BIBLE STUDY: Biblical Foundations - Two Unlikely Friends: Why Faith and Politics Do Mix in America

TWO UNLIKELY FRIENDS: Why Faith and Politics Do Mix in America

BIBLE STUDY ON THE INTRODUCTORY THREE-PART SERMON SERIES OF THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS PROJECT BIBLE STUDY

"Politics matters because policy matters; policy matters because people matter."

Let’s Get Started

The idea of mixing religion and politics in public discourse is often considered an untouchable idea in the U.S., but, in reality, God has called his Church to be active in the issues of our day. This series will underline the biblical foundation for each of America First Policy Institute’s 10 foundational pillars for America. Without the guidance of the Holy Bible in a world full of evil, it is impossible to safeguard the future of America for the next generation. Our Christian and biblical values over the last two centuries matter. The extraordinary progress, prosperity, freedom, and equality it has produced also matters. The Church in the U.S. must play a significant role in standing for the values and freedoms that have made America the most prosperous nation on earth. Religion and politics do mix. Though congress will “make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” religious principles from the Bible should inform what policy people live under.

AMERICA FIRST AGENDA
10 Pillars for Restoring a Nation Under God

1. MAKE THE GREATEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD WORK FOR ALL AMERICANS
2. PUT PATIENTS AND DOCTORS BACK IN CHARGE OF HEALTHCARE
3. RESTORE AMERICA’S HISTORIC COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND SELF-GOVERNANCE
4. GIVE PARENTS MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION
5. FINISH THE BORDER WALL, END HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND DEFEAT THE DRUG CARTELS
6. DELIVER PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH AND AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
7. MAKE AMERICA ENERGY INDEPENDENT
8. MAKE IT EASY TO VOTE AND HARD TO CHEAT
9. PROVIDE SAFE AND SECURE COMMUNITIES SO ALL AMERICANS CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES IN PEACE
10. FIGHT GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION BY DRAINING THE SWAMP

Where We Are Today

The world has attempted to separate faith from politics, but this is not God’s idea. Jesus has called His Church to participate in the marketplace of ideas actively. We are called to be the light of the world and the salt of the Earth. If the Church does not engage in the issues of the day, then it is missing a historic opportunity at a critical point in America’s story to partner in bringing the kingdom of heaven to Earth. We must act. We must vote. We must run for public office. We must plant Jesus in every space we are allowed to stand while we are still allowed to stand and speak God’s truth.

MATTHEW 4 :17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus went out to influence and organize people around a new idea, the idea for His kingdom. His charge was to stop doing the wrong things! Turn away from evil ways and repent! This was a radical new call to action to bring change to the world, including politics and policy.

MATTHEW 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

He then called people to be the light of the world. This was His campaign to influence the world and organize people for a great cause. This campaign was about bringing the eternal principles of God to people and helping them to organize themselves and live according to a set of spiritual principles relating to His kingdom and His kingdom’s platform. Followers of Christ are called to be influencers all over the world in every sphere of life, community, work, and government.

God in government in the Old Testament: The Story of Daniel

As Israel is in exile, God raises up Daniel to be a public servant in the worldly and evil regime of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel is then used mightily to influence the world for the Lord through his counsel to King Nebuchadnezzar. As a God-fearing man, Daniel stays faithful in his prayer life, which makes him effective in the public life with the king in interpreting his dreams and standing up for righteousness even when his life is threatened. Daniel’s life is filled with opportunities to do God’s work in a dark world by working on public policy.

How We Got Here

We must engage in the political process because, as we have seen, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We are witnessing that every day in our government, our media, and our educational institutions. Freedoms and liberties guaranteed in our constitution are under assault. The influence of godless ideologies like Marxism in our culture has actively driven a wedge between politics and religion and separated the two from one another. This ideology has taken away the right to pray in schools. It has consistently sought to eliminate God from the public square and from our society and replaced it with political correctness. Fighting for America’s soul rests in the hands of those who not only believe but live out the core tenets of the gospel. This fight is not just about the culture of America; it’s about the kingdom of God and the Church’s divine mission to be the salt and light of our day in an era of increasing darkness. That mission does not end where government and politics begin. America is being pushed further down the road that leads to destruction.

ROMANS 1:28-32
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Where is God in All of This?

Order and governance are God’s ideas. He set the first system of government in Genesis Chapter 1, where he created the world and gave man dominion over all the Earth and made man answerable to God alone. God is a God of order. This is God’s political order and how people and the word organize themselves—it’s God’s idea from the very beginning. This is the way that people coordinate and do life together. In fact, the word govern or government is mentioned about 60 times in the Bible. And another word that is used in the Bible that is also related to governance is king, kingdom, or kings. It’s mentioned more than 2500 times. So God has a lot to say about how people should organize themselves.

GENESIS CHAPTER 1:26–30
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. ”Then God said, “I give you every seed- bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

ROMANS CHAPTER 13: 1–5
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.

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 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. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Even in New Testament times, God instructs through the Apostle Paul on matters of government and civil society and to be God’s representative in those institutions. In the U.S., it is “We the People” who are the governing authority and, therefore, even more so, we as citizens are called to be a part of the civic discourse and public policy debate. In this context, we are to promote Christian values in public debate.

Christians Are Called

Christians are not called to sit on the sidelines. Christ called His Church to the field and to be agents of change. In a world that is bent on doing evil, the Church is called to influence the world in all aspects of society with the truth of the gospel. Jesus said, “go into all the world….” He didn’t say to go into some of the world; he said to go into ALL the world. All the world includes the sphere of politics and governance. Some might argue that it’s too divisive or wicked to be in politics, but Jesus said it’s not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. The world of politics needs people of faith who can influence good change in our country.

Course Correction

America is not headed in the right direction, and that’s in part due to the fact that Church has not been actively engaged in policy. Everyone feels the effects of bad public policy or bad governance, whether it’s at the pump, the grocery store, in running your business, or just expressing your faith in the public square. It’s time to make a change.

Where Do I Fit in this Plan?

No matter what stage of life one is in, everyone is called by the great commission. All Christians are called to go into all the world and to be the salt and light of the Earth.

What can I do? Not everyone is called to run for public office, but we are called to participate in civil discourse. Write down how you will make your voice heard.

Understanding your role in God’s plan in civil discourse starts with understanding your rights as a citizen of the United States. Do I understand how the political system works? List the rights and freedoms that you have to exercise in making God’s principles a part of your community.

Reflection on this Teaching

• Why does God care about politics, government, and having His people involved?
• How should Christians participate in politics?
• What is the real definition of “politics” and “religion,” and how can you restore this?
• In addition to the story of Daniel, how else has God used His people in government throughout the Bible?
• The book of Romans says to submit to the governing authorities. Who are the governing authorities in the U.S.?
• “We the people” is a key phrase in the U.S. Constitution, we the people are the government. We elect people to office to represent our values, interests, and needs. How can you incorporate your faith values into this system?
• The United States of America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. How has our country lost its way, and how can we bring it back to who we were designed to be?

Personal Action Plan

• Participants are encouraged to meditate and think about how they can execute the principles taught in the Biblical Foundations Project to bring our country back in alignment with God.
• How will I incorporate my heavenly citizenship into my world?
• What am I going to do differently in incorporating my faith values into politics and civil discourse?
• How will I take back the ground that has been abdicated by those who want to eliminate faith from the public square?

Prayer Plan

• As Christians, we believe in the power of prayer. We know that it is effective, and God hears us. In your daily prayer life, ask God these questions and write down what He impresses on you.
• God, what do you want me to do in politics and civil discourse?
• God, how do You want me to bring your gospel to this country?
• How do I expand Your kingdom in the world of politics?
• How do You want me to influence the culture around me to bring You into our politics?

Pastoral Action Plan (if applicable)

• Pastors are encouraged to inform their congregations on how they can be a part of the solution in bringing America back into alignment with God. The Biblical Foundations Project will provide empowering and Bible-centric messages to encourage the Church in America to engage in biblically sound civil society engagement.
• Empowering my congregation:
• How will I incorporate the Biblical Foundations Project sermon content into my annual sermon series preparation?
• How will I encourage my congregation to align their civic activity in public discourse with the word of God? What biblical values should people think about at the voting booth?
• How will I encourage my congregation to take leadership roles in their community and be the salt and light of the world in local, regional, state, and federal government?
• What scriptures will I incorporate into my messages to ensure that my congregation understands the need to engage in the civic process in our local community?