Christian Engagement in Politics 2024

Sep 22, 2024

Lecture Notes: Election Sermon 2024 at Cornerstone Chapel

Opening Remarks

  • Central Argument:
    • Government is not the answer for the soul of the nation; Jesus is.
    • Encourages political engagement to advance God's kingdom and resist evil.

Introduction to Election Sermons

  • Background:
    • Inspired by David Barton's concept of election sermons.
    • Historical practice among pastors to discuss political issues through a Biblical lens.
  • Importance of Pastoral Voice:
    • Pastors historically influenced political and social issues.
    • Challenge to the idea of "separation of church and state," which is often misinterpreted.

Separation of Church and State

  • Origin:
    • Phrase used by Thomas Jefferson to ensure government stayed out of church affairs.
    • First Amendment intended to protect religious liberties.
  • Impact:
    • Misinterpretation led to silencing religious voices in politics.
    • 1954 Johnson Amendment limited political activities of churches under threat of losing tax-exempt status.
  • Current Challenges:
    • Legal challenge against the Johnson Amendment for restricting free speech.

Encouragement to Engage Politically

  • Voting as a Duty:
    • Encouragement to vote based on Biblical values.
    • Importance of being informed and involved in political processes.
  • Rejecting Christian Nationalism:
    • Clarification that the goal is not a theocracy but to influence society positively.
    • Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

Biblical Foundation and Call to Action

  • Role of Christians:
    • Be ambassadors for Christ, acting as salt and light in society.
  • Historical Examples:
    • Old Testament prophets and New Testament figures like Jesus and John the Baptist engaged politically.

Key Points for Political Engagement

  1. God Uses Flawed People:

    • Biblical examples show God using both righteous and unrighteous leaders to achieve His purposes.
    • Importance of focusing on policies rather than personal flaws.
  2. Policies Over Personalities:

    • Importance of evaluating candidates based on policy stances.
    • Seven Key Policy Areas:
      • Judges: Importance of appointing judges who rule righteously.
      • Border Security: Recognizing the biblical support for national boundaries.
      • Support for Israel: Aligning with biblical mandate to bless Israel.
      • Religious Liberty: Protecting freedom of conscience and religious practices.
      • Biological Sex: Defending God’s design of male and female.
      • Family: Upholding parental rights and family structures.
      • Life: Protecting unborn life; critique of current candidates' positions on abortion.
  3. Voting as a Duty:

    • Not just a right but a moral obligation.
    • Referenced parable from Luke 12: importance of being good stewards of the freedoms entrusted to us.
    • Highlighted the potential impact of evangelical voters who do not participate in elections.

Conclusion

  • Personal Reflection:
    • Acknowledgement of the flawed nature of candidates but the importance of selecting the better option.
  • Historical Example:
    • Reference to Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a model of speaking truth to power.
  • Final Charge:
    • Call to action for Christians to vote, be active ambassadors, and let God’s glory be evident in the nation.