civil government should exclude religious beliefs and actions from all governmental functions.

  • Since all governments are deeply infected by evil, demonic forces, its use of power is worldly.

  • Christians ought to preach only the gospel, as it is the only hope to change lives and society.

  • Christians should try to change bad laws, thereby changing the culture.

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While it is not my intention to speak on these erroneous views at this time, I am beginning a series of messages entitled, A Biblical Perspective on Politics, drawing from Grudem’s work, in preparation for the November 6 elections.

 

Therefore, I want to be very clear to everyone listening to and reading these messages from SPFBC’s pulpit.  I will not resort to a “straw man argument” in order to tear down one candidate in order to promote another candidate.  This pulpit is committed to the expositional preaching of the Bible and the application of its principles to life.  Therefore, it is up to you to choose the candidate that comes closest to embracing and applying biblical principles.  Know this, however,

  • Our vote does not determine who will be elected to serve in any political office.  God ordains and appoints who will serve and for how long.  We will see this more clearly next week.

  • Our vote reveals our convictions and value system; what we believe.  Since God will hold each of us accountable for the decisions we make in the voting booths, will our vote line up with God’s Word?  Everyone should think through this issue.

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Because of the nature of these preaching series, it is up to you to examine and apply God’s Word against the various positions each candidate embraces.  Please know that it is not possible for this pulpit to address all the social issues prior to the election.  Therefore, it is up to you to search the Scriptures on those social issues that burn within your heart.  For some of you, immigration may be the number one issue in your heart.  For others, entitlements for the poor may your number one issue.

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Since I must accept the potential disagreement among us, as each of us prioritizes the social issues according to our experiences and understanding, I want you to know ahead of time that I have chosen two social issues on which to preach within this series, based on their appearance in Scripture.

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In the opening chapters of Genesis, God established the institution of marriage.  After the Fall of Man, God addressed the sacredness of life.  Therefore, the two social issues that this pulpit will address later in this series are the sacredness of marriage and the sacredness of life.

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Preaching Calendar:             Today is the first of seven messages:

September 16             To What Extent Should Christians Influence Government?

September 23             [Victoria Webber’s short-term mission testimony; sermon on missions]

September 30            What Are the Biblical Principles regarding Government?

October 7                    What Is a Biblical World-view; and Do I Embrace It?  [Communion]

October 14                  What Does the Bible Say about the Sacredness of Marriage?

October 21                  What Does the Bible Say about the Sacredness of Life?

October 28                  When World-views Clash, What View Should be Chosen?

November 4                Trusting God, Whatever the Outcome   [Communion Sunday]

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 is Election Day

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To What Extent Should Christians Influence Government?

To answer this question this morning, here are three pertinent ideas; the first two coming from Grudem’s work.

1.         Godly believers can influence their government.

2.         Godly influence serves as a moral compass for the government.

3.         Godly citizens, who fulfill their civil responsibilities, influence the government

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 1.         Godly believers can influence their government.

Old Testament Examples

  • Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, became Egypt’s prime minister, the highest official only after Pharaoh, after going through personal trials and tribulations.

Joseph rose to power after offering sound advice to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:37-45).

Joseph was faithful to oversee the welfare of Egypt’s people (Genesis 41:46-57).

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  •  Moses stood before Pharaoh 430 years later and demanded freedom for the people of Israel by declaring, “Let my people go” (Exodus 8:1).

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  • Daniel, who grew up with a godly heritage, had instilled in him a firm, spiritual foundation – trusting the LORD God Almighty.  Daniel understood and accepted his lot in life, as he was uprooted, deported, and forced to live in a foreign land for the rest of his life.  Most likely, Daniel was made a eunuch in order to serve the king of Babylon; nevertheless, Daniel maintained a godly attitude by cultivating his relationship with God.  As a result, there were appointed times ordained by God when Daniel was placed before the king in order to influence him for God’s glory and for the good of the empire.

Daniel’s presence and influence was felt in the king’s court (Daniel 2:48-49).

Daniel’s counsel was never “politically correct” (Daniel 4:27).

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  • Jeremiah counseled the captives in Babylon to seek welfare of the city, to which God had exiled them (Jeremiah 29:7).

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  • Nehemiah, who served the Persian king, Artaxerxes, as his cup-bearer, was a trusted servant whose heart and requests for the people of Israel were presented to the king.  Consequently, the king authorized and provided all that Nehemiah would need to rebuild Jerusalem’s gates and wall.

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  • In addition, there are many more OT examples of individuals whose lives have influenced governmental officials and rulers. 

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New Testament Examples

  • John the Baptist was a controversial figure in the court of King Herod.  Read Matthew 14:3-4 and Luke 3:18-20.  You might say that John was the Michael Heath of his day.

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  • Paul, when arrested and accused of starting a riot because of preaching the gospel, used his Roman rights as a citizen to advance the gospel, by testifying of his faith in Christ before Felix, the Roman governor and King Agrippa.  Eventually, Paul’s appeal brought him to Rome where his case was presented before Caesar.

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  • Two Passages

  • Romans 13:1-7 reveals God’s purpose for government and the consequences of disobeying governing authorities appointed by God.  In addition, this passage also reveals to both governmental employees and a nation’s citizenry a general attitude that ought to under-gird their conduct in their respective roles.

  • 1st Peter 2:13-17 – Every authority instituted among men depends upon God for its existence (Romans 13:1-f), and purposes which are already stated in Scripture.  Anytime an authority among men oversteps their limited boundaries defined by the righteousness of God, then its citizens have an obligation to resist that authority in order to obey the highest authority, namely God (Acts 4:19; 5:28-29).

Note however, if people resist an ungodly law, expect to suffer.  However, remember, suffering for doing good and not evil is commendable by God (1st Peter 4:12-16).

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 2.         Godly influence serves as a moral compass for the government.

Think with me for a moment on the following scenario, whether you believe the church will  escape  the Great Tribulation or not; what would the world look like if the Holy Spirit and the influence of Christians were suddenly removed from this world?  How long would it take before this sin-cursed world would cast itself into a morally depraved abyss?

  • Imagine how nations might use their military power to conquer weaker nations.

  • Imagine a society where love and marriage has been redefined without God.

  • Imagine the number of babies aborted and the elderly, along with the terminally ill, euthanized because life is no longer considered sacred in a world absent of God.

  • Imagine the absence of any sexual restraint as pornography, prostitution, pedophiles, and the gay lifestyles are unhindered to run rampant over the face of the earth.

  • Imagine the poverty that would affect people groups.

  • Imagine how unrestrained, godless man would abuse the environment.

  • Imagine the impact on education as God is completely silent, leaving a moral vacuum whereby any godless morality could be established.

Presently, God’s Spirit still restrains the wickedness in this world (2nd Thessalonians 2:7).  In addition, Jesus tells His followers that they are “light and salt” on and of the earth (Matthew  5:13-16).

Therefore, as Rick Warren recently blogged, You don’t need to apologize for voting for a Christian worldview which stands up for sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex, and the sanctity of  marriage.  You don’t need to apologize for that because everybody votes what they believe.[2]

If Christians do not speak publicly to the moral and social issues of today, whose voice will be heard?  There are many lunatics and wicked people pointing others in the wrong way.  My brothers and sisters in Christ, speak God’s truth in love.  Who else, other than the Church, will speak of Christ and His Word to sinners today?  If Christians remain silent, what happens then?

To illustrate, Martin Niemoller, who was a prominent Protestant pastor in the early years of Hitler’s rise to power, sent Hitler a telegram, congratulating him on his rise to power.    However, as Niemoller saw the real Hitler emerging, Niemoller became an outspoken public foe of Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

A few years after the war, Niemoller was reflecting on his political naiveté and penned this poem, entitled, First They Came for the Socialists…”  [Listen to it.  Read it.]

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First They Came for the Socialists…

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In Germany, they came first for the communists

And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the Jews,

And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,

And I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,

And by that time no one was left to speak up.

Check out the following link:  http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392

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As James Emery White rightly reminds all of us, “let that never be our confession.”M

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 3.         Godly citizens, who fulfill their civil responsibilities, influence the government[3]

  • Pay for their government                    (Romans 13:7)

  • Pray for their government                   (1st Timothy 2:1-3)

  • Praise their government                      (1st Peter 2:17)

  • Preach to their government            

  • Elijah preached to King Ahab

  • Eleazar preached to King Jehoshaphat

  • Moses preached to Pharaoh

  • John the Baptist preached to King Herod

  • Jesus preached to Pontius Pilate

  • Paul preached to King Agrippa

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  • Participate in their government          

As citizens who have been appointed by God to live in this awesome country, with its liberties and wealth, God calls every believer to be a good steward of the blessings entrusted to us.

In addition, we ought to look more closely at Ephesians 2:10 and seek how it affects our citizenship in this great land.  Neglecting God’s blessings and privileges to participate in this great country is downright sinful and shameful.  Walking away from our right and responsibility to “cast our vote” is a thankless response to God and to those who have served and died to protect our liberties in this country.

  • Applications:

  • Become informed about the issues.

  • Become informed what the Scripture says about the issues.

  • Become informed about each candidate – what issues to they support?

  • Become a registered voter, if you are unregistered.

  • Finally, choose wisely, when you enter the voting booth.

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The Gospel

Speaking of choosing wisely, I will close this message with an exhortation from 110-year-old Joshua.  Joshua’s life is almost over.  Chapter 24 begins with Joshua gathering all the tribes of Israel, along with the elders and leaders for the following purposes:

1.         To present themselves before God (Joshua 24:1-13)

Like the Israelites who gathered together in order to come before the LORD, this congregation has presented itself before God.  In fact, each Sunday we come together as a body of believers, a family of believers, to express our corporate worship and to encourage one another to persevere in our walk of faith and service to God.

2.         To pay homage to God (Joshua 24:14-22)

Joshua exhorts the Israelites to pay homage to God by serving the LORD, stating,   “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the   Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15)exhorts the Israelites to pay homage to God by serving the LORD, stating,   “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the   Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

3.         To purify themselves before God (Joshua 24:23-25)

Finally, Joshua challenges the people to put away the foreign gods which many of the hid in their tents and harbored in their hearts.  Unless people cast away godless principles from their lives and turn away from their sins, they will never be able to serve the LORD or be saved.

God the Father sent His Son to this sin-cursed world to sacrifice His life as payment for our sins and to offer eternal life with God in heaven to anyone who turns away from their sinful way of living and place all of their trust in Jesus.

Therefore, choose for yourself this day, whom you will serve, because apart from being born-again, no one can serve God.  Know this, that Jesus’ shed blood on the cross redeemed you and me from our sins, providing forgiveness of our sins.  Moreover, Jesus’ blood reconciles you and me to God the Father.

 So, what will you choose to do today?  The message you have heard [read] today focused on the Christian’s influence on government and that their choice in November is very important.  But know this, your choice today – whether to serve God or serve the gods of this age, is far greater than your choice in November.  Dear friend, choose wisely and live.

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First Baptist Church ~ 879 Sawyer Street ~ South Portland, Maine 04106

Office:  (207) 799-4565          Fax:  (207) 799-5922

Website:  www.spfbc.com       Email:  southportland.fbc@gmail.com

Worthy Walk Ministries (Ephesians 4:1)

The Preaching / Teaching Ministry of Rev. Philip C. Andrukaitis, Pastor

Parsonage:  29 Heather Road ~ South Portland, Maine 04106

Home:  (207) 899-02522    –    Cell: (207) 650-2003    –    Email:  phil_andrukaitis@hotmail.com