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Constructive Action

Following-up my prior post, here is constructive action Christians can take to be influential in government (from Biblical Principles for Africa).

Citizens should use Prayer and Pressure to achieve Political Justice

Our Lord taught that Christians should be salt and light in all areas of life. (Matthew 5:13-20) As salt preserves from decay, adds flavour, irritates wounds, has a healing effect and creates a thirst, so too Christians should preserve moral standards, add Biblical principles, expose evil, bring healing to the repentant and cause people to thirst for the living water that only Christ can give. (John 7:37-38; Matthew 5:6) Jesus taught that we "should always pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1`) In the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus taught us that even an unjust judge will give in and do what is right in response to persistent prayer and pressure. (Luke 18:2-8) "Who will rise up for Me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for Me against evildoers?" (Ps. 94:16)

Biblical Examples of Challenging Unrighteousness in Political Affairs include:

Personally approaching the officials either privately, by letter or in a delegation:
Nathan before King David (2 Samuel 2:7); the delegation to King Rohoboam (1 Kings 12:3-4); Elijah before King Ahab (1 Kings 21:20); Micaiah before King Ahab (1 Kings 22:14); Elisha before King Ahab (2 Kings 3:14); Esther before King Xerxes (Esther 7:3-4); Daniel before King Belshazzar (Daniel 5:17-28); John the Baptist before Herod (Matthew 14:4); Peter and John before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:18-20), and Stephen before the Council (Acts 7:51).

Public protest against unrighteousness:

Elijah against the idolatry and religious apostasy of Israel (1 Kings 18:18-40); Isaiah against the wickedness of Egypt and Cush (Isaiah 20); Jeremiah against the social sins of drunkenness, adulteries and prostitution in Israel (Jeremiah 13); Ezekiel against the immorality and violence of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24); Jesus against the corruption and desecration of the temple (Mark 11:15-17); Paul against his unjust arrest, beating and imprisonment (Acts 16:37); Other Biblical examples of public protest include Acts 13:50-51; Matthew 10:14 and Proverbs 1:20-21.

Presenting advice and Biblical guidelines to civil rulers:

Throughout the Bible we read of believes who sought to have a Godly influence on their rulers, many of whom became trusted advisors such as Samuel, Nathan, Elisha, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, and Malachi. Some prophets such as Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah and John the Baptist openly rebuked and confronted wicked rulers.

Campaigning for/or supporting the election of God honouring representatives:

The Bible presents numerous examples of believers helping to get suitable candidates into public leadership. For example, Samuel promoted the coronation first of Saul and later of David to the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16); Nathan similarly worked for Solomon's appointment (1 Kings 1); Elijah promoted Jeroboam (1 Kings 11 & 12); and Elisha encouraged Jehu to overthrow the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (2 Kings 9)

The Bible also records a number of God's people who served in government positions. Joseph became prime minister of Egypt. Mordecai and Daniel became prime ministers in Persian and Babylonian governments. Moses, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Esther, Nehemiah and many others also held senior political positions of leadership.

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it…" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Posted by tim at April 13, 2004 9:56 AM

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