The Biblical Basis for Christians in Politics and Government
by Ellen Craswell
As our campaign for Governor grows, many people are interested in the
Biblical basis for Christian involvement in politics
and government.
This was the true driving force behind America's founding fathers (who
based the Constitution on specific Biblical, Judeo-Christian principles).
It is also the foundation of this campaign and of my service as Governor,
should God see fit to place me in that office.
Regarding the principles in this article, I am very grateful to Pastor
Thomas Minnick, whose Biblical teaching has helped to bring these truths
to life in me and in many others.
Why Get Involved?
Crisis and civic duty are inferior and ineffective motivation for Christians
who take seriously their charge to seek God's will for their lives. Why
participate if this is not surely God's desire? Sadly, 20th century preaching
often discouraged our involvement in the "worldly" business of politics
and government.
Yet Christians have not always hesitated to "get involved" in American
civil government. Rather, for much of our history, Christians were deeply
committed to this role. In fact, most of our founding fathers were outstanding
Christians (as opposed to the very few deists, agnostics or atheists constantly
highlighted by today's anti-Christian elite).
More Christians must now realize the Biblical basis for involvement.
It then becomes a matter of obedience to God.
As Christians consider their responsibility, there are three vital principles
to remember.
First, government is God's institution! Civil government exists and
functions by God's command, not because cave men created a social contract.
Civil government began in Genesis 9:1-7,
when God instructed Noah after the flood. In Exodus
20-22, God through Moses gives a specific pattern for civil
government.
Scripture is full of God's sovereignty and interest in civil government.
In Daniel 2:20-21, God removes and sets up
rulers. In Proverbs 21:1, he turns a ruler's
heart. In Romans 13:1, He ordains civil powers.
Clearly, government is not a secular institution but a God-ordained institution.
A second key principle is that God has every right to direct His institutions.
Indeed, Scripture reveals God's will, rules and leadership qualities for
the home, the church... and the government!
Christians are quite familiar with Biblical expectations for the family
and the church. Yet many are amazed to realize that our country's Constitution
and many of its laws and punishments are based on civil government rules
of conduct that are spelled out in the Bible.
Exodus 21-22 addresses manslaughter, premeditated
murder, assault, kidnapping (and slavery), abortion, infanticide, property
crimes, criminal negligence, assaulting parents, robbery and bestiality.
Leviticus 13, 20 and other passages address
such issues as public health laws and homosexuality.
In Deuteronomy 17-22 are laws regarding
violation of a court order, perjury, malicious accusations, building codes
(no regulatory scheme, it just sets the standards for responsible conduct
and punishes wrongs), juvenile delinquency and rape.
God also gives qualifications for leadership, both in the church (1
Timothy 3:1-7) and in civil government (Exodus
18:21). Imagine our state and nation under leaders with these Biblical
qualities: "able" and "fears God" and speaks "truth" and "hates covetousness"!
The third vital principle to remember is that secularizing government
is an affront to a Holy God! We are often told that government and politics
should be secular. But would we allow Biblical Christianity to be excluded
from our homes or churches? So why quietly capitulate to arguments saying
we should keep God's Word and God's people out of God's institution of
civil government?
We need to petition God for revival before privatization of our faith
results in complete secularization of government.
Biblical Governing
Once Christian involvement in the political process bears fruit in the
election of a Godly person, it is crucial for that individual to understand
and obey Biblical principles in office. Among these are four principles.
First, we must understand that civil leaders are "ministers of God"
(Romans 13:3-4). This relates to the principle
of ACCOUNTABILITY. The role of a civil leader is to enable government to
fulfill God's purposes. Civil leaders are doing the will of God in establishing
justice and maintaining civil order. They are accountable to God for the
faithful discharge of their ministry responsibilities. A person's behavior
in office is positively affected by knowing that he must answer to God.
A second principle, that of DESTINY, understand the reality of sovereign
appointments. A civil leader serves at God's pleasure! "...He (God) removeth
kings, and setteth up kings..." (Daniel 2:21).
"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from
the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another"
(Psalm 75:6-7). God places people in leadership
for His specific purposes -- for His benefit, not theirs! "...Who knoweth
whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther
4:14). We must ask ourselves, "Why has God put me here? What does
He want me to accomplish?"
Understanding man's tendency to compromise, we also recognize the principle
of DEPENDENCY. Leaders are called on to make hard decisions! Recall Solomon
and the baby (1 Kings 3:16- 27). Elected office
requires more wisdom and courage than any person has. If one trusts in
human wisdom (pollsters, consultants or even his own wisdom), he will usually
be frightened into doing the wrong thing. Yet, "...lean not unto thine
own understanding" (see Proverbs 3:5-6).
It is hard to know what is right! It is even harder to do what is right!
Our only hope is a right relationship with God -- living each day dependent
upon Him for wisdom to know the right thing and courage to do the right
thing. Don't fear the voters, fear God!
The fourth essential is to understand God's purpose for civil government,
the principle of JURISDICTION. What is the reason for government? Looking
at history, man began in a state of innocence, and all was good. There
was no need for government (see Genesis 1:27-28,
31). But sin entered the picture (see Genesis
4:3-10, 6:1-6) and God ordained civil government (see Romans
13:1). It is God's institution, begun by His creative act. Further,
God is in control of government. "The king's heart is in the hand of the
Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it withersoever He will" (Proverbs
21:1).
In considering the role of government, we must discern the jurisdictions
of Caesar or God (Matthew 22:15-21). The church
and civil government are made necessary by the same thing (sin), but do
not have identical responsibilities. The humanist view of the role of government
is to perfect mankind. The Scriptural view of the role of government is
to protect mankind.
Scripture shows that civil government is charged with a limited responsibility
to protect life and property. Previously listed passages from Exodus, Leviticus
and Deuteronomy, and many others, indicate this.
A civil leader must decide that he will take a Scriptural view of the
limited role of government in society! For example, God's plan for welfare
does not involve civil government. People who are in need of temporary
help are directed to look primarily to the family (see 1
Timothy 5:3-8), secondarily to the church (see 1
Timothy 5:9-16 and Acts 6:1-2), or finally to neighbors in the community
(see Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22).
Clearly, God's plan vastly differs from the present system, which is
such a monumental failure. The humanistic plan is publicly funded, coercive
and creates cycles of dependency. The Biblical plan is a private program,
voluntary and allows the poor to retain their dignity.
Anyone who reads through the Bible can see that God's ways bring blessings
and man's ways bring destruction. Yet so often we all try, try again to
do whatever seems right in our own eyes, thinking somehow that we in our
day can escape the unavoidable consequences that are spelled out in God's
Word. Having "done our own thing" for decades, we are now suffering the
gaping devastation of crime, broken homes, abused and aborted children,
sexual immorality, drug and alcohol problems, corrupt government, reckless
taxing and spending, warped welfare programs and deficient education.
Half-hearted measures will never solve these full- scale problems. The
answer begins with a return to God and his ways. "And if it seem evil unto
you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua
24:15).
[Ellen Craswell served as Washington State Representative (1977- 1980),
State Senator (1981-1992), and was the first woman named President Pro
Tem of the Senate (1991-1992).
