God and Government
Jimmy PorterEach day I look out my office window and see two buildings.
One is the First Baptist Church of Jackson where people go to worship God, and the other is the Mississippi State Capitol where legislators gather to govern our state. Seeing these two buildings in a single glance raises two questions, not only for me but for all of us. First, “Does the legislative session at the Capitol affect the lives of the people in the church?” and secondly, “Should the people in the church be concerned and involved in the legislative process taking place at the Capitol?” The answers are “yes” and “yes.” But it has been said, “Never talk to your friends about religion or politics because if you do, both of you will end up mad.” Therefore, many in the Christian community take these words to heart and do not allow their religion to influence their politics. They will not allow themselves to say, “God” and “government” in the same breath.
On the other side of the aisle are men like James Dobson of Focus on the Family who say, “We live in a representative form of government where we are its leaders. It means that every citizen has a responsibility to participate in the decisions that are made, and that includes people of faith using their influence for what is moral and just. The Reverend Billy Graham, Evangelist, has suggested that we are to elect individuals to public office who will allow their religious convictions to guide them in the decision-making process.
The biblical writer acknowledged an obligation to both God and government when he recorded Christ’s instruction to “render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s and unto God the things which be God’s (Luke 20:25). The Apostle Paul in Romans 13:1-7 instructs the Christian community to submit to the ruling authorities. He states, “For there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Human government is God ordained and is needed because of human rebellion, lawlessness, and transgression. An absence of government would create an unhealthy condition like it was in Judges 21:25 where it says, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”
It is quite clear that Christians are expected to be good citizens. A good citizen is an involved citizen. Matthew 5:13-16 commands Christians to be “salt” of the earth and the “light” of the world. The presence of salt in food and light in the midst of darkness is quite noticeable. There were no segments of society exempted from this mandate therefore “ … as American citizens we have the right to be involved in the public and legislative arena. As obedient Christians, we have the responsibility to be involved,” states Richard Land, President of The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
In order to fulfill our civic and Christian responsibilities, we must register to vote. The U.S. Census Bureau asserts that 25 to 35 percent of eligible Americans are not registered to vote. The Family Research Council states in “Why Christians Should Vote” that only one out of four eligible evangelical Christians voted in the 2000 election. Of 59 million potential evangelical voters, 24 million of them were not registered to vote and then only 20 million of the 35 million who registered actually went out and voted. Also we must be informed of the issues and become familiar with the candidates running for office, not only as to who they are but as to where they stand on issues that are important to the Christian community.
The year 2007 looms large as we elect individuals to public office who will guide our country and state for the next several years. My prayer is that men and women who are willing to allow their religious convictions to guide them as they govern will be selected for these most important tasks. And the only way for this prayer to become a reality is for Mississippi Baptist to allow Christian values and biblical principles dictate their vote.